1. The Navajo Times, June 26, 1969 Navajo Code Talkers just returned from their victory at Iwo Jima to take part in a refresher radio communication course at Maui, the Hawaiian Islands, in 1945.

2. As Americans and Japanese troops fought island to island in the Pacific during World War II, the Japanese used their considerable skill as code breakers to intercept many messages being sent by American forces. After the war, however, Japan's own chief of intelligence admitted there was one code they were never able to break— the Navajo code used by the Marine Corps.

3. The Home Front Americans supported U.S. involvement
Hollywood studios produced hundreds of war movies
Radio stations broadcast war news
Foreign correspondents gave on-the-scene accounts of war in Europe
Office of War Info controlled war news at home

4. Life During War Time Americans cut back on luxuries and necessities
People began growing vegetables in their backyards
West coast citizens practiced nighttime blackouts
Americans practiced air-raid drills
People worked longer hours

5. Norman Rockwell
Painted the positive side of American life.

8. Women at Home Women were urged to work while men were away at war
1940 to 1944 women in the workforce increased by 6 million
Female workers paid less than men
African American workers and women over 40 found employers unwilling to hire them

9. Discrimination During the War
African American workers found discrimination and opportunity
Secured better paying industrial jobs
play a key role in military
African Americans often found in segregated units and out of combat
Hate strikes were formed to keep black workers out of high-paying factory jobs

10. Mexican Americans/ Zoot-Suit Riots
WWII brought problems and opportunity for Mexican Americans as well
More than 300,000 served in military as well, 17 earned Congressional Medal of Honor
Blue Devils, top combat unit, consisted of mostly Mexican Americans

11. Zoot Suit Riots Mexican American youths adopted a fad
US sailors roamed docks in Los Angeles attacking men in zoot suits
Government eventually clamped down on sailors

12. Japanese-American Internment Camps
Internment - forced relocation and imprisonment
119,000 Japanese lived in California, Oregon, and Washington
1/3 of these people born in Japan
the nisei (nee-say) had been born in U.S.
because of strong anti-Japanese feeling government decided to move them