Photo: Women Who Served

Photographer: Mike Wintermantel
Taken: May 14, 2014
Caption: Women Who Served
Additional Description: Despite prevailing social and political conventions, women mobilized to meet the War's military and industrial challenges. In addition to the six million who men in factories and on farms, three million volunteered with the Red Cross and more than 200,000 served directly in the armed forces.

Women in military service demonstrated their ability to perform their duties with courage and determination, often under fire and in harm's way. With their male counterparts, they suffered wounds, were taken prisoner or lost their lives during the conflict. And many were recognized for their bravery: 26 women received the Purple Heart; 565 were awarded the Bronze Star; and more than 700 WAC (Women's Army Corps) members received medals and citations.

Two women from Pittsburgh were at the forefront of military operations on the home front. Theresa D. James, a WAF (Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Service) volunteer, was the first female pilot to fly a military plane coast to coast. And Ruthe Keller D'Hert, a WAVE (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) radio operator, intercepted a 1945 message from the German high commander to the officers in his U-Boats to surrender. "I just happened to be there at the right time," D'Hert said. "It was pretty exciting. But everyone played a part in World War II, the people at home, everyone. We were patriotic and we wanted to help the guys come home."
Submitted: May 14, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Database Locator Identification Number: p273348
File Size: 1.896 Megabytes

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