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For It’s About Time Column—women and WW2 Written by Susan Parsons Helen Davies recently spoke at a Sterling Historical Society meeting on the topic of Women and World War II. Helen was dressed in a Rosie the Riveter costume including red and white polka dot kerchief and roll up jeans. Helen is a resident of North Port Byron. US Government Poster: Rosie the Riveter A war is fought on two fronts—the war front deals with guns, troops, intelligence, etc. and the home front which is as important as a fighting front. Women took part in both, though mostly on the home front. Women did not engage in combat. Army- the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps became the WAC’s in 1943. Some of these women were assigned to the Army Air Force. Others were assigned to the Air Transport Command. The Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying (WAF) Squadron hired women pilots to ferry planes from one location to another. The WAF’s were forerunners of the WASPS. ---PAGE BREAK--- Government Recruiting Poster-World War II Women’s Air Force Service Pilots (WASP’s), like their forerunners had no military status. Though they taught young men to fly, broke in new planes and towed sleeve targets for Army Air Force gunners to shoot at, they were not recognized as members of the military. By 1944 the WASP organization was being canceled because the men that these women trained were replacing them. The women did not receive any veterans’ benefits though 42 women gave their lives in the WASPs. ---PAGE BREAK--- Photo of WASPs at the four engine school in Ohio, World War II They have been trained to ferry B-17 Flying Fortresses. Women such as these freed pilots for active duty. Of more Than 1000 WASPS’s 38 lost their lives. They had no military Status and were not granted military status or honors. Navy- the WAVES—Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services—was established in 1942. They had full military status and equality with Navy men. They were banned from overseas service, however. Marines- Women’s units in this branch were simply called Marines. Nurses: Army nurses (ANC) had dangerous jobs. They had to quickly set up a five-hundred bed hospital tent, treat patients for 36 hours and then dismantle the hospital and move to the next line of battle. They lived with danger, deprivation and fatigue. When blood supplies were scarce they gave their own blood. Helen recalled an incident when a young recruit was very upset that he did not have his helmet. A nurse gave him her own helmet, soothing his mind. ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- Above photo: Recruiting Poster for Army Nurses Navy nurses (NNC) were more often teachers or administrators. They sometimes served on Navy hospital ships, but never on Navy combat ships. Wounded sailors on those ships were treated by medics who had been taught by Navy nurses. If they were on Navy hospital ships those nurses were not allowed to own cameras, keep diaries or wear metal ID tags to keep any potential information out of the hands of the enemy. They were not allowed to play radios because enemy submarines might pick up the radio waves. Flight nurses had heavy responsibilities. They saw some of the worst cases, both of the wounded and of those suffering severe mental breakdowns. They could not anticipate what to expect. They would give hypodermics, plasma, oxygen and wash and dress wounds while in planes. Sometimes a doctor was not available and they were forced to make decisions usually reserved for doctors. They could not have red crosses painted on the planes because the planes that removed the wounded carried fresh troops to the front. Therefore these nurses were in as much danger as if they were in combat. The home front: with so many men in the military, women had to meet the challenges of production, for example, the planes. The Japanese and Germans had a ten-year head start on building their weapons. Now women had to step up to the plate. At first they were reluctant; they had young children at home and some men that remained home ridiculed them by saying they would lose their femininity by doing the needed work. Some businesses conducted a recruiting campaign and women began to respond. The standard work week was 48 hours, six- day weeks. Many also worked overtime. Women became involved in most areas of defense production. Aircraft production: women adapted to the work fairly easily; they could use the skills that they had developed in the home. Some women explained that riveting was like doing needlepoint in metal. Women also had to maintain planes and do engine overhauls. Their dexterity was a plus in these jobs. At first they suffered with swollen hands, headaches and worry that any errors could cost a pilot his life. As they adjusted to the work and became more skilled they became more confident in their new situations. ---PAGE BREAK--- Women working in an aircraft factory, World War II