Peace was an illusive thing.

The second great war in Europe was much closer to Springfieldians for several reasons. A large new training facility . . . Fort Leonard Wood . . . had been established near Waynesville and many of the soldiers, when they had leave, visited the city, just as they do today.

Southwest Missouri State College aided in the war effort through an Air Corps training program from April, 1943, to June, 1944, which saw McDonald Arena turned into a temporary barracks.

The U.S. Army, several months before the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, established its 0'Reilly General Army Hospital on a parcel of land along Glenstone Avenue between Division and Pythian Streets. This facility . . memories of which still link many people throughout the country with Springfield . . . was to continue its rehabilitation work until 1952.

Throughout the conflict, Springfieldians, through the USO, War Dads, Gold Star Mothers and other organizations, aided the fight as best they could.

Like the rest of the nation, the city celebrated the end of the bloody conflict in September, 1945, when the Japanese surrendered.