War Year Champions: The Welcome Diversion of the 1944 Green Bay Packers

The fact professional football was even played during World War II was a feat unto itself. Teams throughout the NFL struggled to field enough quality players for the 1944 season because of war-caused manpower shortages. Green Bay Packers star Tony Canadeo was a case in point as he played in only three games while on leave from the army for the birth of his son.

Former Green Bay Press-Gazette reporter and editor Tony Walter guides you through 1944 month by month as the residents of Green Bay, Wisconsin, attempt to live as "normal" of a life as possible during the height of the war. The Packers provided a few months of uplifting distraction as the populace dealt with the stresses of loved ones serving in the military, rationing of essential foods and materials, and the continuing effects of the Great Depression.

Highlighted by more than fifty historical photos, War Year Champions combines news of the Packers, local happenings, politics, and excerpts from the detailed military diaries of the author's father in his position as a communications officer for the US Army. The result is a comprehensive view of one of the most important years of the twentieth century.