Joe Beyrle’s Home, Muskegon, Michigan

The Muskegon that Joe Beyrle was born in was a busy community. In 1923 it had just over 36,000 citizens, and they enjoyed their life along the shores of the lake. Muskegon is defined by its location on the shore of Muskegon Lake, lying along the coast of Lake Michigan. The cool summer breezes and harsh cold winds of winter that come off the big lake developed a hearty and strong people. The name Muskegon is derived from an Indian word “Maskigo” meaning marshy place.

A hundred years before, the area had been surrounded by tall majestic white pines. By the end of the nineteenth century, the pine had all been cut by the lumbering industry. In its place had developed a large number of factories that used the natural resources of the region to produce a wide variety of products.  The veterans of World War I returned to jobs in these factories and started families.

It was a happy working class community with many opportunities for fun for a young man. The summer was a time for fishing and swimming along the shore of Muskegon Lake. Winter was a time for school and study. The area receives an average of 110 inches of snow a year, so students often turned to indoor sports for recreation. Joe would become an excellent athlete. His tall lean frame made him a natural for basketball. He proudly earned a varsity letter, which in the United States is a traditional award given to elite high school athletes. His strength and endurance which he gained through his participation in athletics would serve him well in the grueling years ahead.

Unfortunately, the happy times for Muskegon and the United States would come to a crashing halt in 1929. The failure of the New York Stock Exchange would lead to a deep economic depression that would last for the next ten years. In July of 1929, there were 18,087 jobs in Muskegon; three years later only 6,314 people went to work daily. The Federal Government created programs that brought jobs to the area. The Civilian Conservation Corps or CCC as it was known, put young men to work building Parks and Recreation areas. The Works Progress Administration created jobs that led to the development of public institutions like museums. Still everyone suffered. People stood in bread lines to receive food for a single meal and thousands were forced to abandon their homes. Many young men left home and traveled throughout the United States looking for work.  Others gathered in tent cities on the edge of town.  These hard times created a strong dependence on family and friends. It brought the people of the community together as they all shared a common difficult time. It made the people of Muskegon and the United States a tough, independent group of people, able to join together to fight any crisis that could develop.

While times were difficult, people still moved into the area. The 1920s was a period of growth for the entire United States, and that included Muskegon. Immigrants from different parts of Europe came here to find new opportunities. This created a diverse population of people who spoke German, Dutch, French, Polish, and Italian. Jews from around the world joined the Irish and Scotch.  African Americans moved from the Deep South in hopes of finding work. This diverse population added to the flavor of the community, and brought with it a mixture of holidays, customs, food and traditions.

As the Depression Years progressed, Muskegon people learned of the growing trouble in Europe. News of the rise of Hitler created concern and worry for the future of the world. Americans however, were fearful of becoming involved in another European struggle following the tragic losses of World War I.

That would all change on December 7, 1941. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor would unify all Americans to a common cause. The unannounced attack on the American Navy created an anger in every American heart that would commit the country completely to the destruction of the Germans and the Japanese.

In Muskegon, like most American towns and cities, young men rushed off to join the armed forces. Whether it was the Army, Navy or Marine Corps, overnight the United States created a military force of over sixteen million men and women. Joe Beyrle finished high school in June, six months after Pearl Harbor, and like his friends signed up for the Army.  In order to become an effective fighting force, it would take months of training for these young men, but by the fall of 1942 Muskegon men were fighting in faraway places like Guadalcanal and North Africa.

The invasion of the island of Guadalcanal was the opening of the long journey across the Pacific Ocean to attack the homeland of the Japanese.
The United States, in an effort to assist Russian troops fighting the Germans, opened a second front against Hitler with Operation Torch in North Africa and the attack of the famed Afrikacorps of the German Army. Both of these events in November of 1942 included fighting men from Muskegon.

Here in Muskegon, people joined together to support the war effort. The industries that had supplied jobs before the war were converted to create the material needed by all of the Allies to fight Fascism.  The beach sand that surrounds Muskegon became the perfect foundry material for molding grey iron products like tank treads, engine castings, and crankshafts. Continental Motors built engines for tanks, airplanes and boats. Factories operated twenty four hours a day, and Continental Motors alone employed over 10,000 people. From these factories came the vehicles and equipment that was used by not only the United States, but all of the Allies. Over 450,000 vehicles were produced and shipped to the Russian Army from the United States, England and Canada. A large percentage of the grey iron castings for these vehicles came from Muskegon foundries.

Muskegon also produced other war material. Landing craft were built in the northern part of the county. Instrument panels for aircraft, special parachute flares, ball bearings, waterproof materials, and anti aircraft gun mounts all came from Muskegon labor.

Muskegon women went to work in the factories, and earned the nickname Rosie the Riveter.  African Americans were recruited to move to Muskegon to work in the factories. Because of the huge increase in people arriving to work in the factories a critical shortage of housing developed. In a practice called “hotbunking” men would rent a bed in a house for eight hours, and then leave for work. Another man would arrive to rent the same bed. Then another man. There simply was not enough room for everyone during the war.

A mansion in Muskegon that had belonged to one of the lumber barons who made his fortune here was turned into the American Red Cross Blood Drive Center. People lined up every day to donate a pint of blood that could be sent to the Army to help treat the wounded. The Red Cross volunteers also provided supplies to be sent to men serving in the military, including the Red Cross packages that were sent to Prisoners of War like Joe Beyrle.

A unique American tradition was used here in Muskegon. A family with a son or husband in the service would place a banner with a blue star in the front window of the house. If the family member was killed in action, the star would be changed to gold in color. There would be 204 men from Muskegon killed in the war, and as a result 204 gold stars appeared to announce the loss.

World War II would have a dramatic impact on Muskegon, Michigan. It would create changes in the area that would affect it for the rest of the twentieth century. The story of Joe Beyrle is a unique one in the annals of World War II. Joe Beyrle was the most decorated and well known hero of the area, but his brave service in the War is a reflection of the dedication, hard work and values of the small town on the lake where he grew up.

John H. McGarry III
Executive Director
Lakeshore Museum Center
Muskegon, Michigan