Mom - Rosie the Riveter Interview!

Thursday - September 10, 2009

Mom and her "Rosie the Riveter" look! (Relma Irene Whitman Layne)

Yesterday was a very interesting and exciting day for Mom. Some of you may know that during WWII Mom was one of the many women who manned the workforce due to the exit of the men who were off fighting to preserve our freedoms. She was one of the millions of women who became known as "Rosie the Riveter."

“Rosie the Riveter” is the name of a fictional woman who came to symbolize the millions of real women who filled America’s factories, munitions plants, and shipyards during World War II. It was after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December of 1941 that the male workforce was depleted and there was a need to fill the empty spots. There was a demand for factories to manufacture and produce munitions and machinery needed to help with the war effort. There was an extensive campaign to encourage the woman to join the workforce and to fill the vacated spaces of the men who were now soldiers fighting in the war.

There are two artist - Norman Rockwell and J. Howard Miller - who created posters using a "Rosie the Riveter" image to entice woman to join the workforce and to help their country. Miller's image was actually based on a real "Rosie," Geraldine Doyle, who was a Michigan factory worker. It is this image that has become the image we see when we think about the women who worked in theses factories during WWII. Mom was one of those "Rosie" who worked in a factory.
The following poster is one that has become well known and was used extensively to get the women to join the workforce!

Mom, along with Aunt Keller (Mary K Whitman Butcher) and Aunt Ella (Ellen Whitman), went to Ypsilanti, MI to work in the Ford Bomber Plant. Mom was a "riveter" who put the rivets in the inner wing of a B-24 Bomber. She said she never saw a completed plane. The Army personnel would come and inspect the plane and then off it would go - more than likely overseas to help our troops!

Mom was asked many questions about what she remembered about that time. She was a little nervous, but as the time went on she started telling "little" stories about what she remembered while in MI. She was also asked why she went; how long she was there; who she went with; what was a typical day like; what was her job; who did she work with; what type of transportation did she use; what did she do for entertainment; and even if she had dates! :):) I think the purpose for that question was to basically say that there were very few men around, thus there was no one to really go out on a date with!!!! Mom and Dad were not officially engaged, but apparently there was a commitment already there for them. They were not married until 1946 - Dad was hit in Nov. 1944; spent over a year in Walter Reed Hospital; and then came back to WV. He apparently worked around the mines for a little while before he and Mom were married in 1946.

The interview was almost two hours in length. They won't use all of the footage, but they will document what Mom said. The finished product will be included with all the other "Rosie's" stories who are still living here in WV. The documentary and/or written works will be placed in the libraries and the historical societies. From my understanding, WV is the first state to actually research and document the stories of their "Rosie's." We are to be kept informed as to what is happening with this project, as well as when the finished product is available!!

We are all so proud of what Mom did and the part she did during that time in America's history. She and the other women of that time played as big a part in the war effort as our soldiers!

She and Dad are truly my American heroes!!!!!!!

Mom - about 1940

Mom and Dad - before he left for the army! Dad's hair is combed straight back which means prewar!!!

Mom and Dad - Dad on furlough from Walter Reed - his hair is parted which means it was taken after he was wounded. Looks like an Elvis style!

Mom and dad shortly after they were married - August 17, 1946.

Mom today - 2009