During World War II, over six million American women took paid employment in defense industries, while another estimated ten million women volunteered to support the war effort. They worked in factories, shipyards, munitions plans, mills, on farms, and on railroads. They were welders, cutters, riveters, laborers, secretaries, drivers, nurses, pilots, and plane spotters, as well as USO, Red Cross, and Canteen volunteers. Many women were working for the first time, often doing jobs that had been typically reserved for men. After the war, many returned home, unceremoniously released from their jobs, their contributions being forgotten for generations. Over time, however, their wartime service began to change perceptions of the type of work that women could do. They did their bit for their country and the war effort, and without them the Arsenal of Democracy would have suffered.
Larry Orr describes how his mom, Florence Rexroad, worked during World War II as a riveter at Boeing. He did not know her story until the 2000s, when he found out that she worked during World War II. She was pregnant with Larry’s older sister and living in a Catholic home for unwed mothers when her sister busted her out, and they went to work at Boeing. She was pregnant while working as a riveter and worked until she delivered her daughter. After the war, her father arranged a marriage for her to an older lumberjack, and she went to live in the lumber camps. She eventually had six children. Larry also describes his service in Germany during the Cold War. He was drafted and served in the Signal Corps, earning the GI Bill for college. He ends by noting that his mom was proud of her wartime service.
We are grateful that Dr. Yvonne Fasold helped us connect with several “Rosies” in Oregon.
