Everyone......this is it......the last of the 50 states........I started this series a year ago with the intention to learn more about the nation I live in, and what each state and it's people went through during the war. This has been a fantastic experience, and I sincerely appreciate all of your support and participation throughout. I certainly hope you all have learned some new things as a result of this, or simply enjoyed reading some of the threads. The final WW2 effects will cover South Dakota! I hope you learn something new, and of course enjoy! South Dakota Pre-WW2 South Dakota was admitted to the Union as the 40th state, right behind it's Northern sister, North Dakota. South Dakota shares many of the same qualities and geography as North Dakota, but has always obtained a slight advantage over the North, and that's location. South Dakota was close to many major pioneering trails in the 1840's and 50's, and many pioneers chose to stay and farm the rich soil present there. Soon the U.S military created Fort Pierre, bringing in further settlers. During this time, relations with the Native American Sioux and Lakota people deteriorated. Fighting between the natives and the settlers reached and all time high in the 1870's, with hundreds of deaths on both sides yearly. In the early 1880's, the natives were defeated, and forcefully moved elsewhere, South Dakota was now strictly U.S territory. The discovery of Gold in 1874 only increased the amount of settlers moving through the area, and it was soon realized that South Dakota had great potential to be a miners and farmers paradise. Corn and soybeans, along with Cold and Quartz made up the states main exports. This combination formed the nucleus of South Dakota's economy, and it helped grow the state and it's economy.....at least until 1929 (sound familiar?). With the Great Depression ravaging the state, the mining industry almost ceased to operate, and thousands of workers were laid off. But the agricultural sector was keeping the state afloat.......and then the dust bowl came. The Dust bowl blew away not just crops and land, but the people hopes of stability and a means of making money. Panic set in, and from 1935 to 1940, 8% of the population, or about 50,000 people, left the state. It was a particularly depressing time for South Dakotan's, as there was seemingly no escape from the dust and poverty. However, some relief would come in the form of Government spending. The government asked for military installations and other public facilities to be built across the state, while this temporarily helped things, full recovery wouldn't take place until WW2 began. Mt. Rushmore was also constructed during the 30's, and was finished in October of 1941. South Dakota WW2 When war came to the U.S in 1941, South Dakota had been ready since 1940. Four Army airfields had been built across the state including Pierre and Aberdeen Field. Two ordnance plants were constructed in Black Hills and Igloo. South Dakota's vast expanse of land and small population made the state ideal for Aviation and military training. B-17 and B-24 squadrons trained over the badlands and black hills, while Armor and infantry trained outside of Sioux Falls. Meanwhile, the citizens of South Dakota were at work in the various government and military facilities, while others put on food drives and community victory gardens. The state was united, and despite it's relatively small population, it managed to achieve much for the war effort, and represented itself well when the help was needed. Out of the 640,000 South Dakotan's in the state at the time, 70,000 were drafted or volunteered for armed service during the war. The vast majority of South Dakotan's served in the Pacific, the most famous of whom was LaVerne Saunders, a Pearl Harbor survivor who managed to get his P-36 airborne during the attack, and would later go on to be a brigadier general. Two other South Dakotan's participated in the Doolittle raid in April of 1942. When the war came to an end, 1,426 of the states young men had given their lives in the conflict, nearly 4% of all soldiers South Dakota provided. South Dakota Post WW2 After the war, South Dakota was brought back into economic stability. The mining industry was revived, and agriculture recovered at a record setting pace. It wouldn't be all smooth sailing though, in the 70's, a recession hit the nation and South Dakota was hit hard, with another 30,000 people leaving the state. But with the discovery of oil in both Dakota's in the 90's, the population and economy has grown since. South Dakota also became home to Ellsworth AFB, which was meant to be a FOB for B-52's and B-1's if the need to drop Atomic bombs on the Soviet Union was necessary. The population of South Dakota now sits at 820,000, and is steadily growing. While the state still struggles in many areas, it is generally successful, and will continue to be for decades to come. World War II, Korea, and Vietnam Casualties South Dakota - Wikipedia https://www.sdhspress.com/.../south-dakota...south-dakota-in-world-war-ii/vol-19-no-... Chief Sitting Bull of the Sioux tribe Artist rendition of Fort Pierre in 1860 The Missouri River bridges in Pierre, the states Capital Downtown Sioux Falls in 1942 An aerial view of the Black Hills Ordnance depot 1943 A remaining bunker from the depot today..... Pierre capital building Sioux Falls, with waterfalls literally running through the city.... The Badlands........a rather beautiful yet miserable looking place Mt Rushmore under construction...... Mt. Rushmore today.......notice anything strange?
the dog. My mom is from South Dakota. She enlisted in 1944 and was a navy postal clerk in Brooklyn. Her brother Roy was a radio man on an attack transport. Her brother Roger was in the 505th PIR, 82nd Airborne and died in Holland. Mt. Rushmore in 2015. Notice anything strange?
Thank you for sharing Scott, thank you Scott's Uncle for your ultimate sacrifice, and the service of your mother. I'm not sure what's out of place for your picture??
Thank you Half-Track, I sincerely appreciated oyur support and kind words, you most definitely made it more rewarding and enjoyable, not just for me, but for all who read my threads.
I guess strange isn't right. How about 'not usual'. Look at the angle of the picture, you are looking at a slight down angle to the presidents. The picture was taken at Norbeck Overlook, about 2 miles as the crow flies and slightly higher than Mt. Rushmore.
The top picture was taken from below at the memorial. My picture was from a lookout about 2 miles away and slightly higher than the monument. I enjoy using a 40x zoom lens for pictures like this.
Ahhhh......nice picture Scott! I've never been to either Dakota, which is sad considering I lived relatively close when I was in Colorado, it still would've been an 8 hour drive if not more.
The wife and I took three weeks and went from North Carolina to Denver to Mt. Rushmore to Sioux Falls to Brainerd Mn. then back to North Carolina. I had to wait till I was 64 and retired before I could take that much time just to travel.
I remember I drive to Broome in the Kimberley, Western Australia - Took 3 weeks! Just the Gibb river road back then...Some days we cold only manage 60kms...But I hope you can see, the journey is as good as the destination.
That doesn't seem to be a long (Kilometer wise) trip, but the terrain and weather must be what takes so long huh?
Yep...couldn't find a picture that showed the corrugated roads...2-3 feet deep gouges and holes, which the wet season makes deeper...So long stretches of about 10km an hour..Dont be fooled by the map though, its still 1800kms!
