South Charleston Recognized For WWII History

South Charleston has been recognized as an American World War II Heritage City, the National Park Service announced Friday.  

The designation highlights the city’s contributions to the World War II effort as well as its commitment to preserving that history. 

During World War II, South Charleston, West Virginia, played a vital role in America’s military and industrial war effort. The South Charleston Naval Ordnance Plant, which employed more than 11,000 workers at its peak, produced more than 130,000 naval gun barrels and over half of the armor used on American warships.  

The city’s chemical industries also supplied essential wartime materials. Union Carbide manufactured polyethylene used in radar insulation and synthetic rubber components, while Westvaco Chemical Corporation produced chemicals needed for military equipment and supplies.  

Three South Charleston companies earned five-star Army-Navy “E” Awards for excellence in wartime production, reflecting the city’s exceptional contributions to Allied victory. 

“From producing essential naval armaments and wartime materials to the thousands of workers who powered America’s industrial war effort, South Charleston made extraordinary contributions to victory in World War II,” said Jessica Bowron, comptroller exercising the authority of the Director of the National Park Service. “Through this designation, we recognize a proud legacy of service and sacrifice and the community’s dedication to sharing that history with future generations.” 

On the home front, South Charleston experienced dramatic population growth as thousands of workers arrived to support wartime production. Women and African Americans joined the industrial workforce in significant numbers, including women who operated machinery and performed other essential jobs at the Naval Ordnance Plant.  

The National Youth Administration’s training program prepared thousands of young people for skilled manufacturing positions, while federally supported housing developments, including Kenna Homes, accommodated workers and returning veterans.  

The city’s contributions also extended to military service, including Marine Corps Sgt. Herbert J. Thomas Jr., a South Charleston native who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism in the Pacific. 

Reminders of South Charleston’s World War II heritage are found throughout the community. Many buildings from the former Naval Ordnance Plant remain in use, while the South Charleston Interpretive Center shares the city’s wartime history through exhibits on naval ordnance production and the chemical industry.  

A restored 40mm Bofors naval gun commemorates the city’s manufacturing contributions, and the South Charleston World War II Veterans Memorial  honors residents who made the ultimate sacrifice.  

Thomas Memorial Hospital and its Hall of Honor recognize Sgt. Herbert J. Thomas Jr., while the city’s annual Armed Forces Day Parade, established in 1959, continues a longstanding tradition of honoring military service members and veterans. 

Administered by the National Park Service (NPS), the American World War II Heritage City program was created to recognize and ensure the continued preservation and importance of the history of the United States involvement in World War II. The program authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to bestow this honorary designation on only one city or local jurisdiction in each state and territory.   

Since 2020, designations have been made in 46 states and two territories, strengthening public understanding of the war’s local impacts and advancing preservation of historically significant sites.