Hampton Roads: The WWII Years

When Capt. John Smith first landed his ships at Cape Henry in Virginia Beach, he must have known the military importance of the jut of land; today, it is home to Fort Story, and the location played a key role during World War II in making sure enemy ships and subs did not sail into the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and onto Norfolk, the world's largest naval base. Smith established this country's first military base when he settled in Jamestown, building a fort to protect the early colonists. That simple military presence grew exponentially and during World War II was instrumental in not only defending the homeland, but in winning the war. From the Peninsula to Southside, the Hampton Roads area is military proud. There are more than a dozen forts and bases, many of which sprung up during World War II or were greatly expanded during that time.

• Pages: 128
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing Inc.
• Imprint: Arcadia Publishing
• Series: Images of America
• Publication Date: 23rd February 2005
• State: Virginia
• Illustrations Note: Black and White
• ISBN: 9780738517667
• Format: Paperback

Patrick Evans-Hylton is a Johnson & Wales–trained chef, food historian and an award-winning food writer, covering tasty trends since 1995 in print, broadcast and electronic media. He is the publisher of VirginiaEatsandDrinks.com. Evans-Hylton runs a cooking and wine school, teaches a number of food writing and other media-related classes and hosts The Virginia Eats + Drinks Show on AM 790 WNIS, simulcast nationwide online. He cooks and writes in his kitchen in Virginia Beach.