Inaugural WWII Emerging Scholars Symposium

Eisenhower Presidential Library
Online

The Eisenhower, Roosevelt, and Truman Presidential Libraries are proud to present our inaugural emerging scholars symposium to commemorate D-Day. Scheduled the first week of June, this virtual symposium focuses on specialized topics related to the Allied effort during World War II. The 2021 theme is unsung heroes and lesser known subjects. Following each presentation, we feature an intimate conversation during a scholar spotlight to learn more about each presenter. 

Presentation: 10 a.m. (central time) | Scholar Spotlight: 11 a.m. (central time)

Tuesday, June 1: Hannah Palsa 
Presentation Link:  https://youtu.be/DIhLdQ5U0cs
Children and Dogs for Defense
Dogs for Defense formed in 1942. The organization convinced owners to donate their pets for military service. American children wrote letters to donate pets, and saved allowance money to purchase their dogs a military rank through the War Dog Fund. Children’s literature and popular movies about war dogs explained how dogs were used in the war effort and why they were needed. This presentation will examine how children understood and engaged with the Dogs for Defense organization during the United States’ involvement in World War II.

Wednesday, June 2: Jorden Pitt
Presentation Link:  https://youtu.be/Y3vc-uL4UsI
Flight Neuroses in World War II
Many flyers feared they were cowards because of their mental illness in World War II. Adding to the men’s anguish, officers often agreed with this label because the airmen did not evince the masculine qualities necessary to represent the Air Forces. Officers declared that sufferers “lacked moral fiber” and “intestinal fortitude.” Ultimately, this stigmatization of psychological distress in the Army Air Forces exposes a link between broader gender concerns about masculine fortitude and mental health.

Thursday, June 3: Kendall Cosley
Presentation Link: https://youtu.be/nYvCKUT4AUU
How D-Day Shaped GI Joe
War reporters captured the danger, action, and perseverance of the GIs who secured the beaches on D-day, yet their contributions often go unacknowledged. This presentation will explore the experiences of war correspondents who witnessed the efforts of the Allied troops. Adding their stories into the narrative of D-Day will demonstrate how the reporters depicted and solidified the iconic image of the tired, dirty, and war-hardened GI who endured in the face of great odds.

Friday, June 4: Amanda Hess
Presentation Link: https://youtu.be/kFSd8hTELL0
Flight Nursing in WWII 
Necessitated by truly global conflict, a highly-specialized sub-field of the military nursing profession was successfully integrated into the Medical Air Evacuation mission during World War II. This presentation will examine the history of the flight nurse specialty from its civilian roots to its incorporation as a key element of the Medical Air Evacuation Squadrons and the institutional roadblocks that mass air evacuation would overcome to become one of the most successful advancements in military medicine.