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The FReeper Foxhole Profiles World War II era WAVES - March 14th, 2004
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/prs-tpic/females/wvw2-rc.htm ^
Posted on 03/14/2004 5:33:03 AM PST by 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.
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U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues
Where Duty, Honor and Country are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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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.
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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:
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FReeper Foxhole Armed Services Links

 
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TOPICS: VetsCoR
KEYWORDS: freeperfoxhole; samsdayoff; usnavy; veterans; waves; wwii
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To: SAMWolf
We're covering the Flying Wing on Wednesday!! Hi Sam. Cool! The flying wing concept is sound, witness the B-2, it was politics that killed the original.
I even saw a homebuilt flying wing aircraft at Oshkosh a number of years ago. The builder claimed a 3000 mile range - tho I treat that with some skepticism.
21
posted on
03/14/2004 7:41:01 AM PST
by
Aeronaut
(The ACLU Doesn't hate all religion, just Christianity!)
To: snippy_about_it
Well, I goofed that one up. Forget what I said about the admiral. Hobbit lass says she was a general. I'm still jealous though; I don't know any generals either.
22
posted on
03/14/2004 8:00:18 AM PST
by
Samwise
(I am going to need to be sedated before this election is over.)
To: bentfeather
Good morning feather.
23
posted on
03/14/2004 8:01:16 AM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: SAMWolf
Great minds think alike! :-)
24
posted on
03/14/2004 8:06:22 AM PST
by
Valin
(Hating people is like burning down your house to kill a rat)
To: snippy_about_it
Good morning snippy!!! Had your StarBucks yet???
25
posted on
03/14/2004 8:07:13 AM PST
by
Soaring Feather
(~ I do poetry and party amoung the stars ~)
To: Samwise
I think most everyone knows my mother was a WAVE but this thread gives me the excuse to post her picture. ;-)
She's says they hated the white dresses. LOL. Loved being able to work in blue jeans though!

snippy's mom and uncle Long Island NY -1944

snippy's mom, Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 1946
26
posted on
03/14/2004 8:11:25 AM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: GailA
Good morning Gail. That juice sure looks good!
27
posted on
03/14/2004 8:11:54 AM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: Aeronaut
Good morning Aeronaut. The flying wing! Sam has a thread coming up on that.
28
posted on
03/14/2004 8:12:28 AM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: E.G.C.
Good morning EGC.
29
posted on
03/14/2004 8:12:51 AM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: The Mayor
Good morning Mayor.
30
posted on
03/14/2004 8:13:14 AM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: Valin
1913 John D Rockefeller gives $100 million to Rockefeller Foundation So...in reality he gave it to himself.
31
posted on
03/14/2004 8:15:05 AM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: SAMWolf
Thanks Sam. Todays is short and sweet. ;-)
32
posted on
03/14/2004 8:15:48 AM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: snippy_about_it
She's a classy lady!
33
posted on
03/14/2004 8:16:50 AM PST
by
Samwise
(I am going to need to be sedated before this election is over.)
To: WaterDragon
I didn't even know there were WAVES in World War One!Morning WaterDragon. I didn't either until a couple years ago. Most were nurses I believe and used only while needed but it is something you don't hear much about.
34
posted on
03/14/2004 8:17:41 AM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: Samwise
Hobbit lass says she was a generalLOL. An Admiral, A General, still a bigwig. ;-)
I suppose we can all look back and wish we did something different. Even with my entire family in the service it really didn't cross my mind as something to do. I wish now it had.
35
posted on
03/14/2004 8:20:00 AM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: bentfeather
Yes miss feather I've had my Starbucks, a triple shot in fact to get rid of my aching head today. ;-)
I'm on my second cup now but that will be the last for the day as I have tons of housework to do. My job will take me out of town for a couple weeks (ugh) so I need to get my chores done this week.
36
posted on
03/14/2004 8:22:02 AM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: Samwise
Awww. Thanks. They just knew how to dress back then and wear their hair didn't they? Those were stylish days for ladies.
37
posted on
03/14/2004 8:23:02 AM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: All
My mom was in the WAVES during WWII. She worked at the Naval Ammunition Depot in Hawthorne, Nevada as an ammunition inspector. The ordnance from Hawthorne went by rail to Port Chicago, CA, and then to its intended recipients.
To: snippy_about_it
Glamour girls--all of them.
Did you happen to see the lady who sang "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" on American Idol. She was a hoot--and very good. I think she was Air Force.
If today's Hollywood backed the miitary as they did during World War II, we wouldn't have the problems we do today.
39
posted on
03/14/2004 8:31:31 AM PST
by
Samwise
(I am going to need to be sedated before this election is over.)
To: Aeronaut
The Germans were working on one in WWII. Even had some prototypes built.
40
posted on
03/14/2004 8:36:13 AM PST
by
SAMWolf
(John Kerry is not indecisive and wishy-washy. He consistantly gives aid and comfort to our enemies.)
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