I was born on Father's Day, June 15, 1945. Dad was in Germany. Mom sent him a picture of the birth announcement. Years later she would give me a box containing memories. Among the papers I found ration stamps that had my name on them. I asked her how they were used, but she couldn't remember everything. That created in me a curiosity. I wanted to know more about what life was like in the United States during WWII. The sources for this material came from people I met on airplanes, trains, nursing and retirement communities, dinners, just conversation. Whoever would share with me what they remembered.