VERNON J. BAKER

Fought in Italy- assault on Castle Aghinolfi
Earned a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, and the Distinguished Service Cross
In 1996, over fifty-years after the war, he received a telephone call from a man researching the heroism of African Americans during the War.
Was then informed that he was being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor
He is the ONLY living African American WWII veteran to earn the Medal of Honor

ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF WW11

GREAT DEPRESSION

RATIONING

• Gas, tires, scrap metal, nylon, food stuff, etc.
• Americans were given Ration Cards

Production of non-essential items (cars) was halted
Female Employment
Millions of women replaced men who left for war
“Rosie the Riveter”
Women also went into the military through the Women’s Army Corps (WACS) and the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES)
WWII brings economic prosperity and affluence to the United States

MIGRATION

• African Americans begin migrating West
• Americans begin migrating West and to the Sun Belt
• Growth of suburbs