Past ExHIBIT at Windham Post Office

WWII Exhibit Community of Windham Foundation sponsored, recently on display at the Windham Post Office

WORLD WAR II – WARTIME BLACKOUT AFTER THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR THE UNITED STATES PREPARED TO PREVENT EXPOSURE TO AIR ATTACKS FROM JAPAN OR GERMAN SUBMARINE RAIDS ON ALLIED SHIPPING IN COASTAL WATERS. BLACKOUTS COLLECTIVELY MINIMIZED INDOOR AND OUTDOOR REFLECTIVE LIGHT.
WWII RATION BOOKS
WAR RATION BOOKS WERE PRODUCED BY THE UNITED STATES OFFICE OF PRICE ADMINISTRATION (OPA) IN 1942. SHORTAGES OF ESSENTIAL WAR MATERIALS SUCH AS RUBBER, GASOLINE WERE INITIALLY ANTICIPATED BUT SOON THE RATIONING GREW TO INCLUDE FOOD AS WELL AS FUEL AND SUGAR. HOME FRONT COUPONS WERE ISSUED FOR A VARIETY OF PRODUCTS INCLUDING COFFEE. SORRY – NO STARBUCKS.
WWII CORPORATE LEADERSHIP
PHILLIP K. WRIGLEY CEO IS MOST KNOWN FOR HIS UNUSUAL MOVE TO SUPPORT US TROOPS AND PROTECT THE REPUTATION OF THE WRIGLEY BRAND DURING WWII, IN WHICH HE DEDICATED THE ENTIRE OUTPUT OF WRIGLEY’S SPEARMINT, DOUBLEMINT AND JUICY FRUIT TO THE US ARMED FORCES.
ON JUNE 6, 1944 MORE THAN 160,000 TROOPS STORMED THE BEACHES OF NORMANDY DURING THE D-DAY INVASION. LESS KNOWN IS THAT AN UNLIKELY SNACK HELPED POWER THE ALLIES BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE HISTORIC MISSION – HERSHEY’S CHOCOLATE BARS. EACH BAR HAD TO WEIGH 4 OUNCES, BE HIGH IN ENERGY AND WITHSTAND HIGH TEMPERATURES. EACH BAR WAS PACKED IN A 4 OUNCE MOLD BY HAND.
WWII BATTLE OF THE BULGE ARDENNES
HOT WINTER FOOD RATIONS ARE SERVED TO AMERICAN INFANTRYMEN IN FREEZING CONDITIONS. 610,000 TROOPS TURNED BACK THE LAST MAJOR GERMAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ON THE WESTERN FRONT DURING THE WAR. THERE WERE 81,000 AMERICAN CASUALTIES INCLUDING AT LEAST 8,400 KILLED. THE “BULGE” WAS LARGEST AND BLOODIEST SINGLE BATTLE FOUGHT BY THE UNITED STATES IN WORLD WARII.
WWII MESS KIT & CANTEEN
THE MESS KIT WAS USED TO RE-HEAT PRE-MEASURED SERVINGS OF CANNED PRE-COOKED MEAT RATIONS OR DRIED FOOD ITEMS. THE MEAT CAN BODY, WITH ITS FOLDING HANDLE EXTENDED SERVED AS A CRUDE SKILLET. TO COMPLIMENT THE MESS KIT SOLDIERS USED A STAMPED CUP ESPECIALLY MOLDED TO FIT OVER THE BOTTOM OF US ARMY’S STANDARD ONE-QUART CANTEEN. THE CUP COULD BE USED TO BOIL WATER FOR COFFEE, OR FOR HEATING RECONSTITUTED SOUP OR OTHER FOODS.
WWII “SPAMVILLE”
SOME SOLDIERS NAMED THEIR UNITS “SPAMVILLE” IN TRIBUTE TO THE UNREFRIGERATED MEAT PRODUCT. THE U.S. MILITARY PURCHASED A VARIETY OF CANNED MEATS TO FEED THE TROOPS OVERSEAS. HORMEL PRODUCED OVER 100 MILLION POUNDS OF SPAM FOR THE AMERICAN AND ALLIED TROOPS.

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