Press Release: "The Home Front"

As we approach the 65th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, KUED proudly concludes its Emmy Award-winning series Utah WWII Stories with a moving look at life on “The Home Front.” Not coincidentally, the program premieres on Pearl Harbor Day, Thursday, December 7, at 7 p.m. and repeats Sunday, December 10 at 8:30 p.m.

This final episode of KUED’s Emmy Award-winning series chronicles the stories of the men and women of Utah’s “Greatest Generation” who helped the war effort in munitions plants, a parachute factory and the farms and neighborhoods of the state, as World War II raged.

Sacrifice was the watchword as Utahns on the home front saved scrap metal, tended victory gardens, went without and prayed that big brothers, fathers, husbands, friends and neighbors would come home one day.  Their stories demonstrate that bravery and loss were experienced not just on the battlefields, but also on the home front.

As trains filled with young Utah recruits passed through Ogden, patriotic citizens did whatever they could to comfort military personnel heading for dangers in Europe or the Pacific.  It is estimated that for each of the 70,000 veterans from Utah, 30 citizens offered support in some way.  Touching dramas unfolded as sweethearts, wives and parents said goodbye to their loved ones, not knowing if they would ever be reunited.

Loved ones at home faced rationing of gas, meat and hundreds of other items.  Some worked in the Remington Arms Plant in Salt Lake City, Bushnell Hospital in Brigham City, the parachute factory in Manti, or at hundreds of other jobs necessary for the country’s defense.  Some spent the war years in an internment camp near Delta, and waited with the same trepidation experienced by other Utahns.

Gladys Breinholt of Provo recalls when her husband, Verle, shipped out.  “He came home that night to tell me so that I could prepare to take care of myself,” Breinholt remembers, with tear-filled eyes.  “I went down to the train where they were loading, along with hundreds of others, and said goodbye to him. . .And that was the last time I saw him until the war was over and he came home.”

During World War II, blue stars appeared in windows of every neighborhood in Utah, reflecting a loved one serving on active duty.  Elementary students participated in air-raid drills and block wardens made sure everyone complied with blackout drills and other rules established for defense.

“The Home Front” reveals the intimate sacrifices of many Utahns, providing a glimpse into the lives of dedicated citizens.  As important, it shows more clearly the tragic loss that was felt when the notice was delivered that someone’s son, husband, sweetheart or brother had been killed in the line of duty.  When word of a tragic loss was received, families tearfully replaced the blue star in the window with a gold star and became part of Utah’s “elite citizens” who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.

Included in the final episode of the Utah World War II Stories series are heart-breaking letters that reflect the fear and uncertainty felt by the young soldiers who were fighting the war.  Salt Lake City resident Barbara Tanner recalls the end of the War.  “It’s funny. . . our little boy reacted very strongly when I told him the war was over.  I remember him saying to me ‘Well, my daddy can come home!’”

“Winning World War II did more to change our lives for the better than anything else in the last century,” says Rick Randle, writer/consultant on the series.  “The tremendous will and courage of our armed forces played a major part, backed up with millions of citizens at home – all willing to sacrifice in any way to achieve victory.

Utah World War II Stories: “The Home Front” was produced by KUED’s Elizabeth Searles, with assistance from associate producer Sally Shaum, production assistant David Castleton, and writer/consultants Rick Randle and Ken Verdoia.

Utah WWII Stories:  “The Home Front” premieres on Pearl Harbor Day, Thursday, December 7, at 7 p.m. and repeats Sunday, December 10 at 8:30 p.m.    If you would like high-resolution pictures to run with this press release, please let me know.

The Utah World War II Stories series was made possible by funding from the Stephen G. and Susan E. Denkers Family Foundation, the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, and the Cleone Peterson Eccles Endowment Fund.  Additional funding by the Stewart Education Foundation, the Willard L. Eccles Charitable Foundation, C. Comstock Clayton Foundation, Kennecott Utah Copper, the University of Utah, and the Utah Humanities Council.

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