Twentieth-Century Texas: A Social and Cultural History

Over Here: Texans on the Home Front

164 MUCH HAS BEEN WRITTEN about the courage and heroism of Texans in battle. The impact of war upon Texas culture and society , especially in the twentieth century, has received less attention. While the exploits of Texas military units such as the 90th Division in the Meuse-Argonne Forest in 1918 and the 36th Division at Salerno and the Rapido River in 1943–44 and individual Texas soldiers and seamen such as John W. Thomason, Chester W. Nimitz, Audie Murphy, Sam Dealey, and William H. Walker have been described in various books and films, little attention has been paid to the effect that twentieth-century wars, both hot and cold, have had upon cultural and social developments in the state.1 The First World War, 1914–1918, or the Great War as it was called by contemporaries, had a profound impact upon Texans. Nearly 200,000 Texans saw military service, many overseas in the trenches of France. The war also affected those Texans who remained at home. Hundreds of new jobs were created in constructing camps for training soldiers, building ships, drilling for and refining oil, and increasing production of cotton and other agricultural commodities. The war developed a new sense of national patriotism among many Texans, most of whom thought of themselves more as southerners than Americans when the conflict began.2 Over Here Texans on the Home Front Ralph A. Wooster ★ 20centtxtext.indd 164 20centtxtext.indd 164 1/18/08 1:45:51 PM 1/18/08 1:45:51 PM OVER HERE 165 The outbreak of war in Europe in 1914 surprised most Texans. Local matters such as the extremely hot weather, the bumper cotton crop, and the political and military turmoil in Mexico seemed of greater interest. This changed when the German submarine campaign brought the United States into the war in April 1917. The impact upon American, and Texan, society was enormous. Thousands of Texans entered military service through mobilization of the Texas National Guard as the 36th Infantry Division. Others volunteered or were conscripted into units such as the 90th Division made up primarily of Texans and Oklahomans. Thousands of other Texans were employed in the building of new military camps such as Camp Bowie in Fort Worth, Camp Travis in San Antonio, Camp MacArthur in Waco, Ellington Field, near Houston, and Kelly and Brooks Fields in San Antonio.3 Economic mobilization immediately affected Texas culture and social life. In addition to building the two dozen training camps and military airfields located in the state, Texans were soon working in war production, particularly shipbuilding and oil refining in cities such as Houston, Beaumont, and Port Arthur. Greater production of all agricultural commodities, especially cotton, wool, and foodstuffs , required the employment of many additional workers. Unemployment almost disappeared as thousands of Texans were soon involved in production of the materials of war.4 In an effort to mobilize resources for the war effort, the United States Congress created the National Council of Defense. Every state, including Texas, established councils of defense to assist in wartime mobilization. The Texas state council was divided into ten statewide committees designed to mobilize production, conservation , and support for the war effort. To assist the state council, 240 county and 15,000 community councils were created. These local groups sold government war bonds and stamps, supported conservation of food and materials, and generated patriotism and support for the war effort.5 20centtxtext.indd 165 20centtxtext.indd 165 1/18/08 1:45:52 PM 1/18/08 1:45:52 PM 166 TWENTIETH-CENTURY TEXAS To encourage increased production and conservation of the nation’s food resources Congress created the Federal Food Administration headed by future president Herbert Hoover. Under Hoover’s leadership each state created an organization for food production and conservation. Headed by Houston businessman E. A. Peden, the Texas Food Administration conducted a vigorous educational program aimed at encouraging Texans to observe meatless Tuesdays and Thursdays, wheatless Mondays and Wednesdays, and porkless Saturdays. At the same time the Food Administration encouraged Texans to save surplus garden and orchard produce by canning and drying. Demonstrations were given throughout the war with “victory kitchens” set up in public schools where women were given instruction in canning and drying.6 At the same time that Texans were making sacrifices for the war effort, criticism of anyone who opposed government policies grew. In June 1917 Congress passed the Espionage...