Life as a Soldier in World War II

Contributed by Robert Schmicker

Life as a soldier during WWII was no treat.  It involved several demanding tedious tasks and constant movement.  The living quarters were sparse.  Soldiers dug or used existing craters to build a bunker and lived out of the bunker for months at a time.  The bunkers was often times hot, smelly, and wet during the summer and in the winter, the bunkers were cold and damp.  Showers were few and far between.  Food was also not five star quality.  As a soldier, one would eat endless upon endless cans of food, often times canned meat and vegetables -- mostly beans with a biscuit.  Soldiers were lucky to be filled up due to having to evenly distribute the food amongst all of the soldiers.

Uniforms were not adequately suited for the winter months and many soldiers froze to death.  Ammunition and food took priority over clothing, so many had to either adapt or improvise with their uniforms to survive.  Many who were drafted served for 2 to 4 years and if a soldier was a ground soldier, the soldier did not come home until it was completely over.  The life of a soldier was nothing shy of hell.  This is one reason why the veterans of WWII are amongst the most respected of all veterans.  

For more information on life during WWII, see:  

American Life During World War II The National WWII Museum. "PRIMARY SOURCES: WAR BONDS." The National WWII Museum. N.p., 2003. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

Robinson, Heather E. "Children on the Home Front." The Gilder Lehrman Institute

of American History. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, 2009. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

Cohen, Stan, and Clark Reynolds. "Rationing on the US Homefront during WW

II." Rationing on the US Homefront during WW II. Ames Historical Society, n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

History. "The U.S. Home Front During World War II." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 1996. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

University of California. "Everyday Life During World War II." Calisphere. University of California, n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

Interview:
Below is an interview of Harry Cochran, 92 years old.  Mr. Cochran is a veteran of WWII and fought in WWII when he was 22 years old.  Among other things, Mr. Cochran participated in the famed Battle of the Bulge.