Heartland Cool: Teenage Boys in Iowa, 1945

In its June 11, 1945 issue LIFE photographer Nina Leen went to Des Moines, Iowa to document the world of teenage boys during World War II. What she found was a reassuringly normal slice of heartland life. The headline announced: “Teen-Age Boys: Faced With War, They are Just the Same as They Have Always Been.”

What did that mean, exactly? It meant that these teenage boys, much like their counterparts in more peaceful periods of 20th century America, were chiefly concerned with playing, eating, sleeping, and dating. This was true despite the reality that “The most important fact in the lives of American teenage boys is that they may have to go and fight Japan.”

LIFE elaborated further on what was on the minds of these youngsters:

The old skills are still admired—the ability to swim well, to memorize the names of football heroes, to have a quick wisecrack for the day’s every small event, to be popular. The ancient foibles are still pursued—homework is done in ten minutes. Mother is looked upon as a lovable servant, home is only for eating and sleeping. The greatest talent is an asset for endlessly happy skylarking.

The main way that the war impacted these young men was gas rationing, because it put a crimp in their fascination with cars, although they found ways to get around that. LIFE wrote, “In an almost gasless society, U.S. boys still have their old jalopies. They have found that a half-hour’s fast talking will usually net them an A coupon from dad and that their motors can often be made to run on a kerosene mixture.” The story put forth that the boys clung to their old cars because it helped with another chief interest of teenage boys is Des Moines, which was dating teenage girls in Des Moines.

Three months after this story ran, Japan surrendered, bringing an end to World War II. This meant that these boys were not only staying home but would have plenty of gas in those cars before too long.

Tom Moore, 17, examined the results of his first shave, Des Moines, 1945.

Nina Leen/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

A teenage boy reached for a comb as he checked his reflection, Des Moines, Iowa, 1945

Nina Leen/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Teenage boys attempted to infiltrate what LIFE called “a hen party,” Des Moines, 1945.

Nina Leen/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Teenager Richard Burns of Des Moines liked to have a cola and half of a box of Cheez-Its before going to bed, Des Moines, 1945.

Nina Leen/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Teenage boys checked out the comic books and magazines at their local drug store, Des Moines, 1945.

Nina Leen/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Teenage boys and girls enjoyed milkshakes at the drug store, Des Moines, 1945.

Nina Leen/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Teenage boys on a Saturday afternoon in Des Moines, Iowa, 1945.

Nina Leen/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Entering through windows was an initiation ritual for a club which called itself “the Molesters,” Des Moines, 1945.

Nina Leen/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock