During World War II, Myrtle Beach donated land for a U.S. Army airfield that trained air crews for combat duty, while additional acreage in today’s Carolina Forrest area served as a bombing range. More than 180,000 South Carolinians entered the armed services during the war, and at least 900,000 people received military training in South Carolina at 12 major Army airfields. Soldiers who called South Carolina home, even briefly, contributed greatly to pilot and air crew training, antisubmarine defense, and the preparation and staging of deployment to Europe. Those who trained and supported the military at Myrtle Beach created a community and bright heart that lives on there today, and their loyalty, dedication, and sacrifice earned enduring gratitude.