Luther College Goes to War: Scuttlebutt and the World War II Letters. Volume II

During World War II, Chellis N. Evanson, history professor at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, published Scuttlebutt, a newsletter to circulate news and addresses for the former Luther students who were serving in the military around the world. In return, the students sent information about their whereabouts and, to the extent that military censorship allowed, descriptions of their activities. This edition of letters and photographs from that collection provides a unique insight into the lives of men and women serving in World War II. Under normal circumstances, these men would have been living the lives of typical college students: studying for exams, preparing for a ball game, or trying to build up courage to ask the woman next to them in class out on a date. Instead, they were diving for cover from German artillery barrages or attempting to shoot down Japanese kamikaze pilots before their own ship was destroyed. The letters in this second of two volumes detail sports and recreation in the military, spirituality, women in the military, and war casualties. Providing a glimpse of what soldiers experienced in World War II, this collection is a valuable historical resource and a testament to the commitment of war veterans.

Marvin G. Slind, Ph.D., is an associate professor of history at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa. His specialty is modern European history, focusing primarily on Scandinavia and Germany. He and his wife, Mickey, live in Decorah, Iowa.