Oswego in Kendall County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

World War II

(1939-1945)

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 3, 2025

1. World War II Marker

Inscription. World War II, the deadliest conflict in human history, began for Americans with the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. The war was fought in two theatres: the European and the Pacific. After a key victory on D-Day, the Allied Troops pushed into Europe and were successful on April 30, 1945. The Allies also were successful in the Pacific theatre after dropping atomic bombs on two Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Japanese surrendered on August 14, 1945. The treaty was signed on board the USS Missouri. A total of 16,300,000 military personnel took part in the war.

Total American casualties were 1,100,000.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is December 7, 1941.

Location. 41° 41.12′ N, 88° 21.103′ W. Marker is in Oswego, Illinois, in Kendall County. It can be reached from Main Street near Jefferson Street. The marker is behind the Oswego Veterans Memorial Plaza, on a pathway towards the Fox River. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Oswego IL 60543, United States of

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America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Spanish-American War (here, next to this marker); World War I (here, next to this marker); Vietnam Conflict (here, next to this marker); Korean Conflict (here, next to this marker); American Civil War (a few steps from this marker); War of 1812 (a few steps from this marker); Gulf War (a few steps from this marker); Mexican-American War (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oswego.

Regarding World War II. U.S. casualties numbers include about 410,000 dead and 670,000 wounded.

Also see . . .
1. Research Starters: US Military by the Numbers. The website for the National World War II Museum in New Orleans examines some of the stats

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 3, 2025

2. World War II Marker

related to U.S. involvement in World War II. (Submitted on May 5, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. Two Wars' Major Effects on Kendall County History. The History on the Fox blog explores the impact of the Civil War and World War II on Kendall County, Illinois.

Excerpt: "A good example of the effect the war had on family-owned businesses is the story of Everett and Evelyn McKeown. The McKeowns bought Oswego’s Thorsen Funeral Home in 1938. When war broke out, Everett was drafted to serve as an Army medic. Evelyn, meanwhile, determined to continue running the funeral home on her own, but there was a problem—she had no mortician’s license. Luckily, Leonard Larson, who owned the Yorkville funeral home, stepped in and agreed to act as the business’s licenced mortician. Everett was wounded during the invasion of Normandy, evacuated to England, recovered, and was sent back to what was considered an area unlikely to see combat, only to end up smack dab in the middle of the Battle of the Bulge. He was mustered out, went back to Oswego, and took over running the funeral home business. And he and his wife adopted a
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 3, 2025

3. Historical markers about American wars on the pathway behind Oswego Veterans Memorial Plaza
daughter, which fit right in with what so many other male and female vets were doing as they all started new families."

(Submitted on May 7, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 5, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 106 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 5, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.