World War II was a defining moment in Manteca’s history.Not only did dozens of young men cut short high school educations or abandon farms jobs to enlist in the days following Japans sneak attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, but the economic struggles on the home front plus the impact of returning waves of soldiers laid the ground work for the next 20 years of the community’s growth.The men at war were first and foremost on Manteca residents’ minds. Manteca High Principal Joe Bisig regularly penned long letters to local servicemen. Their replies were shared with other residents in the pages of the Manteca Bulletin.The war brought an end to Manteca’s reputation as a major tomato growing region due to acute labor shortages.It also forced the suspension of Spreckels operations and farmers were forced to cutback drastically on their acreage.Spreckels closed the Manteca plant.