World War II

On July 1, 1943, nine hundred sailors and marines were based on the River Campus under the Navy V-12 training program, and, throughout the war years, the trainees formed a major part of the University's student population. These trainees, however, were not the only students participating in the war effort.

Others, particularly women undergraduate students, held blood drives, planted victory gardens, sold war bonds, and conducted military research. Alumnae joined the armed forces and served with distinction. The plaque shown here is preserved in the University Archives.

Due to the excellence of the V-12 program, the University was honored by the U.S. Government as a center of great patriotic and academic achievement, and selected by the U.S. Navy as one of the sites for continued Naval Reserve Officer Training.

Edward J. Rowland, Jr. was a private in the New York 117 Infantry 30 Division during World War II. He died on August 9, 1944.