Edna Anderson of Claymont, Delaware had been married less than two years when her husband joined the Navy and served as chief engineer on a ship during World War II. Anderson recalls they obtained most of what they needed at the neighborhood general store, even though Claymont was a small town during that time. Many items, however, were rationed, including gas, tires, shoes and food. Anderson recalls having to limit long car trips, and saved her gas ration coupons so she could travel to see her husband when he was in port. When it came to food, she learned to have an inventory of hard-to-get items on hand and paid close attention to what she used so she would not run out of necessities.

Doing without was a hardship, but not knowing whether her husband was safe caused the greatest strain. News of the war was sometimes inaccurate, and Anderson learned to question rumors and reports. Twice she received news that her husband's ship had sunk, but after five years he finally made it home from the war. Casualty reports, unfortunately, usually proved to be accurate, she remembered

Although the war wives made the best of things, and got together occasionally to go to the movies in Wilmington, they all felt the stress. From Pearl Harbor until 1943, Delaware was under a blackout at night, with no streetlights and curtains required on every window. "It was a dreary time, I'll tell you," Anderson commented.