women’s history – Page 17 – Hinges of History

Veterans Day 2013

A salute from WAVE Genevieve Sullivan on this Veterans Day, taken 70 years ago this month. Veterans Day honors the armistice signalling the end of hostilities during World War II, which began on the 11th hour of the 11th of the 11th month in 1918. Hence the celebrating of Veterans Day on November 11th – to help us remember when “The War to End All Wars” ended.

Of course, there have been (too) many other wars since then. But on this day, we give honor to the men and women who have served.

Happy Veterans Day!

The photo comes from the National Archives.

Review, In Formation

At boot camp in the Bronx, New York (AKA The USS Hunter), WAVES march in formation – there are actually two platoons moving side by side in this November 1943 photograph.

It comes from the National Archives.

Petty Officers

WAVE Petty officers receive their ratings in November 1943 after going through specialized training. If you look closely at each woman’s arm, you’ll see she has a different insignia, indicating her rating.

The photograph comes from the National Archives.

IBM Duty

This November 1943 photo shows a high tech assignment: The WAVE is working an International Business Machine (IBM). Check out the punchcards – an early form of computer coding.

The photo comes from the National Archives.

The Selection

Upon graduation from the Hunter College boot camp, women had lots of options as to what path to follow during a Navy career. Here, women look at some of the choices in November 1943.

The photograph comes from the National Archives.

In the News Today

Headlines from the IOWAVE, the official newspaper of the U.S. Naval Training School in Cedar Falls, Iowa, from November 5th, 1943. Top news? The Moscow conference looking ahead to peace agreements after World War II, Christmas mailing instructions to send gifts to troops, and a change in uniforms for enlisted WAVES.

The image comes from the University of Northern Iowa’s archives and special collections.

Graduation Review

WAVES at Hunter College Training School in the Bronx, New York, stand at attention for their graduation review, November 1943. New groups of WAVES would start classes every two weeks for their boot camp training.

The photograph comes from the National Archives.

Patrol Duty

WAVES on guard patrol at the Naval Air Technical Training Center, Norman, Oklahoma.

The photo comes from the National Archives.

WAVES Newsletter, November 1943

Remember the photograph we posted a couple of weeks ago of the launch of the USS Franklin? By November 1, 1943, the same photograph was gracing the cover of the WAVES Newsletter.

The photo comes from the Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Studies, Harvard University.

WAVES at War, Part 5

Captain Kenneth G. Castleman and WAVES Captain Mildred McAfee hear an explanation of how a Browning machine gun works from Specialist Margaret Forbes. She’s stationed at the NAS New York, at the WAVES at War show held at Radio City Music Hall in New York, October 1943.

The photo comes from the National Archives.