ALTERNATIVE SERVICE CERTIFICATES

AIRED: Season 4, Episode 4
THE DETECTIVE: Tukufu Zuberi
THE PLACE: Aiken, South Carolina

THE CASE:

Could a conscientious objector in World War II really buy his way out of service?

One contributor in Aiken, South Carolina owns a remarkable collection of wartime home front ephemera, including a pair of mysterious five dollar certificates that say the contribution counts as an “alternate service to war.”

Peace churches such as the Quakers, Mennonites and Church of the Brethren were granted conscientious objector status during wartime in the 20th century. But did they really have to buy their way out?

History Detectives heads to Pennsylvania and Maryland in the search for the truth about conscientious objectors during World War II, and along the way learn some fascinating facts about the history of wartime objectors in the United States.