World War comes to Humboldt County

During World War II, for the first time since the arrival of European Americans, the proximity to the war in the Pacific against Japan, and the threat, both real and perceived, of Japanese attack called local residents and the government to partake in civil defense in a way never done before. For a brief time in 1941 and 1942 the populace of Humboldt County grappled with the real possibility (at least in their minds) of a Japanese attack on their homes. These fears were heightened before Christmas 1941 when Japanese submarines really did roam off the Humboldt coastline and Japanese war planes were "spotted" by imaginative coast watchers and military radar operators up and down the West Coast. This project focuses on seven aspects and causal factors of the local reaction to the coming of the war and some of the steps taken to provide an effective civil defense for Humboldt County. The source material which directly pertains to Humboldt County civil defense response to World War II is limited. Therefore, much of the information comes from oral history sources and local newspapers. There are not any other graduate-level works on Humboldt County during World War II in Humboldt State's collection nor is there a wealth of educational materials on the same subject. Hopefully this project, including the lessons and teaching materials included herein will prove to be of value to local K-12 teachers and a source for future students to use for their own research.