Televisions arrived in the American home bringing new traditions for families across the nation. The Wonderful World of Disney aired on Sunday evenings, bringing advertisements for enticing products to a growing consumer society.
The service hat from the U.S.S. Floyd County. This ship was commissioned in 1944 and delivered the first nuclear bomb to the Pacific.events perched on this bench and chatting with friends and family.
Honoring Korean War Veterans and Celebrating 1950’s America in Floyd County: The Floyd County Historical Society Exhibit Focuses on the Eisenhower Years By Sheilah Elwardani The current exhibit at the Floyd Historical Society explores the dynamic world of 1950’s America in Floyd County and honors the men who served in the Korean War. The end of World War II brought tremendous change to the United States and the world: new global threats, economic growth on an unprecedented scale, and the U.S. emergence as a global peace-keeping force bent on stopping the threat of communism. Also, domestically dramatic shifts in gender roles and racial desegregation began to offer opportunities previously denied to some groups. The Floyd County Historical Society brings this dynamic period to life through the experience of Floyd’s citizens in the post-WWII era. For the American citizen, the 1950’s brought hope and prosperity on a previously unimaginable scale. Meanwhile, for the American soldier serving on the Korean peninsula, the threat of communist expansion became a cold, hard reality in a brutally hot war. Going back to April 12, 1945, Harry Truman had no idea that he would approve the dropping of the 32 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine
The Korean War uniform of Floyd County native, Billy Brammer.
atomic bombs on Japan when he was sworn into office. The exhibit at the Floyd County History Museum begins with the ending of the war in the Pacific. The U.S.S. Floyd County was commissioned on August 11, 1944 in recognition of all the Floyd Counties in the United States, and it was this ship that transported the first atomic bomb to the Pacific Theater in anticipation of Japan refusing a peaceful surrender. The exhibit features the hat of a Floyd County Navy veteran who served on the U.S.S. Floyd, attending the delivery of the bomb. At the time, the shipmen certainly had no idea of the magnitude of the cargo they carried. The exhibit then leads the visitor through the military and developing Cold War period which culminated in the Korean Conflict. Floyd County lost at least two servicemen in the Korean War. Private First Class, Rufus Pleasant Craighead was killed in action during the retreat from the Chosin Reservoir. His body was never recovered. Carl Lawson was killed in action in May of 1953, just one month before the armistice was signed that ended the conflict in practice. It’s a Fall/Winter 2021-2022
