West Virginia Facts
World War II (1939-1945)
- Shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack (Dec. 17, 1941), the greenbrier resort became a detention center for foreign diplomats and their families expelled from Washington, DC. The Greenbrier hosted a total of 1,697 persons representing 5 different nations, including Japan.
- After the departure of the diplomats, the Greenbrier was condemned under under the War Powers Act. The military took control of the facility for a hospital andrecuperation center. They renamed Ashford General Hospital.. The hospital closed on June 30, 1946.
- During 1943 and 1944, West Virginia’s mountainous terrain was used as a training ground for troops to be sent to the mountains of German-held northern Italy.
- A total of 233,985 West Virginians served in the armed forces during the war, including 66,716 volunteers.
- An estimated 4,691 died in action, while 11,777 were wounded.
- 11 West Virginiansreceived the Medal of Honor.
