JOG -
I was born in 1947 ,and while growing up in the 1950s and early 1960s, I was constantly exposed to WW II veterans.
I surely can't do justice to a real discussion of the times of WW II.  It was a time in our history that was never seen before, and will not be seen after.
From what I've read, and heard, the people of the U.S. were totally united in the goal of defeating the Axis.  Political differences took a second, or third seat during the war.  I think that was a product of two things - first, even though we tried to remain neutral early in the war, it was obvious that what was going on in Europe was a war of good versus evil.
Next, of course, was our being attacked at Pearl Harbor.  The circumstances of a sneak attack while the Japanese diplomats in Washington were supposedly negotiating with our gov't to avoid war made the attack all the more insulting.
As the war progressed, especially early in the Pacific, events like the Bataan death march galvanized Americans' determination.
Today, if such events happened again, we'd never be so united.
There would be conspiracy nuts who would somehow make Pearl Harbor into an inside job.
There would be political divisiveness against whomever the President would happen to be at the time.
We are just a different country now - too diverse, never "country first" like we once were, too much concerned with individual matters rather than nationalist goals.
As I said, I can never do justice to the subject, but that's a minor start.