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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Alumni
    • Contact Us
    • Join our team
    • Volunteer
    • Leadership >
      • Board of Directors
      • Associate Board
    • Privacy Policy
  • Programs
    • Out of School Program >
      • Cubbies Program
      • Bateman
      • Cleveland
      • Bell Walking
      • Coonley Walking
      • Linne
      • NBGC Clubhouse
    • Spring Break Camp
    • Summer Camp
    • Athletic Programs >
      • Spring (Registration Open)
      • Winter II
      • Winter I
      • Fall
      • Summer
      • Year-Round Karate
    • Youth Leadership Program
  • News & Updates
    • NBGC Blog
    • Alumni Chatter
    • Monkeyshines
  • Events
    • Past Events 2022 >
      • Drop & Shop
      • Giving Tuesday 2022
      • Thanksgiving 2022
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      • Golf Outing
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    • Past Events 2021 >
      • Easter Scramble 5K
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      • Leaders of the Future 2021
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        • The War Years
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NBGC In the War Years

Many Neighborhood Boys Club (NBC, subsequently the Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club) Alumni served our country during World War II.  Their experience as NBC members unified them throughout the challenges they faced in the War.  This in part was accomplished through NBC publication called the Service Paper. 
 
​As the Service Paper gained popularity, lists of NBC alumni that were missing in action or killed were circulated. Parents and friends provided information to ensure that all former NBC members were sent updates about their friends fighting in other places. 
 
Letters came from all over the world.  NBC alumni would share their experiences in the war, writing into the Service Paper with updates about themselves, meeting fellow alumni overseas, and expressing sympathies and remembrances of alumni who were killed in action.  
 
The Monkeyshine, a publication NBGC still publishes each week, also reported on the war. The Monkeyshine is a weekly paper circulated to current members and written by current members. The content includes game scores and what is happening at the clubhouse. During the war, it also gave death notices and updates on the alumni that were involved in the war effort. The Monkeyshine continued on to report about servicemen in later years and subsequent wars.
 
The Service Paper was such an inspiration to NBC alum throughout that world that it was the impetus for the start of the NBC Alumni Association, which is now known as the NBGC Alumni Association. There are over 10,000 NBC and NBGC alumni, living all across the United States.
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Dick Valentin announced the start of the Service Paper publication in a letter to the alum’s parents.
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As the Service Paper gained popularity, lists of NBC alumni that were missing in action or killed were circulated. Parents and friends provided information to ensure that all former NBC members were sent updates about their friends fighting in other places. 
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Letters Sent Back Home


Krienitz, Bill 11-24-1943

Schmaltz, William 11-02-1943



Writz 3-9-1943 


Letters came from all over the world.  NBC alumni would share their experiences in the war, writing into the Service Paper with updates about themselves, meeting fellow alumni overseas, and expressing sympathies and remembrances of alumni who were killed in action. 
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This particular set of letters and cards demonstrates the sacrifices made by the NBC alumni in the war.
Joyce, Martin 12-25-1942 (Great Honor) 
The Service Paper changed over time as the war came to an end. This is a Service Paper that was published in June of 1945, towards the end of the war.

06-22-1945 Service Paper
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The Service Paper was such an inspiration to NBC alum throughout that world that it was the impetus for the start of the NBC Alumni Association. Former President Baumhart proposes the beginning of the NBC Alumni Association. 

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Baumhart- Letter to Former NBC members 


Donner-To Friends of NBC 


NBGC Alumni World War II Booklet 

You can now view all of the service papers, which were compiled into a booklet decades after the war.


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Monkeyshine 02-01-1943 

Monkeyshine 03-15-1943 

Monkeyshine 9-27-1943  


Monkeyshine 06-19- 1944   

Monkeyshine 01-29-1945  

 Monkeyshine 05-07-1945
 


The Monkeyshine, a publication NBGC still uses, also reported on the war. The Monkeyshine is a weekly paper circulated to current members and written by current members. The content includes game scores and what is happening at the clubhouse. During the war, it also gave death notices and updates on the alumni that were involved in the war effort.
Monkeyshine 03-03-1958 
The Monkeyshine continued on to report about servicemen in later years and subsequent wars.
 Monkeyshine 11-03-1952.pdf 
 Monkeyshine 11-04-1963.pdf 
Monkeyshine 11-09-1970.pdf 
In the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s the Monkeyshine announced a day of club football games in observance of Veteran’s Day. Alumni who were killed in the war were named and remembered.
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All services rendered by NBGC are provided on a non-refundable basis. The Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, independent organization founded in 1931, dedicated to youth development. EIN# 36-2139256. All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.