In particular , a greater role for airplanes in modern society was assured given the successes American air power achieved during wartime . One such airplane demonstration came shortly after Armistice was declared , when the Allied soldiers entered Paris . As they marched down the Champs-Elysees toward the Arc de Triomphe to celebrate their triumphant win , the victors gazed skyward . Above , twelve “ aeroplanes ” performed stunts above the cheering crowds , swooping and diving directly over the trees that lined the grand boulevard .
Postcards From the Front
Written By Michael Brookman
Soldiers and service members away from home have been lonely and homesick since the beginning of mankind . Looking back in our history , doubts and fears about health , finances , business , crops and life in general added to the stress of service and uncertainty of what lay ahead . Those back at home also suffered from the separation and doubts about the safety of their loved ones . Communication between those deployed or stationed any significant distance from home was strained . Although mail and other conduits existed for personal communication between field and home for hundreds of years , they could be as slow as months or even years between the recording of one ’ s thoughts and their receipt by family and friends . Combine the morale boost of personal expression with ease of censorship , and postcards became the perfect vector to help lessen the strain of distance .
The U . S . postcard craze peaked shortly after 1907 , when more than 600 million postcards were mailed . The U . S . Army , Marine Corps , Navy and Air Force encouraged their troops to write home and gave them extra time away from training and chores to do so . The morale payoff for the troops and Home Front was significant . Literally millions of postcards were sent home during the World Wars . Hundreds of thousands were sent from boot camp / basic training , worldwide bases and stations as well as ships during peacetime . Postcards themselves were inexpensive and there was minimal cost to the U . S . Postal Service in handling . Photos and illustrations on the postcard ’ s front painted a thousand words , and the writings on the back were open for any and all to read . The cards were frequently free for troops at bases , hotels , the YMCA , and United Service Organizations ( USOs ). Postage was free for troops during WWII and that fueled the postcard ’ s popularity .
Military censorship was easy since messages were visible and had to be short enough to fit into the 3 x 3.5 ” blank on the back of a card . The writings were restricted generally to things such as , “ How are things at home ?” and “ I ’ m doing fine , training is tough , I miss you .” Personal messages weren ’ t heavily censored but could be cut if they were too gloomy . Messages about location , specific training , technology and unit movements or assignments were carefully monitored . Anything that couldn ’ t be found in the newspapers or otherwise public knowledge was probably going to be cut to keep the enemy in the dark . Service members could face disciplinary action
during wartime for writing the wrong thing , no matter how innocently .
Several postcards give poignant insights into the minds of their writers as well as trying times in our history . Some were written to the “ girl back home ” who had moved on without the soldier ’ s knowledge . Others to a mother or father who would pass away before their card was received . Some of the hardest to read are the last communications before a serviceman was killed . Postcards written to a child the sender would never meet can bring tears . The best are those that follow the path from a soldier ’ s induction , enlistment or commission through the end of service and return home to marriage and a full , long life . Imagine that packet of postcards or any others lovingly kept for so many years as a memento of commitment and love !
Service members today enjoy instant live , audio and visual connections with their loved ones , delivered by satellites . Whether directly , through Facebook , Instagram or other means , it ' s a good thing and it bridges an immense gap . What ’ s gone is the first person , sometimes romantic record of humanity .
To our veterans , past , present and future , thank you . No matter your branch , specialty or era , you ’ ve done something , are something special that we civilians back home may acknowledge and may even understand — but will never experience .
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2018 gmhtoday . com 75