The pages of history textbooks are filled with stories of cunning generals and brave soldiers. Men fight epic battles which become legends. To focus on key figures and major events, textbooks often look past the experience of the ordinary American during wartime. Many texts also overlook the sacrifice and efforts of women. While battles and generals made headlines, those at home were also affected by the efforts of war. During the Civil War, battles were fought in backyards and the war effort was homegrown. Fighting was removed to distant shores during World War I and II, but the consequences were felt in American states. From fathers missing from their children's lives, to factories needing workers, burdens were felt by those at home. In many situations, the upheaval created opportunities for people on the home front. Sometimes families prospered by selling goods. In many cases, soldiers used the GI Bill, signed on June 22, 1944, to provide funding for higher education. The tall and wide branches of one American family present examples of members who used conflicts in the country to improve their social or financial standing.