When It Was Our War: A Soldier's Wife on the Home Front

by Stella Suberman

When Stella Suberman wrote her first memoir, The Jew Store, at the age of seventy-six, she was widely praised for shedding light on a forgotten piece of American history--Jewish life in the rural South. In her new memoir, Suberman reveals yet another overlooked aspect of America's past--the domestic side of war.

Her story begins in the Miami Beach she grew up in, when hotel signs boasted "Always a View, Never a Jew" and where a passenger ship lingered just off shore carrying hundreds of European Jews hoping for--but never finding--sanctuary. It was a time of innocence, before that war in Europe became our war.

Stella was nineteen when America entered the fighting. By the time she was twenty-three, the war was over. She married Jack Suberman the week he enlisted and set out alone to join him in California. She was kicked off trains to make room for soldiers, her luggage was stolen, she was arrested for soliciting, but she was determined to follow her husband. And she did so for the next four years as he was sent from air base to air base, first training to be a bombardier and then training others. It wasn't until he was sent overseas to fly combat missions that she finally went back home to wait, as did so many other soldier's wives.

This remarkable memoir renders a double understanding of war--of how it matured a young woman and how it matured a country. By personalizing the patriotism of the 1940s, Stella Suberman's story becomes the story of all military wives and serves as a powerful reminder of how differently many Americans feel about war sixty years later.

Genres: Memoir, History, Nonfiction, World War II, War, American History, Military Fiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 5, 2003

Reviews

[Susan Elizabeth Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Having lived in TN my entire life and having grandparent who owned a department store in West Tn, I can relate to many of the scenes Mrs. Suberman describes. I love WWII history, especially homefront and she has remembered in great detail very interesting facts about rationing coupons, trains and boats being taken over by the military, and the expression "If it weren't for the war, the war would suit me just fine."

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in "the greatest generation."

[Darla Ebert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author had experienced so many adventures when married to a World War 2 soldier. At the same time Ms. Suberman (author) gives a window on the (American) Jewish life of that era. I was fascinated by the various characters and the episodes that unraveled via the talented writing of Ms. Suberman.

[Anne Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful memoir of courtship and early marriage before, during and after WWII. The author shared the many trials they endured along with the triumphs. In many ways it reflected a simpler time of life and the cultures and values of that time.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read of a young war bride during ww2

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit long winded for me, but because I loved her first book, The Jew Store it kept me interested in Stella's life.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

A detailed and informative look at the WWII home front, from the perspective of a pilot’s wife. The content was well written and the insight into prejudices of the time was very enlightening.
However, I was not expecting certain narratives of an adult nature, which I found at times, much too detailed, while contributing little to the impact of the story. Also, for me, the first third of the book dragged somewhat. A very informative read, especially for an accurate account of life on the homefront, but still, it just wasn't for me.

[Hulananni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned that although the war (WWII) was a long haul for many....the general public were behind the troops and gave up willingly things that had been taken for granted before it began.

I also learned of the curtain crosssing the problems in Poland and other Jewish ghetto areas that the U.S. sometimes refused to acknowledge.

At the same time I learned of the spirit of those involved.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Took me a while to read this book - but when I got into it was smooth sailing. Was interesting looking at the beginning of war through a teenagers eyes. Would I say it's a must read - no - but passable.

[Linda Stewart]

good, so far. It is odd, though, that Suberman changed the name of the characters from the Jew Store, since this book is the sequel to the Jew Store.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A picture of what America was like during WWII for Jewish Americans.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I enjoyed her first book The Jew Store-a little more. This does give an interesting look at what WWII was like for those at home.

[Jecripps · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved a lot of this memoir of a young Southern gal, her bomber-pilot groom, and what it felt like to be an American Jew during WWII. I'm anxious to read Suberman's first book, The Jew Store.

[emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was such a sweet story. <3

[Holly Metzger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It gave me a new look on WWII on the homefront.