Ship building: these women said their experiences as housewives prepared them for these jobs. They explained that it was like sewing—get a plan, cut out a pattern, prefabricate it, put it together, launch it. Welding was like “sewing a fine seam.” They operated lathes, drill presses, etc., and worked as hard as men. They did everything asked, even things men would not do. Even so, they did not receive equal wages to men. Ammunition: Women’s concerns for safety and precision were valuable in munitions factories. When arriving at work they had to take off outer clothing and be examined for items not allowed such as silk garments, matches, cigarettes, hair pins, jewelry because any of these could cause a spark. They wore rubber shoes and a plain flame-proof uniform. They had to deal with boring work and fatigue. To relieve these they sang songs like “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and” Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition.” They were paid 45-60 cents per hour. Women also worked in the steel industry, mining and on the railroads. About 250 women in the USA operated trains. Women did heavy and light work, menial and difficult, in every field on the home front. ---PAGE BREAK--- Women on the home front working on the railroad, World War II At home: Banners: if a family had a relative in the military, a banner or flag with a blue star on a white background with a red border, hung in the window. They were had made. Housework: more work had to be done in the home since many items such as food and gas were scarce or unavailable during the War. Recipes had to modified. Chicken feed bags were made into dresses. Baby supplies, oil, and appliances were hard to get. Rationing: two purposes were addressed by rationing: Equal access to goods and supplies, regardless of financial situation Keep prices reasonable, curbing inflation ---PAGE BREAK--- One unfortunate result was the black market. The most difficult to cope with rationed items were coffee, meat, sugar and safety pins, said Helen. Advertisement promoting rationing, World War II Silk stockings were not available so women smeared foundation cream on their legs and used an eyebrow pencil and a ruler to mark seams up the backs of their legs. Elastic and rubber were not available so safety pins were much desired. Heating oil shortages occurred. Thermostats were set at 65 degrees during the day and lower at night. Wood and coal stoves were used. Farm families and people living in villages had more access to items than city people Gardens: farmers had large gardens. Family farms were often run by women. Migrant workers went to the factories to work. Japanese people were interred. So, women again filled the gap. The Women’s Land Army was used to provide female labor for farms. The Victory Farm Volunteers recruited high school girls to work on farms. People grew Victory gardens, some as community and some on private land. These actions helped keep food prices lower and put less pressure on food items needed for the military. Children at the Jerome, Arkansas Japanese-American Internment Camp, World War II ---PAGE BREAK--- Poster encouraging citizens to grow “Victory Gardens,” World War II Other: women knitted army blankets, acted as air craft spotters, wrote letters, knitted bandages, collected foil from cigarettes and gum, bought war bonds and war stamps, packed boxes for prisoners of war, sent care packages, met troop trains and distributed food, worked at canning factories, restaurants, and did anything they could to fill in. They coped with anxiety, sleeplessness, low income, black-out curtains, etc. They anxiously waited for the mail or the telegraph but dreaded those things as well. If they answered the door to see a pastor or officer with bad news, the blue star on the banner might have to be covered with a gold star. ---PAGE BREAK--- Propaganda poster urging purchase of War Bonds, World War II When men returned, their personalities might have changed because of the horrors they had experienced and the experiences they were forced to handle. Women now had to care for the physical and mental wounds of their men. Not recognized at the time was the condition we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some men had received “Dear John” letters, adding to their misery. The divorce rate soared after the War. Women had no days off, and no furloughs. They served their country with honor. Helen Davies received an ovation for her fine presentation. ---PAGE BREAK--- part 2, researched and written by Susan Parsons Women and World War II, continued Approximately 350,000 women served in the United States Armed Forces during World War II, both at home and abroad. At first women filled just the clerical jobs, freeing the men for war. Women were believed unfit to serve as supervisors, or in jobs requiring physical strength or “un- ladylike” working conditions. As more and more men joined the military and went overseas, women began to replace them in