1940s, Part 1

Just as the nation was pulling out of the Great Depression, it was plunged into World War II. A campus with a small airport was an ideal training location for Army Air Force and Navy personnel. As male students disappeared from campus through the draft, they were replaced by uniformed students from all over the nation. In addition to their training coursework, many men also participated in sports and clubs. A large mess hall, barracks, and trailers sprouted up on campus and would be used by the civilian campus for years to come.

After the war, the G.I Bill gave thousands of veterans the chance to attend college, and they and their families had a tremendous impact on campus life in the late 1940s.