USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ W.W. II WAVES ~ February 25 2003

Naval Military History | February 25 2003 | snippy about it

[snippy_about_it]

World War II era WAVES --
Overview and Special Image Selection

After a twenty-three-year absence, women returned to general Navy service in early August 1942, when Mildred McAfee was sworn in as a Naval Reserve Lieutenant Commander, the first female commissioned officer in U.S. Navy history, and the first Director of the WAVES, or "Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service". In the decades since the last of the Yeomen left active duty, only a relatively small corps of Navy Nurses represented their gender in the Naval service, and they had never had formal officer status. Now, the Navy was preparing to accept not just a large number of enlisted women, as it had done during World War I, but female Commissioned Officers to supervise them. It was a development of lasting significance, notwithstanding the WAVES' name, which indicated that they would only be around during the wartime "Emergency".

Establishing the WAVES was a lengthy effort. Inter-war changes in the Naval Reserve legislation specifically limited service to men, so new legislation was essential. Though far-sighted individuals in the Navy Department, and especially in the Bureau of Aeronautics, had long known that uniformed women would be a wartime necessity, general service opinion was decidedly negative until the crisis at hand. Even then, creative intrigue had to be used to get an authorization through The Congress. President Roosevelt signed it into law on 30 July 1942. The next few months saw the commissioning of Mildred McAfee, and several other prominent female educators and professionals, to guide the new organization.

Recruiting had to be undertaken (or at least managed, as the number of interested women was vast), training establishments set up, an administrative structure put in place and uniforms designed. The latter effort produced a classic design that still has many elements in use nearly six decades later. Difficulties were overcome with energy and indispensable good humor, and within a year 27,000 women wore the WAVES uniform.

These women served in a far wider range of occupations than had the Yeomen (F). While traditionally female secretarial and clerical jobs took an expected large portion, thousands of WAVES performed previously atypical duties in the aviation community, Judge Advocate General Corps, medical professions, communications, intelligence, science and technology. The wartime Navy's demand for them was intense as it struggled to defeat Hitler and Mussolini in Europe and the Japanese in the Pacific. At the end of the conflict, there were well over 8,000 female officers and some ten times that many enlisted WAVES, about 2 ½ percent of the Navy's total strength. In some places WAVES constituted a majority of the uniformed Naval personnel. And many remained in uniform to help get the Navy into, and through, the post-war era.

This page features an introduction and special image selection on the Navy's World War II era WAVES, selected from the more comprehensive coverage contained in the following pages:

• Recruiting and Training;
  

• Quarters & Meals;
  

• Recreation, Leisure & Good Deeds;
  

• Ship and Aviation Orientation;
  

• Transportation
  Transportation Part II;
  

• Occupations--Aviation Related;
  

U.S. Navy W.W. II WAVES

Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service

USS Missouri (BB-63)
WAVES visiting the ship in an east coast port, during her shakedown period, circa August 1944.
They are standing on the main deck at the bow, with the Navy Jack flying behind them.

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WAVE Specialist (Photographer) 3rd Class
Saluting, as she stands among the springtime cherry blossoms
near the Jefferson Memorial, Washington, D.C., during World War II.

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USS Missouri (BB-63)
Yeoman Third Class Betty Martin exiting the rear door of a 5"/38 twin gun mount,
while touring the ship in an east coast port during Missouri's shakedown period,
circa August 1944.

---

Aviation Metalsmith 3rd Class Claire Bickham and
Seaman 1st Class (Aviation Metalsmith) Susie Alvis
Riveting aircraft structure in the Assembly and Repair Department
at Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida, circa 24 July 1943.

---

Aerographer's Mate 2nd Class Julia Murray, USNR(W)
Launches a weather balloon from a theodolite platform at
Naval Air Station, Santa Ana, California, circa mid-1945.
The balloon is used to check wind velocity.

---

---

U.S. Naval Air Station, Santa Ana, California
Specialist (X) 2nd Class Marcelle Whiteman holds one of the 200 carrier
pigeons "based" at NAS Santa Ana, circa June 1945.
The birds were used to transmit communications from the air
to the station when radio silence is in force. One of the occupations
covered by the Specialist (X) rating was Pigeon Trainer.

My "Vanity" section begins here. :)

snippy's Mom at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor
Wave barracks-January 1946
Aviation Machinists' Mate

Mom (standing center) and the girls-Hawaii 1945

Mom and her brother Reeves McGillicuddy, Bellmore LI, NY c1944
From here it was a troop train to SF CA and on to Hawaii

• text

For the Duration of the Emergency....

When the United States was propelled into World War II by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, it faced the necessity of fighting a two front war (Atlantic and Pacific) as well as becoming the "Arsenal of Democracy," supplying armies on two fronts as well as the armies of our allies in the form of Lend-Lease supplies.

When military and industrial demands clashed, it became obvious that the shortage of manpower demanded the use of woman power once again, but on an even larger scale than previously. During World War II, all four services - Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, formed special women's components "for the duration of the emergency and six months."

