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Womens Baseball America was in the middle of World War II. Baseball was at risk because, as citizens saw generously paid athletes "swatting balls while their loved ones were dying on foreign shores," interest declined and criticism went up "war and baseball fished in the same stream. Both demanded the young and vigorous." Could baseball survive when all of its players were needed in combat? The president of the professional league wanted it to end because he thought that interest was gone and the league would lose money, but President Roosevelt convinced him otherwise. Roosevelt fought unemployment during the Depression by creating jobs. Now the war brought new jobs. Working men left to serve just when factories needed them for war production. Many of the workers who replaced them were women. Wrigley believed these women could help more by playing baseball. Wrigley believed that baseball's survival depended on women during the war. "By 1942, when Wrigley was forming his professional women's league, the sight of a woman wearing pants was no longer offensive, as it had been.... But women who competed were still frowned upon,"

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Roles for Women in WWII WWII opened up the doors for women to fill hundreds of typically male dominated roles in the workplace. However, most of these roles evaporated quickly after the war was over. According to a survey done at the Springfield Aresonal in Massachusetts, 81% of women said they hoped to continue working after the war. Within one week of VJ, every woman had been fired. Similarly, a survey in Detroit found that 72% of women workers that had been laid off after the war wanted to work but couldn't find a job.

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Rosie the Riveter Who is Rosie the Riveter? Most people think of Rosie the Riveter as the image that appeared on the War Production Coordinating Committee Poster that was to be posted in factories in February of 1943, however, she was first dubbed Rosie by Norman Rockwell on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post in May of 1943. Before they took jobs in factories, most women didn't wear pants on a regular basis, nor did many of them hold down jobs after they got married. After all, a woman's role had traditionally been in the home, taking care of the children. Their children, and sometimes even husbands didn't believe that they were smart enough or strong enough to hold down a real job, and some of the first Rosie's struggled in their new roles at first, as they found that the factories has almost been exclusively male. To some of the new female factory workers, however, the job boom was a godsend. The depression of the 1930's had left many families still not completely financially stable. Women moved into cities and crammed into tiny flats with several roommates to make some extra money. For those families that were hit hardest during the depression, the chance for a wife to earn a paycheck while her husband was getting his overseas pay was almost a lucky break.

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But. Rosie the Riveter surprised no one, when she - hundreds of thousands of her - took to factories across the nation to launch the war machine into high gear. Perhaps, she surprised the factory foreman who was skeptical of her ability to handle a rivet gun and a drill press, and she forever revolutionized factory safety when, for the first time, things like long hair were considered safety hazards around machinery. Rosie the Riveter too became the true sweetheart of all the men overseas who knew that she was the riveter, welder, drill-press operator or machinist behind each and every tank, airplane, and machine gun that saved their life.

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A little known fact about Rosie the Riveter is that she in fact hurt the restaurant and laundry business. Restaurants were forced to close because they couldn't find waitresses, because the women holding those jobs were quiting to make better money in factories. Prior to WWII, most women who held a job had been stereotypically young and single - waiting to meet Mr. Right. Of women age 14 and up, 27% of women had a job in the workplace in 1940 - it rose to 35% in 1944 and had declined again to 29% by 1947. Interestingly, even though factories were desperate for laborers, older women had a difficult time finding work.

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The American Red Cross The American Red Cross had seen service in WWI as nurses, drivers, and canteen volunteers, so it's service in WWII was only a natural progression. As of 1941, the American Red Cross was divided into several Corps: Note that during WWII there was no nurse corps designation, only aides and volunteers. Red Cross women serving with the military during WWII were sometimes designated as Military Welfare staff. These women had regular military uniforms, and were even sent overseas.

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The most well known of American Red Cross women volunteers were sometimes called "Donut Dollies although they worked with Canteens throughout the US and Europe, as well as Clubmobiles - mobile canteens where the donuts could be made right in the back of a truck. Other Red Cross volunteers were stationed overseas during WWII, most notably the Motor Corps, or drivers, who had also been stationed overseas during the first world war.

