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WW II - The Red Ball Express
As the country recovered from the Depression and was shocked into economic stimulus by World War II, American Red Ball moved forward into difficult times with a new leader and renewed strength.
In 1936, there was a break in Ward Hiner's previous rugged good health. At the same time, America was deep in the years of the Great Depression. Red Ball suffered like many other companies and on Jan. 3, 1939, Red Ball reorganized and Clarence Kissel was elected president, a position he held until 1963.
That brings us right up to World War II. As the war intensified, shortages began to occur. Items like meat, shoes, some clothing, gas, tires, etc. began to be strictly rationed. Of course, this made it hard for everyone, but particularly for companies like American Red Ball whose business was dependent on being able to purchase truck parts, tires and gasoline.
Fortunately, American Red Ball was considered essential to the war effort. As such, we were issued B ration stamps (Certificates of Necessity). We were required to report the number of miles for each move and were then issued enough stamps, at five gallons of gas per stamp, to complete each trip. A certain number of reported miles had to be accounted for before new tires were issued.
Though we were never called to do so, American Red Ball was on constant alert to haul troops. Also, while general household goods moves came to a virtual standstill, there was an ongoing need to move military personnel from base to base. Most local movers had contracts with bases in their area for a variety of services.
With the end of the war, returning military personnel were anxious to move forward. With the help of the G.I. Bill and other special programs, they began rebuilding their lives, buying homes and moving into them. Large numbers of troops and their officers were required in occupied areas, and officers were being transferred back and forth, both overseas and stateside.
Trivia Question: Are American Red Ball Transit Co., Inc. and the famed Red Ball Express of the war years one and the same?
Answer: No. Although Red Ball operated a freight division called Red Ball Express during the early '80s, the military coined the name of their supply operation from the old days of railroading, when a large red ball painted on the outside of a rail car indicated priority traffic. Any car so marked was meant to be expedited. Surprisingly enough, this form of identification was revived by the military in recent years in answer to shipping congestion problems in ports around the world.
