Fourth of July Fireworks in Hellertown, 1943 and Now

 

A Story to Ponder the Changes in Hellertown and Lower Saucon Over 80 Years

Emma stood in Dimmick Park on the Fourth of July, watching children wave American flags while families unfolded lawn chairs and blankets for the evening fireworks. The smell of grilled hamburgers drifted through the warm summer air, and laughter echoed across the park.

Her grandfather, Tom, smiled as he unfolded a faded piece of paper he always carried on Independence Day. 

 

“What is that?” Emma asked. “It’s a V-Mail letter from July 1943,” he replied. “The Saucon Valley Defenders Committee sent it to the men and women serving in World War II.”

Emma carefully read the words. The letter explained that there had been no hometown fireworks that year because gasoline was rationed and pleasure driving was restricted. Instead of celebrating with parades and picnics, many people spent the day working in their Victory Gardens. The writers joked that they had “left the July 4th fireworks up to you,” knowing American soldiers were creating far bigger fireworks on battlefields around the world.

“They must have missed home,” Emma said quietly. “They did,” Tom answered. “The letter listed neighbors serving in North Africa, Australia, the South Pacific, Texas, Georgia, and dozens of other places. Everyone in Hellertown knew someone who was away.”

Emma looked around the park. Families were taking selfies. Children chased bubbles. Veterans gathered beneath a large American flag, shaking hands with younger service members.

“So today is different,” she said. “In many ways,” Tom replied. “We can drive here, enjoy music,   and watch fireworks without worrying about ration books or blackout drills. Most of us celebrate   with freedom that others protected.” 

As darkness settled over Hellertown, the first firework burst into brilliant red, white, and blue. Cheers filled the night sky. Emma pensively imagined the people who had written that V-Mail eighty-three years earlier. They couldn’t know who would read their words generations later. They only hoped the young men and women serving overseas would remember that home had not forgotten them.

As fireworks continued to animate the sky, Emma realized their meaning had never really changed.

In 1943, the brightest fireworks were seen on distant battlefields where Americans fought to preserve freedom. Today, the fireworks above Hellertown celebrate the peace and independence those brave service members helped secure.

As the grand finale filled the sky with color, Emma folded the old V-Mail and handed it back to her grandfather.

“Happy Fourth of July,” she whispered.

“Happy Independence Day,” Tom replied. “And thank you to those who made it possible.”

* * *
To read the original July 1943 V-Mails sent to Hellertown and Lower Saucon residents

in the military around the world, read the V-Mails below.

To view all 80 V-Mails in the collection, go to the image link in the left sidebar.

Click the download buttons.  This will download a searchable Adobe PDF file that

will allow you to search for any name or word in the V-Mail files.

* * *

 

 

 

(Following the main article, a personal story reveals the origins of my GREEN pack)

SMOKE 'EM IF YOU GOT 'EM

(This month's main article was taken from ARMYHISTORY.ORG)

Who can forget the welcome call to “Take 10; smoke ‘em if you got ‘em!” Or, how about the threatening tone of “Field strip that cigarette butt, Soldier!”

Whatever the reasons—and despite the obvious hazards of smoking—cigarettes have been a staple of Army life since before World War I.

A magazine ad for Bull Durham tobacco, for example, includes a photo of five Army officers deployed along the U.S.-Mexican border in 1916 relaxing and taking time to “roll their own.” The accompanying caption reads, “Wherever you find a group of U.S. soldiers you’ll always find the ‘Makings’.”

It shouldn’t surprise, then, that Bull Durham, branded as “The Smoke of the Red, White and Blue,” sold all of its cigarette production to the War Department two years later to satisfy U.S. troops’ craving for tobacco “over there.” So great was the urge to smoke to relieve the boredom and tension of war in the trenches General Pershing himself was said to have remarked that cigarettes were more important to our Soldiers than bullets!

The culture of wartime smoking became even more prominent during World War II. Cigarettes dangled ubiquitously from the lips of battle-weary Soldiers, of cartoon characters in “Stars & Stripes” like Bill Mauldin’s Willy and Joe, and of American wounded laid out on stretchers in movie newsreels, newspapers, and “Life” magazine. One publication went as far as to describe wartime smoking as the “last and only solace of the wounded.” Even President Roosevelt, the commander-in-chief, was frequently pictured smoking, the ever-present cigarette holder clamped firmly in his teeth. Meanwhile, Ike chain-smoked four packs daily, Churchill preferred cigars, and MacArthur drew on his corncob.

During World War II and until 1976 a mini-pack of either three or four Old Gold, Chesterfield, Lucky Strike, or Camel cigarettes, along with a fold of waterproof paper matches, was included in the rations issued to our fighting troops. Standard packs of 20 Pall Mall, Philip Morris, Wings, Fatima and other brands were usually supplied by the USO, by major tobacco companies trying to build brand loyalty among the troops, or in care packages from folks back home.

