Prairie Forge: The Extraordinary Story of the Nebraska Scrap Metal Drive of World War II

by James J. Kimble

In the wake of Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt called for the largest arms buildup in our nation's history. A shortage of steel, however, quickly slowed the program’s momentum, and arms production fell dangerously behind schedule. The country needed scrap metal. Henry Doorly, publisher of the Omaha World-Herald , had the solution. Prairie Forge tells the story of the great Nebraska scrap drive of 1942—a campaign that swept the nation and yielded five million tons of scrap metal, literally salvaging the war effort itself.


 

James J. Kimble chronicles Doorly’s conception of a fierce competition pitting county against county, business against business, and, in schools across the state, class against class—inspiring Nebraskans to gather 67,000 tons of scrap metal in only three weeks. This astounding feat provided the template for a national drive. A tale of plowshares turned into arms, Prairie Forge gives the first full account of how home became home front for so many civilians.


 

 

Genres: History, Book Club, Nonfiction

236 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Surprise

Great presentation about a topic that I knew almost nothing about.

In all the US collected 8,4 M tons of scrap. Impressive, just like this book.

[Karna Converse · Rating 3 out of 5]

-- Details and analysis of how Nebraska newspaper publisher Henry Doorly led one of the first WWII campaigns that gave form to the term "home front" --


One month after the December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt announced a huge increase in the production of guns, tanks, and planes, but then learned that many steel mills had closed or were not operating at capacity because they didn't have enough scrap metal. The War Production Board (WPB) was formed to address the shortfall and to encourage civilians to donate their scrap materials to the cause, but the need was just as great six months later. About that time, Henry Doorly, publisher of the Omaha World-Herald, learned of the need and decided to do something. In 1942, his regional, daily newspaper was probably the most influential publication in Nebraska and, with more than 300 employees and 1000 correspondents throughout the state, had the manpower to organize something of consequence. The goal: 100 pounds of scrap metal per capita.

That August, the World Herald held a three-week campaign and showed the nation how everyday Americans could help win the war. Doorly capitalized on the competitive nature that sports had created in the state—whether it was the high school sports rivalries between counties or the need for a Cornhusker second-half comeback. (On January 1, 1941, the Cornhuskers had competed in their first bowl game but had failed to score any points in the second half and lost.) Prizes would be awarded, he said, but he also urged readers to "show America how Nebraska does the job!"

The project wasn't without its challenges nor was it always evident that it'd be successful, but at the end of the three-week drive, an average of 103 pounds of scrap metal per capita had been collected—and the Nebraska Plan became WPB's starting point for planning its nationwide, three-week effort which was then held in early October. Final evaluations of the scrap metal drive reveal that the United States would have had "a much longer road to victory" without the civilian campaign's collected scrap.

Kimble's narrative is highly researched and heavily footnoted; anyone interested in WWII trivia and especially readers who have ties to Nebraska are sure to find it interesting.

I grew up in Nebraska and found myself scouring the Appendix to compare the results of my home county against those of our neighboring rival counties and cheering when I read that my mom's home county earned runner-up honors—especially as I imagined her at age seven, scouring the barns, chicken coops, and cellars for any piece of metal she might have been able to unearth and carry. A shout-out to her home county, Phelps, who was one of five averaging more than 200 pounds per resident. A pat on the back to Hamilton, my home county, for collecting a few pounds per capita above the state-wide average.

Prairie Forge is the 2021 One Book One Nebraska selection.

[Trever · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book, great piece of nonfiction writing that never gets boring. Wonderful use of facts to weave this story of Nebraska and how Henry Doorly won the war for the United States.

Best part about the book is the use of gamification by Doorly and the omaha world herald. They had everyone in nebraska competing to donate the most amount of scrap metal, and set the standard for the country.

Wonderful nebraska history and World War Two history that has been forgotten. I couldn't recommend this book more!

[Gering Public Library]

“Prairie Forge” by James J. Kimble is the One Book One Nebraska selection this year. Intended to encourage Nebraskans to discuss a single book statewide, the One Book One Nebraska program began in 2005. It has even expanded to include teen and children’s selections as well.

Kimble describes Nebraska’s effort to collect and recycle scrap metal for war munitions in 1942. Japan had been the US’s largest scrap iron importer prior to 1940. The Japanese bought over 8.5 million tons of American scrap iron between 1934 and 1940. When the United States entered the war, they needed scrap iron to make everything from ships to bullets. However, earlier nationwide scrap metal drives produced lackluster results.

“Omaha World Herald” owner Henry Doorley took it upon himself to implement a three week state-wide scrap metal campaign, one that would unite Nebraskans in friendly competition with each other. He proposed that each county contribute 100 pounds of scrap iron per citizen. The newspaper pitted county against county and kept a running total to encourage rivalry. With a well-planned campaign and prizes for the counties that turned in the most scrap iron, the race was on.

