The FReeper Foxhole Profiles World War II era WAVES - March 14th, 2004

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/prs-tpic/females/wvw2-rc.htm ^

[snippy_about_it]

Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.


...................................................................................... ...........................................

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

Where Duty, Honor and Country
are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.

Our Mission:

The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans.

In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support.

The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer.

If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions.

We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.

To read previous Foxhole threads or
to add the Foxhole to your sidebar,
click on the books below.

World War II era WAVES

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.

A special image selection on the Navy's World War II era WAVES, selected from the more comprehensive coverage can be found in the following links:

• Recruiting and Training;
  

• Quarters & Meals;
  

• Recreation, Leisure & Good Deeds;
  

• Ship and Aviation Orientation;
  

• Transportation
  Transportation Part II;
  

• Occupations--Aviation Related;
  

---

---

FReeper Foxhole Armed Services Links

[SAMWolf]

It seems we've got very intelligent and vicious enemy. Make no mistake! It will be a long bloody war.

I agree, the West had better wake up or the survivors will be bowing to the East 3 times a day.

[quietolong]

Here's a good book Worth reading

Crossed Currents: Navy Women from WW I to Tailhook
http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/bookrev/ebbert.html

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for the lead on the book.

[WaterDragon]

I love the 40's hairstyles, what a throwback I am.

There's something feminine and vulnerable about those hairstyles, isn't there? I like them, too.

[SAMWolf]

SIGH! Back when women were women and men were glad of it. :-)

[snippy_about_it]

[quietolong]

Here’s an interesting line from the book

Because of lesbians in there barrack Woman felt SAFER sleeping in the men’s barracks then there own

[Professional Engineer]

Hot women working on a Round engine. Be still my beating heart!

[SAMWolf]

Because of lesbians in their barracks Woman felt SAFER sleeping in the men’s barracks then their own

I guess they just weren't liberated enough yet < /sarcasm>

[SAMWolf]

Hey! I told Snippy the same thig LOL!

[SAMWolf]

no runs, no drips, no errors !

LOL! Good job, I always have trouble with plumbing. :-(

[The Mayor]

let me know when you need a hand, I'm pretty good at it.

Jack of all trades, master of some, that's me..

G'night Sam

[SAMWolf]

Jack of all trades, master of some, that's me.

I usually do ok, but plumbing hates me for some reason. I always end up having to do more work than the original task.

Night Mayor.

[The Mayor]

I always end up having to do more work than the original task.

I hate it when that happens..

[Professional Engineer]

Hey! I told Snippy the same thig LOL!

She's teasing us. LOL

[SAMWolf]

I always end up having to do more work than the original task.

I hate it when that happens..

I'm getting used top it by now. :-)

[SAMWolf]

That's ok as long as she keeps pposting the pictures. :-)

[Professional Engineer]

I spent most of the afternoon in the garage with my son, building some of these.

We made about 50 of them today. How could I forget the 'never volunteer' maxim.

[Professional Engineer]

ROFL Yep, she can tease us all she wants!

[snippy_about_it]

How did I know you guys would appreciate that picture? :-)