Yearbooks during War Time

Among the personal effects of my Dad is his 1943 yearbook from Deering High School in Portland, Maine.  He was a freshman that year. Of course, this was the time of World War II. Besides studying the yearbook for its usual features and looking for references to my Dad, I was intrigued to find that the book that year was dedicated to the “Fighting Men” and its stated theme was “Portland at War”.

It is ironic that the name of Deering's yearbook is Amethyst as the spiritual meaning of the word is grounded-ness and tranquility when the world in 1943 was anything but calm.

“Suddenly in spring, 1940, war came to Portland, unofficially. We called it “National Defense” and prepared for the coming conflict. With the collapse of French resistance, all America awoke, and Portland stirred from sleep. In a few short months Portland built shipyards, machine shops, and dockyards. Thousands migrated from the farms, and the city swelled to bursting with defense workers.”

As you turn the pages, the story is told is small chapters carefully arranged between the individual and group photos. There are the Pathfinder mothers who meet to hear topics such as “Nursing as a Profession” or “Wartime and Education in a Word at War”. Many mothers are involved in Red Cross volunteer work and Civilian Defense activities. Many teachers entered the various branches of the Armed Forces.

On the field of friendly strife are sown the seeds that are on other fields and on other days will bring forth victory. 

                                        - General Douglas MacArthur 

Something that I did not realize about the nearest city to my birth, American destroyers, based in Portland, had been “waging war on U boats for many months before Pearl Harbor". I am amazed to be learning this information from a high school yearbook.

"Portland is doing its part in winning the war. On our streets we brush shoulders with the soldiers and sailors of all the United Nations. War-workers, fatigued, dinner pails under the arms, crowd the buses. Grim naval ships anchor among our fog shrouded islands."

And more thoughts expressed on the dedication page illicit grim images: “the sharp sophomore with the jazzy suspenders and bow tie who wrote you notes in study period is now on submarine patrol in the Atlantic. The shy senior who escorted you to your first junior prom was killed in action in Tunisia last month. Last year’s star basketball player is learning to dismantle a machine gun and use a bayonet at Parris Island.”

The stark reality of Deering's youth in 1943 was: Everywhere we turn we find Portland at war.

Source of the definition of Amethyst: https://meanings.crystalsandjewelry.com/amethyst/

Source of the American poster: https://unsplash.com/photos/o_ez64ErEbQ

Source: Deering High School. Amethyst, 1943. William Dodge, Ed.