"The Boys From Boston"
Author ~ Gary Cullen
Vallejo Times Herald Editor Wyman Riley reported in his October, 1962 Sunday Notebook column that “there was probably no community in the United States so affected by troops stationed within its city.” He was referring to the deployment of the 211th to the city of Vallejo during World War II.
The famed 211th Coast Artillery Anti-Aircraft Regiment better known as 'The Boys from Boston', arrived into the city of Vallejo a few days after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Its job: to protect Mare Island Naval Shipyard and the city of Vallejo from any further Japanese attacks. They set up their anti-aircraft cannons on every hill, and 50 caliber machine guns on city rooftops, and then waited for what fortunately never came.
"The Boys From Boston," by author Gary Cullen is a compilation of stories that tell of that time, when 1800 soldiers came to the Vallejo community and how they were welcomed with open arms at the onset of the war. Bringing their good looks, Army green uniforms, east coast charm and Bostonian accents, they captured the hearts of the local citizens.
The Boys would eventually return to Vallejo to marry, to raise families, and to start new civilian careers. The author, a native Vallejoan, and son of one of those "Boys" hopes to share their story in his new book citing testimony from many Vallejoans who witnessed first hand the life in Vallejo during that time.
A passage from the book reads: "Virtually all of Vallejo life was dictated by the declaration of war on that infamous day in December. That dictated life style lasted until peace was declared four years later. With a quiet calm and a bit of cold anger, the community would quickly start to measure its needs to prepare for the war. Vallejo was different than other cities in the country at the time, with regards to preparing for war. Vallejo not only experienced an incredible population growth with the onset of World War II, primarily due to the influx of defense workers, but also experienced first-hand, the immediate deployment of military defenses within its boundaries. The war movement was everywhere. The Boys set up their anti-aircraft guns throughout the city, along with the spotlights, barrage balloons and sound detectors."
Local applause for 'The Boys From Boston'...
"The Second World War transformed the city of Vallejo like no other event in it history. Thousands of men and women, both military and civilian, flocked to Vallejo to aid in the war effort, but none made a greater impact than the "Boys from Boston." Gary Cullen's thorough and well-researched history of the 211th Anti-Aircraft Coast Artillery tells the story of the important contributions made by these "boys." While they helped defend our nation, the men of the 211th also made a long-lasting impact on the community as a whole."
James Kern
Executive Director
The Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum
“Gary Cullen has done a lot of good things with his new book, "The Boys from Boston." He has related the fascinating World War II story of some 1,800 men in the 211th Anti-aircraft Artillery Unit from Boston, Massachusetts, who at the last minute got orders to guard Vallejo rather than board transport ships bound for combat zones in the Pacific Theater. Gary has described how the "Boys from Boston" were welcomed with open arms by Vallejoans and how, after the war, about 300 of the men in their unit decided to stay in California or, after going home to the East Coast for awhile, returned to the West Coast. Many of the men in the unit came straight back to Vallejo. They married, raised families and contributed in many significant ways to the town. Thanks, Gary, for telling this story of such a positive development that emerged from the chaos of war. Had the trains transporting the "Boys" not been delayed by railroad track damage in a remote area of Arizona, they might have made it to those military transport ships and never seen the town that became their new home.”
Brendan Riley
Vallejo Heritage Society
An exhibit of 211th artifacts is currently on display at the Vallejo Naval Historical Museum. The exhibit highlights the 211th's role in Vallejo during WWII, along with the lives of many of the veterans who eventually returned to Vallejo after the war ended.
"The Boys From Boston" is available on Amazon.com
Author ~ Gary Cullen
Vallejo Times Herald Editor Wyman Riley reported in his October, 1962 Sunday Notebook column that “there was probably no community in the United States so affected by troops stationed within its city.” He was referring to the deployment of the 211th to the city of Vallejo during World War II.
The famed 211th Coast Artillery Anti-Aircraft Regiment better known as 'The Boys from Boston', arrived into the city of Vallejo a few days after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Its job: to protect Mare Island Naval Shipyard and the city of Vallejo from any further Japanese attacks. They set up their anti-aircraft cannons on every hill, and 50 caliber machine guns on city rooftops, and then waited for what fortunately never came.
"The Boys From Boston," by author Gary Cullen is a compilation of stories that tell of that time, when 1800 soldiers came to the Vallejo community and how they were welcomed with open arms at the onset of the war. Bringing their good looks, Army green uniforms, east coast charm and Bostonian accents, they captured the hearts of the local citizens.
The Boys would eventually return to Vallejo to marry, to raise families, and to start new civilian careers. The author, a native Vallejoan, and son of one of those "Boys" hopes to share their story in his new book citing testimony from many Vallejoans who witnessed first hand the life in Vallejo during that time.
A passage from the book reads: "Virtually all of Vallejo life was dictated by the declaration of war on that infamous day in December. That dictated life style lasted until peace was declared four years later. With a quiet calm and a bit of cold anger, the community would quickly start to measure its needs to prepare for the war. Vallejo was different than other cities in the country at the time, with regards to preparing for war. Vallejo not only experienced an incredible population growth with the onset of World War II, primarily due to the influx of defense workers, but also experienced first-hand, the immediate deployment of military defenses within its boundaries. The war movement was everywhere. The Boys set up their anti-aircraft guns throughout the city, along with the spotlights, barrage balloons and sound detectors."
Local applause for 'The Boys From Boston'...
"The Second World War transformed the city of Vallejo like no other event in it history. Thousands of men and women, both military and civilian, flocked to Vallejo to aid in the war effort, but none made a greater impact than the "Boys from Boston." Gary Cullen's thorough and well-researched history of the 211th Anti-Aircraft Coast Artillery tells the story of the important contributions made by these "boys." While they helped defend our nation, the men of the 211th also made a long-lasting impact on the community as a whole."
James Kern
Executive Director
The Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum
“Gary Cullen has done a lot of good things with his new book, "The Boys from Boston." He has related the fascinating World War II story of some 1,800 men in the 211th Anti-aircraft Artillery Unit from Boston, Massachusetts, who at the last minute got orders to guard Vallejo rather than board transport ships bound for combat zones in the Pacific Theater. Gary has described how the "Boys from Boston" were welcomed with open arms by Vallejoans and how, after the war, about 300 of the men in their unit decided to stay in California or, after going home to the East Coast for awhile, returned to the West Coast. Many of the men in the unit came straight back to Vallejo. They married, raised families and contributed in many significant ways to the town. Thanks, Gary, for telling this story of such a positive development that emerged from the chaos of war. Had the trains transporting the "Boys" not been delayed by railroad track damage in a remote area of Arizona, they might have made it to those military transport ships and never seen the town that became their new home.”
Brendan Riley
Vallejo Heritage Society
An exhibit of 211th artifacts is currently on display at the Vallejo Naval Historical Museum. The exhibit highlights the 211th's role in Vallejo during WWII, along with the lives of many of the veterans who eventually returned to Vallejo after the war ended.
"The Boys From Boston" is available on Amazon.com