While the story of World War II often is told on a global or heroic scale, the stories presented here are much more intimate. This exhibition contains interviews, personal correspondence, and other primary documents that illustrate how six ordinary people were impacted by the war.
Their Stories
Despite the differences in their backgrounds and experiences, these subjects all faced a common challenge: to not only survive, but thrive, in the midst of a worldwide conflict. Their stories reveal not only acts of bravery but also everyday moments of anxiety, affection, loneliness, humor, wonder, and even boredom. This exhibition illustrates how ordinary people navigated extraordinary circumstances in the best ways they could.
Local goes global
D.R. Bushnell
D. R. Bushnell had never traveled more than 20 miles from his hometown of Johnson City, TX when he was drafted in 1943.
The letter writer
Eldon Cook
His letters to his wife from “somewhere in Germany” are filled with sweetness and humor.
A POW
Omer Sharpe
Omer Sharpe, who was captured by the Germans and held as a prisoner-of-war for fourteen months
Love abroad
Tom Ellison
Tom Ellison, who met his future wife in England while serving as an airplane mechanic for the US Navy.