Shipping in 1942 (WWII)

[BillTre]

These two guys are logistics or supply nerds who just love talking about supply issues, especially in WW2.

One wrote a book on 1942 and the other is some kind of professor somewhere. Sal Mercagliano does great explanations of shipping accidents based on the available records.
They discuss many ways that logistics and supply lines affected military actions, in 1942, in several theaters.
I found it interesting.

 

[Klystron]

FYI Richard M. Nixon served as a US Navy supply officer in the Pacific during WWII. One historian noted that Nixon facilitated shipments of high-performace fuel to PT boat squadrons that included later political rival and fellow Navy officer John F. Kennedy.

One fictionalized account had Nixon also meeting Texas Senator Lyndon B. Johnson island hopping as a member of a bomber crew. Later research indicates LBJ only flew a few well publicized missions, likely not meeting Nixon, at least during WWII.

Senator's son George H.W. Bush certainly did fly many dangerous difficult missons piloting SBD Dauntless dive bombers against the Imperial Japanese Navy. Some enterprising historian might find transport bills for fuel and supplies connecting Nixon to GHW Bush given, as stated, the immense sustained interest in all things WWII.

These apparent connections among future US presidents during WWII indicate how dedicated people of that generation served in the military during time of need. Demonstrating true patriotism by service to the country once seemed a prerequisite to higher office, now a quaint historical footnote.

 

[Hornbein]

All nine Presidents from Harry Truman through Bush the First had served in the military. During this 47-year period all major party nominees for the presidency except Adlai Stevenson had served in the military. That includes Walter Mondale and Michael Dukakis. FDR never enlisted but had been Deputy Secretary of the Navy so you reasonably could include him too making for a 60-year streak of veteran presidents.

This requirement weakened gradually then began to lose its grip with the ostensible end of the Cold War and election of Bill Clinton. Still, subsequent nominees Bob Dole, W, Al Gore, John Kerry, and John McCain were all veterans. This tradition finally sank away entirely with the 2012 Barack Obama/Mitt Romney contest with neither candidate a veteran. After this I don't recall this criterion getting any mention at all.

In the old days the military was seen as a legitimate tool to expand the nation interest via conquering other nations. All the great powers were doing this. William McKinley had enlisted as a common soldier in the Civil War and saw a goodly amount of serious combat. Winston Churchill "saw action" as a young lieutenant. Teddy Roosevelt lost sons in World War One, this killing his enthusiasm for war. Joe Kennedy Jr. died as a military test pilot, a very dangerous duty. A great deal of hay was made over JFK's stint as a PT boat captain. As a minimum you had to have served in the military, and even so would be disfavored if you had never come under fire. LBJ made a big point of exposing himself to very serious enemy fire, though I believe it was only once.

When I was a kid the dominant ethos was the nation had to stick together and support its leaders. The military crewcut purposed to abate lice was very popular. The Beatle cut was considered subversive to national unity, it caused a huge controversy. Vietnam put a dent in this ethic, Nixon's disgrace was another blow, it faded away gradually, and by now this feeling has disappeared completely. Also having disappeared is the idea that the rich and famous should expose themselves and their progeny to enemy fire, or at the very least have volunteered for the USO. The "we're all in this together" feeling has left the building.