“Prairie Forge” is one of those non-fiction books that is both authoritative and readable, it’s even funny at times:

In Omaha “[OWH staff reporter]...Ernest Jones embarked on a quest to see ‘how much scrap iron could be collected...in an eight-hour day.’ Thinking strategically, he decided to track down obsolete safes in the downtown area. In that day’s evening edition, he reported that by knocking on business doors and following numerous leads, he had found 18 tons of derelict safes, and somewhat unexpectedly, four tons of farm machinery. ‘I still have until 6 o’clock tonight to go on with this drive,’ he wrote, ‘so if you‘ve got one of these old clunkers...why don’t you call me or leave word [that] the salvage committee can have it?’ ‘If you haven’t a safe,’ he added impulsively, ‘I’m not finicky; [an] old iron bridge, a bank vault, or a locomotive is just as good.’...In addition to safes, callers dutifully provided tips on a few abandoned bridges and even an unused locomotive.”

If you would like to be part of the statewide conversation about “Prairie Forge: the Extraordinary Story of the Nebraska Scrap Drive of World War II” by James J. Kimble, the Food for Thought Book Group will be discussing it June 24, 2021. Let us know ahead of time and we will get you a book!

[Lea McKenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prairie Forge is James J. Kimble's exploration of the great Nebraska Scrap Drive of 1942. As a resident of Nebraska, I'm embarrassed to say that my recognition of the name Henry Doorly was completely limited to Omaha's zoo! Now, I discover, that he was the editor of the Omaha World Herald and the person who organized the scrap drive.
Comments about the book: It was fun reading and recognizing the various towns and newspapers. The book appears to be well-researched. Only half the book is actual story. The rest consists of the extensive end notes. There are some photographs included reprinted with permission from the Omaha World Herald.
Anecdotal comment: Perhaps it was the timing of my reading, but it was nice to read about a state and then a country working together to help in war time. I'm hoping it doesn't take a war to bring our country back together.

[Ann Francis]

This is a very interesting book, as it brings out a part of history that has been hidden from many - even those who think they know everything about WW II.
It is always fun to read about a time when so many joined together for the greater good = those times seem to be few and far between now.
I was fortunate to hear from the author, who told a great story of how a team of people (including Johnny Carson) asked to borrow a truck to take their scrap metal to the local "pile". Several days later the guy who loaned the truck asked where his truck was... well it ended up in the scrap pile as well!
Great book for anyone who is interested in WW II history on the home front.

[Claudette Wielechowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the One Book One Nebraska title for 2021. It is a well researched accounting of how Henry Dooley, the editor of the “Omaha World Herald” was challenged by his wife to do something about the lack of scrap metal during World War II. He and his newspaper team developed a challenge and competition for the state. They involved key people and organizations from the grassroots up to the governor.
He won a Pulitzer Prize. The Nebraska Plan inspired the nation and got all of the other states involved.
Some of the local stories made me laugh and some brought me to tears with pride of Nebraskans’ efforts.

[Cyndi Ries · Rating 4 out of 5]

A couple of reasons for reading this book: selection for my book club and it is the 2021 One Book One Nebraska. I’m glad I read it; it was very informative and was backed by tons of research, facts, pictures, and documents. After the attack of Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt realized the US had a shortage of steel and the need for scrap metal to arm the soldiers was imperative. Henry Doorly inspired Nebraskans (creating competitions between counties), then Americans to look everywhere to contribute to this war effort and make all Americans on the “home front” become a part of the war.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my kind of book but I powered through it and read it in two days. Lots of history and stats. I think if could have been a much shorter book if they didn't go into every avenue about how much scrap was collected and by whom. One paragraph at the end of the goal to tell who won would have been sufficient for me. But it was a book club book so I can say I read the book!!

[Elaine]

What an interesting book. I enjoy reading books that seem to make history come alive. I have lived in Omaha, NE, for nearly 40 years and had no idea the impact Nebraska and the scrap metal drive had on WW II. What a great read to see how our nation came together to support "our boys on the front" and make a difference in the world.

Elaine

[Joe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was intrigued by this piece of history to which I was previously ignorant. It was good to learn a little about the state in which I now reside. The information was great; however, the writing only allowed me to tolerate so much in one setting. Some sections flowed more smoothly than others. 2.5 stars.

[Reads At · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read about the home front in WWII. I especially liked how Kimble interpreted how differences between urban and rural places in Nebraska was used to feed into the scrapping effort. He also captured what scrapping meant to those who participated. Well done.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Educational not entertaining.

[Brenda Weekly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not finish. The topic was interesting, just not enough to give my time to.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know ow my state was that important. my state is rarely important

[Jane]

An interesting read on an event in Nebraska that I wasn't aware of before one of my book clubs chose this title to read.