Although far from the front lines of war, the people of Idaho contributed to the US effort in World War II in myraid ways. Entrepreneurs perfected the dehydration of potatoes and onions that became staples of the rations that sustained Allied troops stationed around the globe. 
 
Idahoans mined rare metals and maufactered them into weapons and munitions that allowed US forces to compete with the technologies of their opponents. Local communities organized USO huts that provided coffee, cookies, and warm smiles to homesick troops in transit to and from the war.