“The Good War”: An Oral History of World War II

Roger Tuttrup lied about his age to enlist in the military. Eventually, he was sent to be part of the military defense of China. Roger admits that he held racist attitudes toward both the Chinese and the Japanese, noting, “The last image that comes to my mind is what we were taught about the Japanese. The Marine Corps taught us that, too. That the Japs are lousy, sneaky, treacherous—watch out for them…Who’s brainwashin’ you on all this?” (178).

A columnist for the Chicago paper Gay Life, Ted Allenby discusses his experience as a gay man fighting in World War II. He signed up for the marines because it had the reputation as the most masculine branch of the military. Ted used homophobic slurs alongside his comrades when talking with them, even though he knew he was gay. Although Ted argues that officials tended to turn a blind eye to homosexuality during World War II, the Cold War changed that, with military and government authorities taking a much harder line and targeting gay servicemembers and employees. Ted was eventually dishonorably discharged because of his sexuality and relationships. Ted concludes that World War II was “a war that had to be fought,” yet “all war is evil” (185).