WOMEN IN MILITARY SERVICE FOR AMERICA MEMORIAL
Dept 560, Washington, DC 20042-0560

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER

[snippy_about_it]

Today's thread is all history and part vanity. I am an avid fan of history and to be able to share a little bit of my mother's history is a blessing. We don't often get to hear this side of the story. Thank you for allowing me to share.

*

My mother tells great stories of her war time experience. From the train that took her from New York to San Francisco to her ship ride to and from Hawaii and her time there.

Everywhere the train would stop the townspeople would come out and offer coffee and snacks and cheers all around. She traveled on the Matsonia, a cruise ship turned into a troop ship. Because of war time they would have to weren't allowed to have any lights on at night. You couldn't even read a book in your bunk with a flashlight. I can't imagine crossing the sea at night with no lights on.

She doesn't speak of it as a scary time, but a wonderful patriotic time, doing without and not minding, making do with the simplest of things. In Hawaii they used their pillowcases to play in the surf, fill them up with air and float on them.

She fell in love with riding in jeeps. She loved working with the planes and pilots. She said she was so happy not to have to wear the dresses all the time but got to wear jeans instead. From a girl growing up on Long Island, Hawaii was quite a treat, a real paradise, undeveloped as it is now.

She says they would have to taxi the planes after they worked on them, direct them in and off the tarmac and strap the pilots in their parachutes after the pilot got in the plane.

Of course they entertained as well as worked and did the best they could with what they had, volunteered on their "off" time.

I've read some WAVES stories that mention the guys weren't too happy about the women joining up but my mother never told such stories, the sailors and pilots she was around were always kind and courteous. Gentlemen and flirts.

It always sounded somewhat romantic even though it was during a time of danger and uncertainty. She signed up as soon as she could and had to have her parents give their permission. She's been in love with the sea and planes, sailors and pilots ever since.

[snippy_about_it]

"Tonight I also have a message for the men and women who will keep the peace, members of the American Armed Forces:

Many of you are assembling in and near the Middle East, and some crucial hours may lie ahead.

In those hours, the success of our cause will depend on you. Your training has prepared you.

Your honor will guide you.

You believe in America, and America believes in you."

President George W Bush
State of the Union Address
January 28 2003

USO CANTEEN FREEPER STYLE MISSION STATEMENT
Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.

[snippy_about_it]

Please enjoy the links provided. The Naval Historical Center is quite large and one could spend the day reading.

Here is a link to their home page.

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER Home Page

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody !! Happy Tuesday !

We are in a 'winter wonderland' this mornin' ! I got 3/8 - 1-2" covering of SLEET on my sidewalk ! ...

19 degrees as I post this. Hey! They said it would get down to 23 ! B-r-r-r-r !!...

Have a cup while you FReep !

For those who prefer hot chocolate.....

[snippy_about_it]

Early morning Eastern Standard Time bump. Tonk will arrive shortly to extend his opening greeting. Enjoy and have fun today my fellow Canteener's. I'm off to work. See you all tonight.

Good Morning and God Bless all our wonderful military men and women.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning everyone.

[JohnHuang2]

G'morning to you, my friend.

[JohnHuang2]

G'morning, amigo

[JohnHuang2]

[JohnHuang2]

G'morning, friend.

[Aeronaut]

Hey John.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Click for current time
in Afghanistan

[Kathy in Alaska]

Duty ~ Honor ~ Country

Click above to visit "A Day in the Life of President Bush"

[Kathy in Alaska]

A PRAYER OF PROTECTION

The light of God surround you
The love of God enfold you
The power of God protect you
The presence of God watch over you
Wherever you are,God is,
And all is well.
Amen.

.

Bless This House

Bless this house O Lord we pray;
Make it safe by night and day;
Bless these walls so firm and stout,
Keeping want and trouble out:
Bless the roof and chimneys tall,
Let thy peace lie over all;
Bless this door, that it may prove
ever open to joy and love.


Bless these windows shining bright,
Letting in God's heav'nly light;
Bless the hearth a'blazing there,
with smoke ascending like a prayer;
Bless the folk who dwell within,
keep them pure and free from sin;
Bless us all that we may be
Fit O Lord to dwell with thee;
Bless us all that one day we
May dwell O Lord with thee.

.

(Click on praying hands above,
or on banner at the top to hear the music)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good night fellas. See you in a few hours.

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin' !

[MeekOneGOP]

G'night, princess ! ...

[tomkow6]

Good morning, Snippy! Good morning, Canteen Crew! Good morning, EVERYBODY!

GOOD

MORNING

TROOPS!!

[tomkow6]

Today's FEEBLE attempt at humor:

A woman knocked on the pearly gates, Her face
was scarred and old, She trembled and she shook with fear,
she was just about to fold.

"What have you done...", St. Peter asked, "...to gain
admission here?"

"I've been a loyal AOL user sir,..." "...for many and
many a year."

The Pearly Gate swung open wide, St. Peter rung the bell,
"COME IN AND CHOOSE YOUR HARP..." he said "...you've had
your share of hell."

[JohnHuang2]

G'nite, my friend :^)