Wars and military conscription have involved millions of men, women, and children, though very little is known about their long-term effect on lives. Using cohorts of American and Japanese men, this study investigates three hypothesised effects of World War II. War mobilisation and related experiences: (1) altered the timing and sequencing of events in the transition to adulthood, especially when they occurred relatively early in life; (2) increased educational advancement and occupational opportunity; and (3) generally produced life changes that made the war a perceived turning point in the life course. Each of these propositions applies mainly to men who were mobilised at an early age. Data come from the Shizuoka city life history study of 1982, and from two longitudinal archives at the Institute of Human Development, Berkeley (the Oakland Growth Study and the Berkeley Guidance Study). The older Japanese men were born in 1918-24; the older Americans, in 1920-21. Younger cohorts include Japanese men born in 1927-30 and American men born in 1928-29. Especially among men in the younger cohort, Japanese and American, results from the data analysis generally provide empirical support for the life-course alteration, opportunity, and turning point hypotheses.
