by Bob Linnenberg ’63
2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, which began in Europe in September 1939. The United States became fully involved with the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Life was about to change for all Withrow students.
Because of Cincinnati’s prominence in the production of machine tools vital to the war effort and Withrow’s proximity to two major plants, air raid drills were implemented in January 1942. Tower News printed instructions on air raid protocols, but the first few practice drills generated humorous accounts of gym students being caught in the showers and having to dress while running to their assigned shelters.