War
Then came World War II. The young men went to fight, die and ultimately win in Europe and the Pacific. War has always taken vast amounts of wood for its tools and fuels. WW II was no exception, even though, by then ships were made of steel rather than trees (although mine sweepers were made of wood). Wood was needed for rifle stocks, ship piers, factory buildings, bridges, barracks, and thousands of other common things. War requires more of everything.
After the War was won, America took on the job of rebuilding Europe and Japan. Again, a lot of wood was needed, the country was turning to the National Forests to meet the need for wood. Management objectives for the National Forests turned from custodial to production.
Not all of the increased need for wood was for overseas use, the soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen came home to their sweethearts, they were anxious to marry, start a family and have a home. President Eisenhower made it a policy that every family should be able to afford an appropriate house. Subdivisions were invented. Suburbs became the way to build the American dream. Wood flowed from forests into houses. It was a prosperous time, wood from private and public forests was a key ingredient in economic and infrastructure growth.
And, the Cold War was in full swing requiring a full military alert through the Korean War and after. The act of military alertness requires wood, so the logs kept rolling from the forests.
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