U.S. Citizens Service Corps
The United States Citizens Service Corps was an army of unpaid civilian workers, mobilized to undertake the numerous civilian war jobs. Whereas the Citizens Defense Corps focussed on protecting the population against enemy air attack, the Citizens Service Corps led the fight against inefficiency, insecurity, and poor health within their communities
The emblem of the service was a large red letter ‘V’ dividing smaller red ‘C’ and ‘D’ letters in the equilateral triangle on a blue circle.
Citizens Service Corps volunteers performed all kinds of tasks depending on their skills and available time:
doctors and nurses taught first aid classes to maximize the number of people able to help in an emergency
volunteers trained as enemy aircraft spotters on the coast
run local Salvage for Victory programs
create child care services in the local community
women organized dances, games, reading rooms, and even sewing services for servicemen
people to run war stamp and war bonds sales
farmers and gardeners volunteered to teach people how to grow victory gardens to lessen dependence on store-bought food
Block Leaders transmitted information from their local defense council to their neighbors
In addition, virtually every community had volunteer boards to administer government programs such as rationing, anti-inflation price ceilings, and the military draft.
“Every man, woman, and child must battle on the home front if we are to win this war. Already millions of these fighters are salvage chairmen, child care workers, war bond salesmen, hospital assistants. These and other volunteers in the civilian war services are the U. S. Citizens Service Corps. Their vigor, determination, and unflagging devotion will hasten our victory.”
