'Scrappers' film tells important part of Nebraska history

Bravery, sacrifice and more than a little luck -- call it providence if you like -- saved civilization from despotism in World War II, but that isn't the whole story.

The victory over the Axis powers owed as much to America's tremendous production capacity as anything else.

And that production? It owed a lot to moms and pops, grandmas, grandmas and kids saving tinfoil from the kitchen and gathering up broken down farm equipment to be "recycled" into new war production before the word "recycling" was in vogue.

At the time, scrap metal accounted for about half of the raw materials that went into new tanks, ships and planes.

Conceived and promoted by Omaha World Herald Publisher Henry Doorly, the three-week Nebraska drive pitted county against county in a competition that brought in 67,000 tons of metal, 104 pounds for every man, woman and child in Nebraska.

The drive inspired a national effort that yielded 5 million tons of metal that fall, winning a Pulitzer Prize in public service for the World Herald.

At long last, the wartime effort is receiving some of the recognition it deserves, in the form of a new documentary which will premiere at McCook's Fox Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night.

The film, "Scrappers: How the Heartland Won World War II," was produced by Nebraska native and Seton Hall Univesity professor James Kimble and colleague Thomas Rondinella. They view the production of this film as a service to the state of Nebraska and hope it provides residents with the opportunity to see and appreciate the work that was done right here in Nebraska to win World War II.

Admission is free, but donations will be accepted to the Fox Theatre renovation project, and food will be accepted for the McCook Pantry.

We've heard a few stories about the 1942 scrap drive -- including the class that turned in a piece of farm equipment without the knowledge of the farmer who was still using it -- as well as others. We hope those who remember the scrap drive will attend Saturday's premiere and share their stories.

Do you have stories to share? Mail them to Scrap Stories, c/o Editor, McCook Daily Gazette, P.O. Box 1268, McCook, NE 69001, or e-mail editor@mccookgazette.com. We'll pass them on to our readers.