03721nam 2200865 a 450 991077828900332120230721031624.00-8147-0531-61-4356-0029-010.18574/9780814705315(CKB)1000000000476529(EBL)865304(OCoLC)784884419(SSID)ssj0000265462(PQKBManifestationID)11235794(PQKBTitleCode)TC0000265462(PQKBWorkID)10299482(PQKB)10725851(MiAaPQ)EBC865304(OCoLC)173511410(MdBmJHUP)muse10955(DE-B1597)547862(DE-B1597)9780814705315(Au-PeEL)EBL865304(CaPaEBR)ebr10172674(EXLCZ)99100000000047652920061005d2007 uy 0engur|n|---|||||txtccrUnofficial ambassadors[electronic resource] American military families overseas and the Cold War, 1946-1965 /Donna AlvahNew York New York University Pressc20071 online resource (305 p.)Description based upon print version of record.0-8147-0501-4 Includes bibliographical references (p. 261-271) and index.Going overseas -- Unofficial ambassadors -- A U.S. lady's world -- "Shoulder to shoulder" with West Germans -- "Dear little Okinawa" -- Young ambassadors.As thousands of wives and children joined American servicemen stationed at overseas bases in the years following World War II, the military family represented a friendlier, more humane side of the United States' campaign for dominance in the Cold War. Wives in particular were encouraged to use their feminine influence to forge ties with residents of occupied and host nations. In this untold story of Cold War diplomacy, Donna Alvah describes how these “unofficial ambassadors” spread the United States’ perception of itself and its image of world order in the communities where husbands and fathers were stationed, cultivating relationships with both local people and other military families in private homes, churches, schools, women's clubs, shops, and other places.Unofficial Ambassadors reminds us that, in addition to soldiers and world leaders, ordinary people make vital contributions to a nation's military engagements. Alvah broadens the scope of the history of the Cold War by analyzing how ideas about gender, family, race, and culture shaped the U.S. military presence abroad.Families of military personnelUnited StatesMilitary spousesUnited StatesAmericansForeign countriesHistory20th centuryCold WarUnited StatesArmed ForcesForeign countriesHistory20th centuryAlvah.Cold.US.about.abroad.analyzing.broadens.culture.family.gender.history.ideas.military.presence.race.scope.shaped.Families of military personnelMilitary spousesAmericansHistoryCold War.355.1/29Alvah Donna1576337MiAaPQMiAaPQMiAaPQBOOK9910778289003321Unofficial ambassadors3854022UNINA