Remembering WWII Women

Author Linda E. Minton

Introduction

After the publication of WWII Heroes: We Were Just Doing Our Job, which featured sixty-five male veterans who served during WWII, my daughter, Amy, said, “You need to write a book about women in WWII.”  Thus, the birth of a new WWII book was born.  As I talked with many of theses humble ladies, a repeated theme was - “I didn’t really do anything.?  As conversations deepened, it became evident that they did indeed contribute to helping on the home front.  The troops couldn’t be moved without the ships that were built at home; the guns couldn’t be fired without the ammunition that was manufactured.  In addition, collections of lard, tin and paper that were used to produce other goods for the military.

Women went to the Uso facilities to entertain and comfort the military men and women.  Red Cross workers were primarily female.  Women and children sold war bonds to support the war costs.  Many women joined the work force to build war equipment, uniforms, bullets and many other items needed to win the war and bring their men home again.

Due to the rationing of many food items, women had to be creative when cooking meals; due to the shortage of material, women made clothes for their children by using empty flour and feed sacks.  They collected tin cans to use for the war needs.  New cars and new refrigerators were not being produced because the steel was used for tanks and ships.  Families had to do without, so the soldiers could have what they needed to win the war.

Women wanted to help with the war effort during WWII.  According to www.history.com, “During World War II, 350,000 women served in the U.S. Armed Forces, both at home and abroad.”  Women service personnel filled the jobs that servicemen had held previously.  “By 1945, there were more than 100,000 WAC’s and 6,000 female officers.”  Women were an integral part of the war effort during WWII.  Fifty-five women were interviewed, and their inspiring stories are included in this book.