Our Three Rosies
During World War II millions of men volunteered or were conscripted to serve in the military. As the men left the workforce a large hole was left in the country’s factories – especially those that directly supported the war effort.
Our government immediately started a national recruitment effort asking women to join the newly depleted workforce. Using the well known Rosie the Riveter posters, they called on women to show their patriotism with their labor. In all some 6 million women were employed in the war time factories.
Some 80 years after WWII some of these women were awared the Congressional Gold Medal for their service.
In the early 1940s, Mom and two of these sisters volunteered to work building aircraft to support the war effort.
Over the years, Mom related bits and pieces about their early years working for the war effort. Each day the three traveled from their home in New Rochelle, NY to the General Motors assembly plant had been converted to build wings for the Grumman Avenger torpedo bomber. Without a car, they were given a ride with a neighbor who also worked at the plant in Tarrytown, NY about twenty-five miles away.
This is the ground on which the General Motors assembly plant stood. You can see some of the rusted steel beams.
By this time, the plant had been demolished to make way for new condos which were going to be built on this site.
While neither Mom nor her sisters received Congressional Gold Metals, I ordered three of these commemorative metals for the families of Mom and two her sisters.
Shortly after the war ended the factories were no longer producing military supplies. As a result most of the women were dismissed. Here is a layoff notification that my aunt received at the conclusion of one of her shifts.
Written by:
Arnie Lee
