Staying “On the Beam”: Pepperdine College During World War II

Abstract

Loretta Hunnicutt argues that though World War II shaped Pepperdine University profoundly, it did not define it. She suggests that the university’s experience reflects how Churches of Christ moved from viewing themselves as cultural outsiders to mainstream Americans. For instance, though many maintained a longstanding pacifist commitment that had often characterized many members of the Churches of Christ, most students and faculty at the university showed great support for the war. The war also challenged the school in maintaining its enrollment and its sense of community in the wake of the departure of 400 students and alumni who joined the armed forces. Ultimately, Pepperdine University emerged from the war still on a path of growth and with its mission of Christian education intact.