THE WORLD WAR II eNEWS WEEKLY - This is Saturday, November 7, 2009

November Accounts, Actions and Chronicle of WWII

• U.S. Marines Invade Bougainville in the Solomon Islands; November 1, 1943
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt Elected To Historic Fourth Term; November 7, 1944
• The Battle of Hürtgen Forest rages on; November 1944
• 234th Anniversary of the UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS; November 10, 1775
• Veterans Day; November 11, 1919 - 2009
• 'Operation Uranus' of The Battle of Stalingrad; November 19, 1943
• Axis Planning for the Ardennes Offensive; November 1944

U.S. Marines invade Bougainville. As part of the latter stages of Operation Cartwheel, Allied forces intended to establish air bases on Bougainville to assist in the isolation and neutralization of Rabaul. In November 1943 U.S. Marine forces landed at Cape Torokina on Bougainville and established a beachhead which the Allies constructed three airfields.

FDR Elected to Fourth Term. Franklin Delano Roosevelt the 32nd President of the United States, was a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war. The only American president elected to more than two terms, he was often referred to by his initials, FDR.

Battle of Hürtgen Forest, Germany. Between the 7th and 12th of November, 1944 in the midst of the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, there was an amazing story of humanity on the part of the German Army. A regimental German doctor negotiated a cease fire to tend to wounded troops from both sides, who fell on the Kall Bridge. Many American GI's lives were saved due to these efforts.

234th Anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps. There is arguably no other photo which symbolizes the United States Marine Corps more than the iconic photograph captured by Joe Rosenthal in 1945 atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle for Iwo Jima in World War II. The photo would go on to represent not only the victory over the Japanese on Iwo Jima, but also to epitomize the Marine Corps.

Veterans Day. Veterans Day, the annual American holiday honoring military Veterans. Both a federal holiday and a state holiday in all states, it is usually observed on November 11. However, if it occurs on a Sunday then the following Monday is designated for holiday leave, and if it occurs Saturday then either Saturday or Friday may be so designated.

Operation Uranus was the codename of the Soviet strategic operation in World War II which led to the encirclement of the German Sixth Army, the Third and Fourth Romanian armies, and portions of the German Fourth Panzer Army. The operation formed part of the ongoing Battle of Stalingrad, and was aimed at destroying German forces in and around Stalingrad.

Axis Planning for the Ardennes Offensive. The Ardennes Offensive, also known as the 'Battle of the Bulge' took place from mid-December 1944 to late January 1945 in the Ardennes Forest of Belguim. It was one of the last major German offensives of the war which required great planning. Victory was crucial for Germany with hopes of a treaty with the Allies, but one which favored Germany.

   Full November calendar; Battles and events »

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1940s Culture, Homefront and Storylines of the War

----- ENTERTAINERS ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bob Hope - He performed his first USO show on May 6, 1941, at March Field, California. He continued to travel and entertain troops for the rest of World War II and later during the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the 1990–1991 Persian Gulf War. When overseas he almost always performed in Army fatigues as a show of support for his audience. Full story »

Glenn Miller - Outside of the Andrews Sisters, no other musical sound has become more synonymous as the 'soundtrack' to the 1940's and WWII than Glenn Miller. As a jazz musician, composer and band leader, he helped usher in 'swing' music and the era of the 'Big Bands'. His patriotism led him to join the Army in 1942 and was later transferred to the Air Corps as a musician. Full story »

   MORE ENTERTAINERS: Vera Lynn, Marlene Dietrich and The Andrews Sisters.
   VENUES: USO Camp Shows » The Hollywood Canteen »
   1940's ICONS: Rosie the Riveter »

----- CORPORATIONS SUPPORTING THE WAR EFFORT ----------------------------
General Motors - GM produced vast quantities of armaments, vehicles, and aircraft during World War II for both Allied and Axis customers. By the spring of 1939, the German Government had assumed day-to-day control of American owned factories in Germany, but decided against nationalizing them. During the war, the U.S. auto companies Read More »

   OTHER AUTO COMPANIES: Ford Motor Co. in WWII » Dodge trucks in WWII »
   Willys MB Jeep »

The Hamilton Watch Co. - Founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1892. Its first series of pocket watches, Broadway Limited, became known as the “Watch of Railroad Accuracy”. The unrivalled precision and reliability of the Hamilton railroad watches put a stop to an epidemic of serious accidents and marked the beginning of a long and continuing journey of successful timekeeping. Read More »

Ettore Boiardi - Better known as Chef Boyardee, Hector (Ettore) was also well known during the war years for bringing his wildly popular spaghetti meals to the troops fighting overseas during WWII. Many ground forces carried their P-38 can openers, or John Wayne can openers around thier necks to open the meals. Full story: Chef Boyardee »

   FINE FIELD CUISINE: C-Rations » "Got your John Wayne? " »

---- POST-WAR RENOWN VETERANS ---------------------------------------------------
Don Adams served in the U.S. Marines during WWII. During the Guadalcanal campaign he was the only survivor of his platoon. He contracted blackwater fever and nearly died. He was hospitlaized for nearly a year. After his recovery he served as a drill instructor. Following the war he embarked on a career as a stand-up comedian and an impressionist. Full story »

Donald Pleasence - His acting career spanned five decades with roles as varied in the early 'James Bond' movies to the 'Halloween' franchise. He may be most remembered for his role in 'The Great Escape' as Flight Lt. Colin Blythe. Interestingly enough, in real life, as a member of the RAF Bomber Command, he was shot down and spent the rest of the war in a German POW camp. Full story »

Lee Marvin - Lee Marvin was the epitome of Hollywood 'cool' back in the day. He, along with Steve McQueen and Paul Newman, brought his military experience and acting talents to the big screen beginning in 1950 until his final film in 1986. Lee served as a sniper in the Marine Corps in WWII, and was awarded the Purple Heart for his wounds received during the Battle of Saipan. Full story »

   JOHN GARAND GOES TO WAR: Lee Marvin's M1D »

Charles Bronson - Director John Huston once summed up Charles Bronson as "a grenade with the pin pulled." But Bronson was even more powerful than that: an example of someone who applied his talent, his passion to achieve great success. Once he completed his military career, Bronson studied art, then acting, and then went on become an international star. Full story »

   ACTOR & VETERAN: Jimmy Stewart, Rick Jason CARTOONIST: Charles M. Schulz

---- CORRESPONDENTS AND ARTISTS ---------------------------------------------------
Ernie Pyle - was an American journalist who wrote as a roving correspondent for the Scripps Howard newspaper chain from 1935 until his death in combat during WWII. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1944. His articles, about the out-of-the-way places he visited and the people who lived there, were a folksy style much like a personal letter to a friend. He enjoyed a following in some 300 newspapers.

Edward R. Murrow - was an American broadcast journalist. He first came to prominence with a series of radio news broadcasts during WWII, which were followed by millions of listeners in the United States and Canada. Fellow journalists Eric Sevareid, Ed Bliss and Alex Kendrick considered Murrow one of journalism's greatest figures, noting his honesty and integrity in delivering the news.

   OTHER MEDIA: The Golden Era of Radio »

Bill Mauldin - A two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist from the United States, he was most famous for his WWII cartoons depicting American soldiers, as represented by the archetypal characters Willie and Joe, two weary infantry troopers who stoically endure the difficulties and dangers of duty in the field. These cartoons were published and distributed in Stars and Stripes.

   MAGAZINES & NEWSPAPERS: YANK Magazine » STARS AND STRIPES »
   Leatherneck Magazine »

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