Winnie the Welder

It's interesting that from the American point of view that the emphasis on women's main contribution to the war was still non-military. In the UK and more so in the Soviet Union women had a more direct involvement in the actual fighting.

My mother was a 'Gunner Girl' with the British ATS, she worked on radar which directed the anti-aircraft guns in London during the Blitz. Many women in the UK contributed to what was a front line during the German's failed invasion attempt.

The Soviet Union famously had women that were involved in the fighting in an even more aggressive nature. Lyudmila Pavlichenko was one of the USSR's female snipers and was credited with a staggering 309 kills, and Lydia Litvyak and Katya Budanova were two of the only WW2 female fighter aces.

Obviously American was never invaded or suffered the prelude to possible invasion so women were not mobilised to the same extent, but never the less the contribution of female workers in the USA did so much for the war effort but also for the cause of feminism.

First off, Having a few relatives who were involved with ship building at the time, none of them ever referred to themselves as anything but "Wendy the Welder". Also, a wonderful picture of one who worked at the same shipyards as some of my relatives and close friends of the family: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wendy_Welder_Richmond_Shipyards.jpg

Also, in response to Stephen Beat, Not only were US territories invaded, and one held for multiple years (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleutian_Islands_Campaign) , but one might consider the attack on Pearl Harbor a prelude to invasion, along with the attacks on Guam and Midway. Along with the coastal bombings from Submarines on the west coast, and the attempted infiltration of German saboteurs on the East coast. Not to exclude the firebombing via balloons initiated by the Japanese, that targeted mostly the mid west. While compared to the Blitz, all these pale, figuring the distance from the enemies in relation, it was quite an effort to make for the Axis powers.

American Women served in many non combative roles in the Armed Services, but while they were not on the front lines, were completely vital to all aspects of services during WW2. From the WASPS )http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_Airforce_Service_Pilots) to Civilian Air Patrol, to the OSS, whom included Women such as Julia McWilliams as agents overseas, McWilliams later got married and is now more commonly known as Julia Childs, a famous chef until her somewhat recent passing. And many other roles other than the few I mentioned.

Everyone helped out, because it was what was needed to win. To survive.

My Great-Aunt was one of those women who helped build those women who helped build those ships during WWII.

Damn stutter comment. Unfortunately she never talked with me about it. But my Dad told me about when I was younger. She was also a ship welder.