1943 Camp Lejeune Pumpkin Invitation

By Matthew M. Peek, Military Collection Archivist, State Archives of North Carolina

During World War II, U.S. service individuals looked for excuses to celebrate and have a good time while stationed stateside at military installations, particularly during holidays such as Halloween. During Halloween in 1943, Camp Lejeune, N.C., hosted a Halloween Ball on October 28, 1943. But how they notified Marines of the ball and invited them to come is one of the most fun pieces of ephemera created at Camp Lejeune in WWII.

Snapshot of Building No. 2, which was the Headquarters building at Camp Lejeune, N.C., in 1944 during World War II. Mary C. Davenport of Mackeys, N.C., was working as a clerk-typist in this building while she was stationed at the camp in U.S. Marine Corps Women’s Reserve (1944).

The leadership for the Headquarters Battalion at Camp Lejeune chose to create pumpkin-shaped invitations to mail out to Marines for the 1943 Halloween Ball. Nothing spooky, nothing elaborate. But very few vegetable or fruit-shaped menus, invitations, or programs were ever produced in U.S. during the war as novelty items.

Cover of the 1943 Camp Lejeune Halloween Ball invitation [from WWII 131, WWII Papers, Military Collection, State Archives of North Carolina].

Note that even the pumpkins in the Marine Corps in WWII have their logo they are so full of Semper Fi!

Inside page of the 1943 Camp Lejeune Halloween Ball invitation [from WWII 131, WWII Papers, Military Collection, State Archives of North Carolina].

Special Halloween Ball guests list printed inside the 1943 Camp Lejeune Halloween Ball invitation [from WWII 131, WWII Papers, Military Collection, State Archives of North Carolina].

In a world of digital creations and publications in every shape and format, I do not think it can be overstated how difficult printing a shape like this during WWII wartime paper and equipment rationing was. A fun little reminder that even Marines need some entertainment during war.

Resources

Camp Lejeune 1943 Halloween Ball Invitation, WWII 131, WWII Papers, Military Collection, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, N.C.