(Special protective clothing. And you thought it was a sex shot!)
Born in the 1910-1920’s, they lived thru the great depression, then were thrown into a world at war. Most have passed now.(Including Floyd, the latest loss, who served in the USN) Out of the 16.1 Million who served about 300,000 died and 671,000 were wounded. The country has about a million left, and they are passing at the rate of 550 a day. Sherry and I had brothers and kin there. Sherry’s brother Lefty, was wounded on Iwo Jima.We all are proud of the men and women who served and sacrificed. Much has been said of them.
However, this post is not about them. It is about the older men, men with handicaps that made them ineligible for service and our WOMEN.
The ones left on the home front who sacrificed under rationing and sparse conditions. Mothers cooked with less grease, meat, coffee and sugar. It was all rationed.
With most of the countries able bodied men off in the Pacific or in Europe and Africa, our Mothers, sisters and wives went to work with a passion. They learned mechanics, welding, flying, riveting and anything it took to get War materials to save our country. Not only in the USA, but Canada and the United Kingdom were under the same strain.
They drove cars with bald tires to work, walked or rode a bus. they worked long hours sweated and many learned that pants and long sleeve shirts served them better than skirts and blouses.
This work force heavily female built over 1,100 ships, 103,000 tanks, 2,383,000 trucks, jeeps, and 325,000 Airplanes.
Our women excelled at ever task. They built the aircraft while others built the engines. then ladies installed them.
And then they flew them to what ever part of the world they were needed in.
They flew fighters and YES they flew the BIG bombers.
They painted them and they blessed them
They filled in where they were needed in the WAR effort.
One could never cover the tasks that were done to support our efforts to be free. Now hold on, some of you younger folks. This was not Iraq, Afghanistan or even Korea or Vietnam. Not belittling either war. BUT IF WWII HAD BEEN LOST WE WOULD HAVE TRULY LOST OUR FREEDOM TO LEADERS WHO HAD KILLED MILLIONS OF THEIR OWN PEOPLE, HOW DO YOU THINK WE WOULD HAVE BEEN TREATED?
Thanks to all ladies in our history who have filled the gap and with very little praise.
Nite Shipslog
PS:
How precious is someone who saves lives and says, I was just doing what I should have done, that was the women of the world and our USA~!*******************************************************
Women building the Jeep
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9 comments:
Very good..I remember Odis and Jun.
in the war.when we lived in Shelby.
I also remember the black outs
where we had to have the house
dark so if the enemy plane flew over they could not spot houses. One day you got the broom and started out of the house. Mother said "Jack where are you going with my broom". You said "I
am going out and shoot the planes
when they fly over"..I think you were about 3 or 4. So you have
been fighting for our freedom at an early age
What a great post, Jack!
There is a park and museum for Rosie the Riveter right in «Louis'» "back yard" - at Richmond Harbor. Many of the Liberty and Victory ships were built in the Kaiser Shipyards in Richmond Harbor. Looking out from his balcony, «Louis» can see the Red Oak Victory, which is being restored and was built at Kaiser/Richmond.
Thank you for remembering all those unsung heroes. I can relate so well to that as my folks lived in that generation. Moms and wives all gave there best - their loved ones off to the war and then they gave of themselves the best they could too. It was a very strong willed group of people and I for one will join you in saluting all of them!
I'm like Shirl, I remember the black outs. Also My frind's parents were Air Raid Wardens. They kept their equipment in the un-used baby bed and she always told me we couldn't touch it. I didn't understand the meaning of it all and it was rather scary. I still remember when the war was over and the church bells across the street started ringing.
A well deserved thank you.
I remember the excitement of the war ending. I wish it was now like it was then, the spirit of it all. Maybe it is.
I enjoyed the read, as you can write it like no other.
So true with the women and the war effort and they stepped in and just did it, which I would imagine was hard work!
betty
Great Post, and I cry over insurance. I agree with DD.
Okay Jack - you tell Sherry how lucky she is that you can appreciate her and all women! That is a great thing. Trust me.
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