In Korea, Camel sought to establish the brand as the smoke of choice among discriminating infantrymen. With its flip-top box, Marlboro was the most popular brand in Vietnam, despite COMUSMACV General Creighton W. Abrams’ penchant for cigars, a preference dating back to his World War II service as a tank battalion commander.

Smoking in the services came under attack in the 1980s. Anti-smoking campaigns were ordered and by 1994 the Pentagon banned smoking in the workplace. By 2002 the Department of Defense (DOD) had fully implemented a 1997 executive order banning smoking in all government-owned, rented, and leased interior spaces. Today, Soldiers continue to smoke, chew, and dip while Congress and DOD are considering a potential ban on sales of tobacco products on military bases and ships.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Some background about my GREEN pack of Lucky Strikes.

I never knew my paternal Grandfather (William A. Ruth, Sr.); he died when I was one. He was employed at the Bethlehem Steel - but I'm not sure in what capacity.  I'm pretty sure he did not serve in any of our armed forces either. I surmise that he sent my father (and my uncle) to Riverside Military Academy to "straighten them out." 

On our family farm, where he resided with us for a time, I'm guessing that a cute little Meilink safe (seen in the background) in our farmhouse was probably from him. As a child, I was fascinated with the combination dial - and knowing the combination, I would open it. As I got older, I would examine its contents: a collection of papers, some oversized US savings bonds (listing me as a co-owner that were to be used for my future education), about 7 Reichsbank notes (1922), a 1910 $5 Indian Head gold coin (which ended up in my possession) and a GREEN pack of LUCKY STRIKES!

As an impetuous little kid, I pulled the thin red "tear strip" that removed just the top cellophane seal of this pack of vintage cigarettes; no, I didn't have any intentions of smoking these short smokes and I did not disturb the inner aluminum seal! I regret this childish impulse.

On the fireplace mantle, there were other vintage unopened packages of tobacco products: chewing tobacco and snuff; I still have these too!

Although the short unfiltered versions of these brands are no longer readily available, I was able to locate and acquire a fresh (?) pack of LUCKY STRIKES and CAMEL cigarettes at a local SMOKER FRIENDLY outlet (a national chain) in our area. Each pack sold for $17.00! 

They will now join the safe graveyard along with my other tobacco relics!

 

What did the Saucon Valley Defenders do for the GIs? Thirty young men “entrained” at Bethlehem and received $2.50, which is equivalent to today's value of $50.00. 

These boys mostly had nothing but courage and drive, so $2.50 meant a lot to them. Many walked out of high school to enlist. Most have never been away from home, and now they go to serve their country somewhere around the war-torn world.

Good Job, Saucon Valley Defenders Committee and Saucon Valley

for raising funds for our “Greatest Generation”.  

What follows is mostly a collection of images taken from the 1942 Hellertown yearbook.

Read the write-ups on the students who enlisted before they even finished high school!

Observe the wartime theme of the sectional caricatures that appeared throughout this yearbook.

Image the latent anxiety that must have existed amongst the whole teenager population at that time!

Read Principal Illick's solemn message to the student body.

Charles Bloss

Bertram Schrantz

    

Raymond Weaver

Pages between various yearbook sections

(L) young and carefree   (R) time to get serious; marching on Main St. Hellertown 

    

Numerous times throughout the 80 V-Mails, the local GIs mentioned receiving their fruit cakes for the holidays. Obviously, with food rationing in place, the receipts may have been altered. Hopefully, the rum in the cakes helped them stay fresh so our GIs could enjoy them.

Season’s Greetings, 1942

from the Saucon Valley Defenders Committee

Picture yourself, young, probably just out of Hellertown High School, likely never having traveled far, and suddenly World War II breaks out. Here you are, in some foreign land—either in Europe, the Pacific, or at a military base in the USA.  

It's December 1942, and even though you're not in Saucon Valley, you still want to celebrate the holidays. Having a buddy in a foxhole or on a ship is good, but nothing beats being home for the holidays!

Then comes this Season's Greetings from your hometown Saucon Valley Defenders Committee. You probably know there's a fruitcake on its way to you along with other goodies from Saucon Valley and your family.

We’re sure you’ll pass the V-Mail greetings to your friends and wish them a Happy Holiday season as well!

Below is the greeting sent to our enlisted men and women in 1942. The war is just beginning, and emotions are running high. We had a wonderful Saucon Valley Defenders Committee to share their greetings with you.

Check out the V-Mails available on the blog to see how this holiday was shared with our Hometown Heroes in 1942.

Merry Christmas, Ken Bloss & Dan Ruth 

December 2025