almost every job other than combat. They worked in defense and home industry, on farms, as radio operators, gunnery instructors, flying instructors, mechanics, repairmen, care givers, and in the science and technical fields. The United States Government used several methods of encouraging women’s help during the War. One important way of gaining the support of women was through the media, such as through the use of posters, movies, pamphlets, newspapers and radio. World War II propaganda poster encouraging patriotism and cooperation ---PAGE BREAK--- World War II Poster urging the purchase of War Bonds Poster encouraging women to join the Army Nurse Corps This woman is pictured as physically fit and beautifully feminine, A purposeful part of the propaganda effort ---PAGE BREAK--- Film and Broadway stars such as Katharine Hepburn, Tallulah Bankhead, Bette Davis, Rose Lee, Hedy Lamarr, Lynn Fontaine and the Andrews Sisters helped raise money for the war effort and war relief. The Andrews Sisters in their “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” Costumes After the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the draft was used to recruit military personnel. It was discovered that many men were unfit for combat and so were given non- combat positions or were rejected. It followed that many women apparently would not be physically fit, either. So the government and educational/medical establishments began to measure fitness and promote exercise to encourage Americans to improve their fitness. The following is the text of a World War II propaganda pamphlet encouraging women to do their part in the war effort by staying fit. To Help Women Who Want to Help! (From a World War II pamphlet) Uppermost today in the mind of every intelligent woman is the need for physical fitness, in order that she may do her part in the war effort… (by Anne Delafield from the DuBarry Success School, New York City): “I wish that every woman would adopt the following slogans, write them on slips of paper and paste them on your mirror! Keep them before your mind ALWAYS: 1. It is downright unpatriotic to be fat! ---PAGE BREAK--- 2. It is downright unpatriotic to be physically unfit. 3. From this day on—I will cease to be a “wishful thinker”—I will be a successful doer instead. 4. I will carry on with a strong body and a pretty face. Another pamphlet meant for the Women’s Army Corps also emphasized fitness ---PAGE BREAK--- Photocopy of Women’s Army Corps fitness document (readable text follows below) To The Women of the Corps You are a member of the first Women’s Army in the history of the United States. You are one of the small percentage of the women qualified in mind and body to perform a soldier’s noncombat duties These duties are many. The demands of war are varied, endless and merciless. To satisfy these demands you must be fit. You have successfully passed a rigorous physical examination. You are organically sound. Now you must build the strength and stamina, the control and coordination to do a man’s work any hour of the day, every day of the month. ---PAGE BREAK--- To condition your body so that it may meet every demand made of it, a course of physical exercises has been developed. It has been planned by women for women. It recognizes your capacities. It is based upon a knowledge of the tasks you may be called upon to perform. These exercises are simple and progressive. By slow methodical stages, they carry you to a new and better state of physical condition, visibly expressed in a reserved attractive carriage and an abundance of energy. They assist in supplying the mental, emotional and physical stability you need to be an effective member of an effective organization. The eyes of the Army—and of the Nation—are on you. It is of prime importance that your body feel well and work well throughout your military service. Oveta Culp Hobby Colonel, WAC Director Women from the Town of Sterling Who Served in the Military during World War II (Fair Haven Register, 6/7/1945): Elizabeth Harrison has been called to active duty (she was sworn into the WAVES some time ago) on June 14th. She is the first girl to enter the Navy from this town. (Cato Citizen, 11/21/1946): Elizabeth Harrison, graduate of Fair Haven High School, [1941] married James J. Myers at Rockville, MD. She joined the WAVES Nurses Corps in 1945. She is stationed at the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, MD. (Fair Haven Register, 5/21/1943): ---PAGE BREAK--- PFC Clara Phillips, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Phillips became a 2nd Lieutenant as a member of the WAC’s. She enlisted in May of 1943. She is a lab technician at Perry Jones General Hospital. (Fair Haven Register, date unknown): Alice Ware Gazley, who graduated from Fair Haven High School in 1926 and then moved to New York City, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dell Ware (Bowens Corners) and sister of Mrs. Leslie Mendel, is a WAVE and has received aviation training.