We Have Just Begun to Not Fight: An Oral History of Conscientious Objectors in Civilian Public Service During World War IIWorld War II stands, for most Americans, as the "good" war; it was a necessary war fought for a just cause. Yet more than 40,000 American men refused to fight the war. Citing principled opposition, they declared themselves conscientious objectors. Rejecting combat duty, the men served as noncombatants in the military, performed alternative civilian service, and in some cases took an absolutist position and went to prison. "We Have Just Begun To Not Fight" is devoted to the nearly 12,000 men who entered Civilian Public Service (CPS) with the intent to perform "work of national importance" as an alternative to combat duty. CPS men worked as aides in mental hospitals, volunteered as smoke jumpers in forest fires, and participated in grueling medical and scientific experiments. They were a remarkably diverse group - blue-collar workers, college professors, Amish farmers, and Pulitzer Prize winners - motivated by a wide range of philosophical and political beliefs. Religious fundamentalists, anarchists, absolutists, socialists, and Father Coughlinites came together in the 151 CPS camps scattered throughout the country. The communities they created in the camps, as well as their encounters with the local, often hostile communities surrounding them, are a largely unexamined aspect of wartime America. Authors Heather T. Frazer and John O'Sullivan record the oral histories of 15 CPS men and 2 CPS wives whose recollections and reflections impart a rich understanding of this exercise of conscience in wartime. |
Contents
M R Zigler | 1 |
Bent Andresen Edward Burrows | 111 |
William and Wilma Ludlow 145 | 183 |
Copyright | |
3 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
accepted active American army asked became began believe better blacks Brethren called camp Catholic changed church Civilian close commitment Committee conscientious objectors couldn't course deal decided decision didn't director draft enter experience fact feel fellows felt finally fire Friends getting give gone guess guys happened hard History hospital interesting involved kind knew later living look mean meeting Mennonites mental military months never night organizations pacifist patients Paul Peace Peace Churches person position pretty prison probably problems Public Quaker question reason religious remember Selective Service sense served Service sort started stayed strong talk tell thing thought told took trying unit University walked wanted wasn't week whole wife World wrote
References to this book
Never Will We Forget: Oral Histories of World War II Marilyn Mayer Culpepper No preview available - 2008 |