Religious History of the American GI in World War II

G. Kurt Piehler is director of the Institute on World War and the Human Experience and an associate professor of history at Florida State University. He is author of Remembering War the American Way and World War II.

"A Religious History of the American GI is a welcome addition to the growing literature on lived religious experience in wartime."-Brad Carter, Journal of Church and State "Kurt Piehler's examination of religion and the World War II GI is exceptionally well researched and written. His extensive use of archival and secondary sources, including soldiers' memoirs, oral histories, and letters, strengthens his argument and takes the reader into the lived religious lives of American soldiers during World War II. Piehler's work will appeal to both scholars and the general public, as well as anyone interested in the intersection of religion and war during the Second World War."-Steve R. Waddell, Journal of Arizona History "For readers interested in the experiences of the men and women who served, A Religious History of the American GI in World War II offers a tremendous collection of revealing anecdotes, accounts, and analyses of how religion was lived and felt during the war; and for those interested in the many ways that war and religion have intersected throughout American history, Piehler's study will prove a valuable resource and a useful point of departure for future studies."-Jessica Cooperman, American Jewish Archives Journal "I heartily and unconditionally recommend A Religious History of the American GI in World War II as the best book available on World War II's chaplain service and the challenges US forces faced in trying to maintain their faith."-MM Gibson, Christian Century “Deftly combining cultural, social, and military history, G. Kurt Piehler gives us a sophisticated understanding of the role of religion at the national and individual levels during World War II. This book should become the standard treatment on the topic.”-Michael S. Neiberg, author of Dance of the Furies: Europe and the Outbreak of World War I “Why did GIs fight? When did America become a ‘tri-faith’ nation of Protestants, Catholics, and Jews? These seem to be separate questions, but G. Kurt Piehler’s insightful reevaluation of World War II shows how they and other questions are connected. By examining the spiritual lives of ‘the greatest generation’ in unprecedented depth, Piehler offers a new perspective on changing religious cultures and how they fit in American society.”-Andrew Preston, author of Sword of the Spirit, Shield of Faith: Religion in American War and Diplomacy

• List of IllustrationsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Promoting the Free Exercise of Religion1. Mobilizing a Faithful Nation for War2. Mobilizing Chaplains and Building Chapels3. Turning Civilians into GIs4. Pilgrims to the Four Corners of the World5. Religion and the Ethical Conduct of War6. Fear, Faith, and the Will to Fight7. The Question of Race and Religion8. Patriarchy and the Religious Life of Military Women9. The Wounded10. The Dead11. Prisoners of War12. Religion and Reconciliation with EnemiesConclusion: Legacies of WarNotesBibliographyIndex