Tag Archives: World War I

Veterans Day 2013

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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.

Joy Bright Hancock

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One of the WAVES officers in charge was Joy Bright Hancock. She served in the Navy during World War I as a Yeomanette, or Yeoman (F), and worked as a civilian for Navy aviation during the years between World War I and World War II. This portrait of her dates from 1943.

It comes from the U.S. National Archives.

A Company of Two

Only two Navy WAVES were qualified to wear victory medal of World War I.  Joy Bright Hancock (left) and Eunice Whyte (right) both served as Yeomanettes during World War I. About 25,000 Yeomanettes (from Yeomen-F, or Yeoman-Female) were part of the regular Navy because of loophole – the military act at the time didn’t specify that only men could serve. The loophole was closed after the war, and women wouldn’t become an official part of the Navy, other than nurses, until 1942.

This image come from the National Archives.

 

Navy Men

Dorothy Turnbull had a history of service with the Navy in her family. Her father was in the Navy during World War I, and her brother later would become a Navy officer during World War II.

As World War I was ending, Dorothy’s father, the longtime New Orleanian, was sent back to the U.S. in New York. There he met Dorothy’s mother, a New Yorker from German Harlem. They married and moved to the South.

This photograph comes from the collection of Dorothy Turnbull Stewart.

The End of the Yeomanettes

The Yeoman (F) served through the end of World War I and all were released for active duty by July of 1919. Many of the women were later appointed to Civil Service positions as civilians and continued their work with the Navy.

These women served in the 12th Naval District offices in San Francisco – it comes from the Naval publication The Compass, the district newsletter. The headline attests to the quality of the work of the Yeomanettes.

This photograph comes from the Naval History and Heritage Command.

Recruitment Drives, Part II

These Yeomanettes participated in the Victory Loan drive in New York City on May 8, 1919. They are surrounding a sailor at an event sponsored by the League of Catholic Women at the Cardinal Farley Club, New York City.

The Yeoman (F) at the front has a shoulder patch with an anchor and the initials “Y” and “B”.

This photograph comes from the Naval History and Heritage Command.

Recruitment Drives

The Yeoman (F) not only worked alongside men in the Navy – the Navy found that they were also useful to help in Naval recruitment.

These women participated in the Victory Loan drive in New York City on May 8, 1919. They were instrumental in putting the drive “over the top” – i.e. earning more than the targeted goal. The structure the women are standing upon (and around) was built to look like a battleship’s superstructure. It also has two Howard Chandler Christy recruiting posters: “I Want You for the Navy” and “Gee!! I Wish I Were a Man”.

This photograph comes from the Naval History and Heritage Command.