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The USO during WWII The USO was formed in 1940 out of 18 national organizations, including the YMCA, YWCA, Salvation Army, the National Jewish Welfare Board, National Catholic Community Service and travelers Aid-International with the intent of forming a wholesome recreation and moral supporting services to young Americans would soon be serving in the Armed Forces. With the help of the Federal government, they formed the USOND or United Service Organizations for the National Defense, which was officially established on February 4th, 1941. Also part of the USO were a several travling theaters or "Campshows" as they were called. The USO shows brought the talent to the GI's during WWII and continue that tradition today. Most traveling units had one or two major stars, and a few "B" entertainers that traveled in one of 119 different companies across the United States, Europe and the Pacific. During WWII, many famous stars either got their start, or spent time on the USO circuit, touring sometimes just behind the front lines. Over 5,000 entertainers were on the USO's payroll at some point during WWII, including Mickey Rooney, Bing Crosby, and Judy Garland

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WAC: Women's Army Corps During WWII the Women's Army Corps was one of few women's units to have been sent to both the European and Pacific theaters. Known as the WACS, they provided a variety of support roles to the Army and the Army Air Forces. Initially, it was hoped that women could act as secretaries and in administrative positions so that men could be relieved for more physical roles, and take on fighting roles. However, by the end of the war, women were performing in more than just secretarial tasks, an working as everything from radio operators in England to truck drivers and airplane mechanics in the Pacific Islands. However, in large majority, over 70 percent of the the WACs roles were desk jobs of some sort, regardless if it was a supply depot clerk or a telegraph operator.

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Eleanor Roosevelt was among the first to realize that women should be used in the U.S. Army, as well as other branches of the service. The debate became an outright congressional argument, but somehow, by December 31st of 1941, there was an officially proposed bill to create a women's auxiliary for the army. The bill took until May of 1942 to become written into law. The initial class of WACs had their work cut out for them. In an attempt to intimidate women, there were grueling tests, both mental and physical. The Army seemed to think that a women had to out perform a man, and the WAC's lived up to the challenge. A WAC private was required to be a high school graduate, while men were required to be able to read. The average officer was 30 and possessed a graduate degree. many of the enlisted WACS, too, had degrees, and their roles in the army were quite restricted by their Auxiliary status, and in the hopes of keeping the program alive, since the need for troops far outweighed the need for women's rights at the time.

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On July 1, 1943, the WAC's became a part of the military. There were several reasons for the change, but mostly, the Army had several loopholes that the WACs seemed to fall through, and, as more and more WACs were sent overseas, it was clear that they needed to eliminate some of the vulnerabilities the Auxiliary had created. On V-E day, in 1945, there were 99,388 WACs serving with the Army and Army Air Force. 1946, six months after V-J day, the WACs were to be disbanded. However, so many generals, including Generals Patton and Eisenhower, the Army's new chief of Staff, realized their value, and the WACs were rescued and officially made part of the military on January 15, 1946. It wasn't until 1978 that the Women's Army Corps was dissolved and women were fully integrated into the army.

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WAVES The Navy had observed the Army's negative publicity in establishing a women's division, and in establishing their own women's reserves, was quick to side step many of the Army's mistakes. The WAVES, or the Women's Reserve of the United States Naval Reserve, was dubbed WAVES so in an effort to create a pleasant, naval sounding acronym for its women's division, avoiding the jokes about the Army's "Wacky" women. Established in May of 1942, WAVES stands for "Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service." During WWII, over 50,000 women joined the WAVES, serving throughout the continental US.

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To attract enlistees, and avoid the issues that the Army had with WAC uniforms, the Navy employed fashion designers to create the WAVES uniform smart navy blue uniform. The Navy accepted Enlistees between 20 and 36 years of age to serve only in the continental US for the duration of the war. The WAVES were to be discharged within six months after the war. (Full Enlistment Information as of 1943). Interestingly, initial regulations prohibited them to marry Naval personal, although there were no regulations against marrying Coast Guard or other Services personal. This regulation was later relaxed, however, the wives of US Naval officers were prohibited from joining the WAVES.

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Nurses in WWII: The Army Nurse Corps The oldest US women's military organization. In fact, Army nurses were caught in some of the first cross fire of the Second World War, having been stationed at Pearl Harbor and in the Philippines during the time of their attack on Dec 7th, 1941. During WWII, the Army Nurse Corps was awarded more than 1,600 military decorations. Army Nurses had landed on the beaches of Anzio on the day of the invasion, and Normandy just 4 days after. Contrary to popular belief, all nurses stationed overseas were Army Nurses. Eligible civilian nurses signed up with the American Red Cross Nursing Service, however, upon volunteering to serve overseas, one was officially sworn into the Army. At one point, so many nurses were needed to fill Army positions both here and abroad, that some serious consideration was given to drafting all available nurses into the military.

