American Diaries: Josie Poe

This takes place in 1943 in the state of Washington. She has an older brother, Tom, who has not enlisted.

Josie writes in her diary about rumors of “helium balloons” in the area, obviously a reference to the balloon bombs.

Tom is 18, and one night she realizes he sneaks out of the house and is up to something. The next day their father says a tent and some gasoline are missing. Josie knows that it was Tom that took them.

Then some guns go missing.

Josie talks to Tom and finds out the military didn't take him because he has flat feet.

The rest of the story deals with Josie trying to work things out so her father will not find out that Tom took the things, and that Tom and her father will be able to have some kind of understanding and avoid trouble.



Main Index
Japan main page
Japanese-American Internment Camps index page
Japan and World War II index page