Stars and Stripes Newspaper, Pacific Editions, 1945-1963

This database contains issues from some Pacific editions of the ‘Stars and Stripes’ newspaper from 1945 to 1963.

The ‘Stars and Stripes’ newspaper began during the Civil War. It appeared during World War I and was re-established during World War II by President Roosevelt to boost troop morale.

The newspaper was printed specifically for the armed forces and reported on the progress of the war, activities of the U.S. troops, and news from the home front (including sports, comics, and editorials).

Different editions of the paper were printed for the different theaters of operation. Most of the editions began as weekly papers and later turned into dailies. By the end of the war, 30 different editions had been published in Europe, North Africa, and Asia.

The first Pacific edition of the ‘Stars and Stripes’ was published in Honolulu, Hawaii in May 1945. Later that same year editions began being published in China and Japan as well.

The ending of the war resulted in a reduction of the newspaper’s readership and staff, as well as many other changes. Publication locations were closed and editions were consolidated. However, the paper continued to be published for the occupational forces and other armed services still employed. In 1951, during the Korean War, a Korean edition was published for the troops in Korea. In peacetime the newspaper reported on domestic and international news stories.

The above information was taken from the Descriptive Pamphlet to The ‘Stars and Stripes’ Newspaper of the U.S. Armed Forces in the Pacific, 1945-1963, NARA Microfilm Publication M1624.