Waubonsee Community College

We have just begun to not fight, an oral history of conscientious objectors in civilian public service during World war II, Heather T. Frazer and John O'Sullivan

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 253-255) and index

platesillustrations

index present

non fiction

We have just begun to not fight

bibliography

32666666

Heather T. Frazer and John O'Sullivan

Twayne's oral history series, no. 18

an oral history of conscientious objectors in civilian public service during World war II

World War II stands, for most Americans, as the "good" war; it was a necessary war fought for a just cause. Yet more than 40,000 American men refused to fight the war. Citing principled opposition, they declared themselves conscientious objectors. Rejecting combat duty, the men served as noncombatants in the military, performed alternative civilian service, and in some cases took an absolutist position and went to prison. "We Have Just Begun To Not Fight" is devoted to the nearly 12,000 men who entered Civilian Public Service (CPS) with the intent to perform "work of national importance" as an alternative to combat duty. CPS men worked as aides in mental hospitals, volunteered as smoke jumpers in forest fires, and participated in grueling medical and scientific experiments. They were a remarkably diverse group - blue-collar workers, college professors, Amish farmers, and Pulitzer Prize winners - motivated by a wide range of philosophical and political beliefs. Religious fundamentalists, anarchists, absolutists, socialists, and Father Coughlinites came together in the 151 CPS camps scattered throughout the country. The communities they created in the camps, as well as their encounters with the local, often hostile communities surrounding them, are a largely unexamined aspect of wartime AmericaAuthors Heather T. Frazer and John O'Sullivan record the oral histories of 15 CPS men and 2 CPS wives whose recollections and reflections impart a rich understanding of this exercise of conscience in wartime

The organization and functioning of CPS: M.R. Zigler, Stephen Cary, Herman Will -- Historic peace church members encounter CPS: Uriah Mast, Robert Doak, Ivan Amstutz -- CPS men from outside the historic peace tradition: Nathaniel Hoffman, Benjamin L. Reid, Gordon Zahn -- From CPS to prison: Bent Andresen, Edward Burrows -- The search for work of national importance: George Granger, William Channel, Paul and Jayne Wilhelm, William and Wilma Ludlow -- Reflections on the CPS experience: Hoosag Gregory, J. Benjamin Stalvey, William Stafford