During World War II, the community of Valley City, North Dakota, demonstrated a strong support for the national war effort through a wide range of home-front activities. Local citizens organized scrap metal drives, purchased war bonds and stamps, and planted victory gardens to ensure adequate food supply. Educational institutions also contributed to wartime needs. Valley City State Teachers College, now Valley City State University, hosted the V-12 Navy College Training Program, bringing naval trainees to campus for college-level instruction, and the community supported the United States Cadet Nurse Corps to help train nurses for wartime service. Residents also participated in civil defense efforts, reflecting the collective commitment of the town to supporting the war from home.

Among those who experienced these changes firsthand was Irene Haugen, a former high school teacher who witnessed how the war affected daily life in the community. In the following interview, Haugen recalls where she was when the United States entered the war, how young men began leaving for military service, and how local residents adapted to meet war time demands. In this interview, Irene offers a firsthand account of her experiences.

(Edited and condensed from recorded interview)

Irene recalls the day she learned about the attack on Pearl Harbor while she was still in high school. She was traveling and stopped for gas at Geisler’s when the news came over the radio. The announcement was sudden and shocking, and she remembers how the news spread rapidly and how daily life in Valley City began to shift almost immediately, with young men leaving almost right away.

Irene also reflects on the importance of community cooperation during the war years, especially during threshing season. Farm families worked together during threshing season, moving from farm to farm with a threshing crew and cook car. She explains her role in these efforts, helping prepare and serve meals for the large crews and supporting the work in whatever ways were needed. These gatherings were both labor-intensive and social, bringing neighbors together in a common purpose.

Continue exploring the Valley City Talking Trail, where additional stories highlight the experiences of V-12 trainees, cadet nurses, and the community members who supported them.