World War II Scrapbook/ Journal

of Rachel Carlson

Narendran Sairam
September 1, 1939
Today the sun rose with bleak news. Jack came home all excited with a news paper is his hand. I
couldn't read it but here is what the head line said.
When I went out to buy groceries, I heard from Mrs.
Peterson that the Germans had invaded Poland and she seemed
awfully excited about that but I didn't what the fuss was all about.
There were some pictures of the invasion. It looks quite serious.I
spent the rest of the day preparing for Jack's birthday tomorrow.

I'm excited to give him his present. Lets hope he likes his gift.

Narendran Sairam
September 8, 1939
I guess the war is big news. President Roosevelt signed something called the Executive Order
8248 into a bill. Everyone seems to be talking about it all the time. Papa and Mama and Jack were
chattering about that during dinner at the table. What hypocrites! They tell me to not talk during
meals.

Jack's party went really

well though. He loved his gift
and he enjoyed the giant
chocolate cake I made him.
My parents gave him a new
camera and here is the first
picture that he took. I like to
call it “Hypocritical Dinner”

Executive Order 8248: “There shall be within the Executive Office of the
President the following principal divisions, namely: (1) The White House
Office, (2) the Bureau of the Budget, (3) the National Resources Planning
Board, (4) the Liaison Office for Personnel Management, (5) the Office of
Government Reports, and (6) in the event of a national emergency, or threat
of a national emergency, such office for emergency management as the
President shall determine.”

Narendran Sairam
January 17, 1940
A new year has come our way. We all made some silly resolutions. I resolved not to take up meat.
Psha! That's gonna last long. There was some excitement among the soldiers at the bar today. There
were talking about the British hacking some code called the 'Enigma' at Bletchley Park. A bunch of
hosh posh if you ask me. Why can't we just keep our noses out of this war. It's not ours to fight.

But that isn't the least of my problems. Congress has passed something called a draft legislation.
Apparently that means that Jack will have to fight in a war if it breaks out. I don't want my brother to
fight in a war. Especially a war which he didn't start.

Narendran Sairam
June 14, 1940
A lot of things have been happening in Europe. The bar is always buzzing
with troops and Jack's been acting strangely lately. Today at dinner, he asked
papa if he could join the army and they got into quite the tiff. I don't understand
why he has to be like that. Why can he just not leave this war for the Germans
and the Polish and the French and the British to fight out? Papa kept saying
the draft would get him anyways and that there was no hurry.
Germans marched into Paris today and they have been ruthlessly rampaging through Europe. A
couple of months ago,
Germany invaded
Norway and
Denmark. In may, it
invaded Holand and
Belgiu. And a coupla
days ago, Italy joined
Germany. As brutal
as they are, its none
of our business and
feel like we should
stay out of it but
everyone keeps
telling me that I'm a
silly girl.

Narendran Sairam
July 24, 1941.
Well another year has arrived. The vegetarian thing didn't last very long. The war craze has
returned again. People are talking about the “World War” ever where. Rumor has it that the Japanese
have joined the war too. They seem to wanting to help the Germans. The war seems to be moving closer
and closer to us and I'm a little scared now. Jack is trying harder than ever to join the army because
all his friends are doin' that. I just hope this ends soon.

This picture was in the new paper. Pretty terrible what the Japs are doing.

Narendran Sairam
December 19, 1941
Things have gone from bad to worse. Our
nation has entered the war too. On the seventh of
this month, the Japs attacked Hawaii. Word in the
bar is that more than two thousand Americans died in
the war. I feel like we shouldn't be dragged into this
war.

But what has been done to us is unforgivable and I guess we have to strike back in order to keep the
Japs in check. But things have gotten even worse. On the eleventh, Germany and Italy declared war on
us. So now we are officially at war. Jack has been going crazy about this. Papa is pretty close to
letting him go join the army.

Narendran Sairam
January 24, 1942
Today was a dreadful day. It was a day that I have been fearing for a while now. My brother,
Jack was called to the draft office. He's off to Britain
to join the fight. He's to take a flight from Boston
early tomorrow morning and he will get there on the
twenty sixth. As he left, I took this picture from his
camera.

On the bright side, he is taking his camera with

him and he has promised to write every week. I guess its
not terrible then. As long as he stays safe and sound,
I'm happy.

I'm looking forward to war pictures. Its exciting

and dreadful at the same time.

Narendran Sairam
 March 12, 1942
The government has started a
rationing program and everything is being
rationed. It started a few months ago
with rationing rubber. But since then
everything has been rationed. There are
posters everywhere asking people to
safe food and to use only what they
need. Sometimes it's a little
overwhelming.

Narendran Sairam
August 1, 1942
I got the first letter from my brother today! I breathed a sigh a relief when I got it from him
because I have been terrified the past few days. He explained that it took a long time to write because
he was busy in the war and that he had very little time to
himself.
He is in some place called Stalingrad. Funny names people
give to places. He 'platoon'- I don't know what that is- is fighting
against the Germans who attacked it on the 17th of July. He
claims that they are winning. I just hope that he returns home in
one piece. All I want is my brother back home.
He sent me this picture of his friends and one of the attack
at Stalingrad.

Narendran Sairam
February 9, 1943
This new years was gloomy because mama and papa were both sad and depressed that Jack wasn't
home. But I got good news from my brother today so its not all bad. He says that the Germans
surrendered at that Stalingrad place. I knew no one could stand a chance my ever strong country. I don't
think anyone can mess with the principles of America and get away intact. But my brother is very happy
and he says that he now has a break for a few days. I'm proud to be his sister: to say that “My
brother fought against the Nazis,” is a distinct pleasure.

Narendran Sairam
January 16, 1944
Big news hit the papers. Some smart general named general Eisehower is taking over command of
our troops in Europe.
Must be a genius. He
sure looks like a genius.
Here is a picture. Looks
tough doesn't he?

I haven't heard from my brother in a while and I really hope that he is ok.

Narendran Sairam
September 15, 1944
My brother walked home today. When I answered the door, there was a man standing at the door
with a long beard, thick mangled hair and one and a
half arms. It wasn't until he introduced himself
that I realized that it was my brother. He told us
about how he lost his arm in battle and how he and
his friends barely escaped death. He told us about
how he saw the atrocities that the Germans
committed. The worst of them was what the did to
the Jews. My brother got a few pictures. Take a
look. Its moving

These Germans deserve to be beaten and killed. Honestly,

who does that to people? I feel sick just looking at the the
pictures. Such savages must be eliminated from the face of
the earth.

Narendran Sairam
May 9, 1945
My family has been detached from the war for quite a while
now. We've been spending more time trying to make Jack feel
accepted because it is hard for him to assimilate back into society
with part of his arm missing. It is depressing to see him like this. He
falls into deep bouts of depression and withdrawal. He even tried to
commit suicide once but papa convinced him that it wasn't worth it. But
yesterday, Jack turned a new leaf when he heard that Germany had
surrendered. The news of Hitler's suicide and Germany's surrender
has been the talk of town and we are preparing for a celebration.
Everyone is calling May 8th,
VE Day because it is
Victory in Europe Day. I
thought that was pretty
clever.

Narendran Sairam
August 16, 1945
I thought that the World Way would be over
after Germany surrendered but apparently not. The
Japs kept going at it, until a few days ago, President
Truman ordered an 'atom bomb' to be dropped onto
Nagasaki. Jack tried to explain to me what an atom
bomb was but it was way over my head. But either
way, that seems to have done the trick. On the
fifteenth, the Japs surrendered too. So I guess its
finally but was it worth it? I don't know.

Narendran Sairam