Decades ago, when newspapers were still how most Americans received their news, it wasn’t uncommon to see mentions of soldiers coming and going. Whether enlisting with Uncle Sam or visiting family while on leave, subscribers enjoyed reading about their fighting men.

That information has been revived and compiled as part of a new book being sold by Friends of the Limestone County Archives. The book provides a glimpse into the lives of military members and Limestone Countians from the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, through 1942.

The book costs $30 and goes on sale Friday in the gift shop of the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives. The museum is at 100 Pryor St., Athens.

Proceeds benefit Friends of the Archives, a nonprofit organization consisting of about 20 members.

Labor of love

Compiling information for the book was not easy and required the involvement of about 12 people. Jackie Leonard, a member of Friends of the Archives, said the idea to create the book was born about four years ago after some World War II-era newspapers were rescued.

The project took about three years to complete because securing a steady stream of people who had time to retype the material could be a challenge. Another challenge was the fact the Limestone County Archives has been closed for several months as part of an ambitious renovation effort.

“We’d run into some problems and we’d have to wait until someone could come back and rescue it,” Leonard said.

Soldiers remembered

Inside the pages of those copies of the Alabama Courier and Limestone Democrat was a treasure trove of information about members of the local military and the lives of Limestone Countians during a time of war. Information included news about soldiers leaving for the front lines or coming home for a visit. It also included information about transfers from one front to another and also pictures of local soldiers.

When asked if he uncovered any surprising information, Leonard said he was shocked to find out how Limestone County was affected by the war effort and rationing in particular.

“People were compelled to bring in scrap iron and all kinds of worn-out tires,” he said. “There were just numerous sacrifices.”

Sadly, many of the men featured in the book are no longer with us. An estimated 600 World War II veterans die each day. Leonard said the names and faces have not been forgotten, however.

“A lot of people remember (the soldiers) because they knew their children or grandchildren,” he said, adding he has been putting information about the soldiers on his personal Facebook account. “People recognize their relatives and say, ‘I’ve never seen this picture.’”

Leonard believes the book will be of interest to those who care about the county’s history and its place in World War II. When asked if there would be another book detailing years after 1942, Leonard said he hopes someone from the community will step forward and take on that challenge.

“We realized it would have been so massive to continue to another year,” he said. “The whole year of 1943 would have taken up several books.”

For more on Friends of the Archives, visit http://www.limestonecountyfoa.org.