Fighting for the Right to Fight in Louisiana

Americans like to think of World War II as a “great crusade,” but if it was, the country certainly didn’t seem all that fervent about rushing into it. Think of it: by the usual reckoning, World War II lasted six years, from the invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, to Japan’s surrender on board the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945. US participation spanned less than four years of that total, a little over half the war. Of seven campaigning seasons, the United States missed the first three and was active only in the final four.

Celebrate New Orleans industry and innovation during Higgins Reunion Day at The National WWII Museum!

U-505: Its History, Louisiana Connections, and Modern Legacy

Weekend War Games--Louisiana Maneuvers

Uniquely Louisiana: Wartime Music

A Veteran’s Story: Paul Hilliard

WWII veteran Paul Hilliard shares memories of his wartime experiences and how they shaped his life in Louisiana after the war’s conclusion, when he built a successful career in the oil-and-gas industry.

On December 8, 1941, just one day after the Pearl Harbor attacks, the United States officially entered World War II—Louisiana, however, was already front and center in the country’s defense preparations.

The Pelican State Goes to War: Louisiana in World War II