The American Soldier in World War II Presented by Dr. Ed Gitre

400 South Monroe Street,Tallahassee FL 32399

03 February, 2022

Description

Reception at 5:30 PM; program begins at 6:00 PM. This presentation complements the exhibit Rendezvous with Destiny: Florida and WWII. Find out what America’s World War II citizen-soldiers had to say when the US Army asked for their uncensored opinions! Join Dr. Ed Gitre, assistant professor of history at Virginia Tech, as we delve into a newly digitized collection of US War Department surveys conducted from 1941 to 1945. More than 500,000 American soldiers’ attitudes, opinions, and experiences in WWII were recorded. Their feedback influenced future military policies and operations, including the eventual desegregation of the military in 1948 and further social changes into the 1960. This program continues the Historic Capitol’s commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the US entry into World War II on December 8, 1941. The temporary exhibit Rendezvous with Destiny: Florida and WWII will be open for viewing throughout the event. Funding for this program was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these programs do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities. Restored to its 1902 appearance, the Historic Capitol stands as an icon at the center of Florida’s Capitol complex; the modern-day nerve center of Sunshine State government. Under the stained-glass dome, political history and tradition come alive in the exhibits.