Forgotten Heroes

"In memory and honor of all those who now serve and those who have gone before."

 

The beginning of WWII created a vast shortage of workers when so many men went off to fight in  Europe and Pacific. Many companies found themselves without the workforce necessary to manufacture the materials of war.

 

It was the American women, young and old, who came from all walks of Life to fill the void, six million strong. They filled jobs customarily done by men.They became mechanics, line workers in plants, welders, riveters. Thousands became WASP, Women Airforce Service Pilots, who flew military aircraft on non-combat missions which freed male pilots for combat.

 

They continued to fill those traditional roles, such as waitress and cook. They became sales people, bankers and clerks. Just over a million became “government girls” working in our government. They filled many volunteer positions with churches, the USO, and the Red Cross. Near the end of the war there were twenty million working in every field once dominated by men.

 

They came in response to what they saw as their patriotic duty. They worked for much less pay, in very poor conditions and often very far from their homes. In short, they became the “Rosie the Riveters” and the “Wendy the Welders” who proved the strength of American women and the determination of the American people.

  

 

My “Rosie”

 

Just a country girl straight off the farm graduated from high school in Maryville TN in 1943. Her older brother was serving in the Air Force as a pilot. None of the rest of her brothers or sisters old enough to serve so she chose to do her part. Oh, be sure, that was but one reason none the less she chose to go to Knoxville and train as a riveter.

 

Like thousands of other young women, as soon as her training was complete she was sent off to a distant unfamiliar place to work. Her destination was a military base somewhere near Las Vegas. She lived in a boarding house some ten miles away and commuted back and forth with a car load of other women to Las Vegas where they were shuttled by bus to the base and work.

 

At 83 now, the details are a bit hazy, but she remembers the long hours working on sections of bombers and the “good” meals served by the woman who ran the boarding house. Still that is simply enough to know that she like millions of other women did their part.

 

Thank you Mom!

 

And thank you to all those other wonderful women!

 

 

Reviews

[Angel's Lady]

Salute! Yes, forgotten heroes indeed. Very timely piece. Good job.

[Ron B]

A beautiful and timely tribute.

[lilain]

This gives me chills. Thank you for honoring those women who sacrified much to save our country, and for honoring your dear mom. (She's a beautiful lady, BTW) I remember talking with my grandmother about the 'hard times' she called it. Never did she talk about how horrible it was or how she hated doing her duty, because it was just that - a duty. I've always been proud of her for that, and I could only hope to measure up to that honorable of deed.

Thanks for sharing this - it was well written and well said.

[Ruby Moon]

this is a part of history that dont get told about enough
history remembers that what nation won what
but they neglected the people that made it happen
both me AND women
its good to read something that comes from your heart
and i can tell that this topic is something that is close to you

[Sam Freeland]

A heartfelt tribute to your Mom. When more can tell of their Mother
as you have done, we will be hearing from another exceptional person
who has been helped to become a person like you. Whatever you share
will be worth reading, and your Mom will be more than happy about
what her son has become. sam

[Wildfleour]

This was terrific, ShadowWolf. I love the background and then the personal story of your mom! Just terrific.

[Samuel Dickens]

What can I say but, I thank your mom and all those women, too. It had to be very hard for them once the men came home and they went back to being homemakers, etc. Who squashed the bug, opened that jar or fixed the comode when the men were off at war? I know who. Samuel Dickens