World War II and Chester County, Pennsylvania

by Marion Piccolomini

Overview

Regiments from Chester County fought bravely in all theaters of World War II, while locals at home took extraordinary measures to support the Allies. West Chester resident G. Raymond Rettew developed a process to mass produce vitally needed penicillin while a peaceful farm transformed into the bustling Valley Forge General Hospital in 1943. Women entered labor positions at companies, including Lukens Steel, to meet production demands. The Coatesville YMCA created and distributed a newsletter to soldiers so the boys on the front had the news from back home. Author Marion Piccolomini celebrates the resilience and perseverance of Chester County residents in the midst of total war.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781540202710
Publisher:	History Press Library Editions
Publication date:	03/21/2016
Pages:	146
Sales rank:	524,850
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.38(d)

About the Author

Marion Piccolomini is an officer of the Downingtown Area Historical Society and a member of the West Nantmeal Township Historical Commission. She holds a master's degree in speech language pathology from the Pennsylvania State University.

Table of Contents

Preface 7

Acknowledgements 11

1 Chester County 15

2 Buildup to War 17

3 Steel Jumps on Board 23

4 Other Industries Join the Cause 39

5 Communities Chip In 61

6 Preparing and Protecting the Homcfront 71

7 Supporting the Troops 81

8 Colleges and Universities 89

9 Caring for the Troops 101

10 Stories from around Chester County 111

Notes 121

Bibliography 129

Index 137

About the Author 141