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While not all Army Nurses were stationed overseas, many did, working with field and evacuation hospitals. These hospitals were often close to the front lines, and condtions were not always ideal. Nurses often lived in tents or huts in the field, and worked exhausting hours with sometimes little or no supplies and difficult sanitary conditions, subject to the same combat situations as the fighting troops. The Army Air Forces also used specially trained nurses as part of their flight evacuation program. These nurses, known as flight nurses, were specially trained to help transport stable patients from frontline makeshift hospitals in Europe to regular medical facilities in England for further medical treatment, using the same transport planes that the Airborne used to "drop" paratroopers. Although considered experimental for most of the war, the flight nurse program was considered highly successful, and were believed to have saved thousands of lives.

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The Navy Nurse Corps At the time of Pearl Harbor, the Navy had just under active 1000 navy nurses, with another 1,000 on reserves. Nurses in the Navy were considered officers, however, full commission status wasn't granted until 1944. During the height of WWII the Navy Nurse Corps had over 11,000 total nurses serving both stateside and abroad. Some of the Navy Nurses on duty during Pearl Harbor were literally attacked during the bombing. Still others were under fire while aboard hospital ships in the Pacific. The Navy Nurse Corps also it's own flight evacuation service The first air evacuations started in January of 1945 and continued until the end of the war. Flight Nurses and Navy Corpsmen flew in "air ambulances", which were converted troop carrier planes that could carry men

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Women Marines Women Marines had existed during WWI, and the program was reenstated in November of 1942. While unpopular with the head brass in the Marine Corps, the idea was popular with the Roosevelts, and Mrs. Roosevelt ensured that the women Marines were trained even in the use of fire arms. They were trained, and received the same pay and benefits as male Marines with the exception of a dependants allowance. Unlike most women's organizations, they had no official nicknames. The Corps felt that they didn't need one, however, several "unofficial" ones appeared - Lady Leathernecks, SheMarines, FeMarines, BAMS (Bad Assed Marines). More than 20,000 Women Marines to serve in the Western Hemisphere (including Alaska and Hawaii) during WWII. Like the WACs, the Women Marines often supported Marine air squadrons in roles such as parachute riggers, aviation mechanics, although they also served as typists, drivers, clerks, photographers, accountants and chemists. The control tower at Cherry Point, NC. was operated almost entirely by women Marines. The Women Marines wore a similar uniform to that of their male counterparts in traditional Marine green.

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WASP: Women's Air Service Pilots In 1942 the Women's Air Force Service Pilots, and the training facility Although they were under military authority, the WASPs were considered Civil Service employees and were paid less than the standard pilots pay. 37 WASPs were killed and 36 were injured during the group's existence between 1942 and 1944. 25,000 women applied to join the WASP program, and only 1,830 were admitted with just over half of the admitted pilots - 1,074 women total - completing the training program. The original idea was for women to ferry training aircraft. However, between 1942 and December, 20, 1944, the WASP's racked up more than 9,000,000 miles in the air, and had flown seventy seven different single and twin engine airplanes, including the famed B-17, P-51, and P-38. The WASP were disbanded in December of 1944, before General Arnold could get them militarized. General Arnold, himself, felt strongly that the Air Force should be its own branch separate from the Army, and the two agreed to postpone the WASP's full integration into the Air Force. So, the WASP were not included in the 1943 merger of the WAC into the regular army.

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The women who were spies During WWII, it was realized that women were perfect for certain types of intelligent work. The expanding roles of women allowed them to play a larger role in spying and yet still slip through the enemy's fingertips much easier than men. Although women often lacked the necessary background for reporting specific technical information, they were often able to extract "intimate" knowledge of German military intentions from military officers in a variety of ways. Often, the women found jobs as servants or otherwise transplanted themselves into the lives of the enemy, allowing themselves to become part of the officer's dating pool or social circle. *Julia Child She helped the U.S. spy agency develop shark repellent, a critical ingredient in protecting explosives used to sink German U- boats during World War II.

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Russian Women Snipers: In Russia one of the key fighting forces for the Red Army was their use of Women snipers: