This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end World War II — May 8 was the anniversary of victory in Europe and September 2 marks the formal surrender of Japan.  

Central to the war effort at home was the war bond. The U.S. sold more than $150 billion worth of them to help fund the war, fight inflation and give those who stayed home a way to contribute.   

Marketplace’s Sabri Ben-Achour spoke to Ken McGee, who sold those bonds as a child. 

Click the above audio player to hear more about the history of war bonds, and the below audio player to hear McGee’s full story about his war bond-selling experience.