Columbia Main Street, 1942 I see plenty of male soldiers…where are the females in service?

Here they come! Women were eager to serve their country’s armed forces during wartime, too…but how?

These Carolina girls found a way... Seaman 1st Class Geraldine Marie Houk. She served as teletype operator. Virginia “Gin” Owens entered the WAAC. She earned the title of “the Typical American Woman Soldier” and received national publicity.

South Carolina native Cpl. Mary E. Mason served in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps. As indicated by her large class, many women felt compelled to help their country. … they weren’t alone.

WAVES qualified as instructors on 50 Cal.

Recruitment posters for the United States Navy WAVES

Female Heroes… These nurses were taken as prisoners of war by the Japanese. The poster was created to appeal to defense workers to increase production.

Primary Sources “Cpl. Mary E. Mason’s (Spartanburg, SC) Women’s Auxiliary Corps class photo.” Photograph. As reproduced in Anita Price Davis and James M. Walker, Images of America: Spartanburg County in World War II, page 110. Charleston, S.C: Arcadia Publishing, “Seaman 1 st Class Geraldine Marie Houk” Photograph. As reproduced in Anita Price Davis and James M. Walker, Images of America: Spartanburg County in World War II, page 75. Charleston, S.C: Arcadia Publishing, “Virginia ‘Gin’ Owens from Drayton, South Carolina.” Photograph. As reproduced in Anita Price Davis and James M. Walker, Images of America: Spartanburg County in World War II, page 110. Charleston, S.C: Arcadia Publishing, “WAVES Choir at NAS Beaufort, SC, at time of Japan’s Surrender.” Photograph. U.S. Naval Historical Center. Washington Navy Yard, Washington D.C. Official Navy Photograph, now in the collection of the National Archives. Photograph taken “WAVES Working in the Control Tower at NAS Charleston, SC, 1945.” Photograph. U.S. Naval Historical Center. Washington Navy Yard, Washington D.C. Official Navy Photograph, now in the collection of the National Archives. Photograph taken 1945.

“Bring Him Home Sooner…Join the WAVES.” Poster. Department of the Navy. United States Naval Historical Center. Available at Viewedwww.history.navy.mil 01 October, “Enlist in the WAVES.” Poster. Department of the Navy. United States Naval Historical Center. Available at Viewed 01 October, “Have You Got What it Takes to Fill an Important Job Like This?” Poster. Department of the Navy. United States Naval Historical Center. Available at Viewed 01 October, “On the Same Team” Poster. Department of the Navy. United States Naval Historical Center. Available at Viewed 01 October, “PhM3c Winifred Perosky X-Rays Marine.” Photograph. U.S. Naval Historical Center. Washington Navy Yard, Washington D.C. Official Navy Photograph, now in the collection of the National Archives. Photograph taken “That Was the Day I Joined the Waves.” Poster. Department of the Navy. United States Naval Historical Center. Available at Viewed 01www.history.navy.mil October, Primary Resources Cont.

“There’s a Man-Size Job For You in the Navy.” Poster. Department of the Navy. United States Naval Historical Center. Available at Viewedwww.history.navy.mil 01 October, “WAVES Aerographer’s Mates at Work.” Photograph. U.S. Navy Historical Center. Washington Navy Yard, Washington D.C. Official Navy Photograph, now in the Collection of the National Archives. Photograph taken “WAVE Aircraft Mechanic Turns Over the Propeller of a SNJ.” Photograph. U.S. Naval Historical Center. Washington Navy Yard, Washington D.C. Official Navy Photograph, now in the collection of the National Archives. Photograph taken “WAVE Aviation Machinist’s Mates working on a SNJ Training Plane.” Photograph. U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the Collection of the National Archives. Photograph taken “WAVE Aviation Metalsmith at Work, NAS Jacksonville, Florida.” Photograph. U.S. Naval Historical Center. Washington Navy Yard, Washington D.C. Official Navy Photograph, now in the Collection of the National Archives. Photograph Taken “WAVES Learn Aircraft Engine Mechanics during WWII.” Photograph. U.S. Naval Historical Center. Washington Navy Yard, Washington D.C. Official Navy Photograph, now in the collection of the National Archives. Photograph taken 1943.

“WAVES Learn How to Tie Down Cargo in Aircraft.” Photograph. U.S. Naval Historical Center. Washington Navy Yard, Washington D.C. Official Navy Photograph, now in the collection of the National Archives. Photograph taken “WAVE Officer Passenger Assists Ship’s Navigator.” Photograph. U.S. Naval Historical Center. Washington Navy Yard, Washington D.C. Official Navy Photograph, now in the collection of the National Archives. Photograph taken “WAVES Parachute Riggers Folding Parachute For Packing.” Photograph. U.S. Naval Historical Center. Washington Navy Yard, Washington D.C. Official Navy Photograph, now in the collection of the National Archives. Photograph taken “WAVES Parachute Riggers Packing a Parachute.” Photograph. U.S. Naval Historical Center. Washington Navy Yard, Washington D.C. Official Navy Photograph, now in the collection of the National Archives. Photograph taken “WAVES Qualified as Instructors on 50 Cal.” Photograph. U.S Naval Historical Center. Washington Navy Yard, Washington D.C. Official Navy Photograph, now in the Collection of the National Archives. Photograph taken “Wish I Could Join Too!” Poster. Department of the Navy. United States Naval Historical Center. Available at Viewed 01 October, “Women 20 to 30 Earn a Navy Rating.” Poster. Department of the Navy. United States Naval Historical Center. Available at Viewed 01www.history.navy.mil October, “Yn1c Marjorie Adams Delivers Classified Mail.” Photograph. U.S. Naval Historical Center. Washington Navy Yard, Washington D.C. Official Navy Photograph, now in the Collection of the National Archives. Photograph taken 1945.