Waubonsee Community College

Valiant women, the extraordinary American servicewomen who helped win World War II, Lena Andrews

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 303-332) and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

Valiant women

bibliography

1390403271

Lena Andrews

the extraordinary American servicewomen who helped win World War II

In this groundbreaking new history of the role of American women in World War II, Andrews presents the inspiring, shocking and heartbreaking stories of the 350,000 American women who served in uniform during World War II. They were pilots, codebreakers, ordnance experts, gunnery instructors, metalsmiths, chemists, translators, parachute riggers, truck drivers, radarmen, pigeon trainers, and much more. They were directly involved in some of the most important moments of the war, from the D-Day landings to the peace negotiations in Paris. These women— who hailed from every race, creed, and walk of life— died for their country and received the nation’s highest honors. Andrews provides a definitive and comprehensive historical account of their service, based on new archival research, firsthand interviews with surviving veterans, and a deep professional understanding of military history and strategy. -- adapted from jacket

Prologue: "Thank you for even thinking of me" -- Introduction: "America will be as strong as her women" -- Part I: The problem. "The fighting Filipinos" : the war arrives -- "They can't do any more, but you can" : the arsenal of democracy -- "I'm in this war too!" : Women's Army Auxiliary Corps -- "Release a man to fight!": building the WAAC -- "Bring him home sooner, join the WAVES" : Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service -- "Wish I could join too!" : building the WAVES -- "Your duty ashore, his afloat" : Marine Corps Women's Reserve and Coast Guard SPARS -- "The Army Air Forces want you!" : Women's Airforce Service Pilots -- "Are you a girl with a star-spangled heart?" : recruiting and training WAACs -- "Learn a skill you'll value all your life" : black women join the WAAC -- "That was the day I joined the WAVES" : recruiting and training sailors -- "The girl of the year is SPAR" : SPARS and MCWR recruitment and training -- "If you want to fly": recruiting and training the WASPs -- "Someone talked!" : rumors -- Part II: The solution. "Going where we're needed most!" : North Africa -- "Don't miss your great opportunity" : Italy -- "Which one of these jobs would you like?" : stateside service -- "Have you got what it takes to fill an important job like this?" : disappointment and disillusionment -- "Make a date with Uncle Sam" : controversy -- "Now is the time to investigate the opportunities offered" : court-martials -- "Give us more P-47's" : WASPs in the field -- "WACs are going places!" : France -- "I'd rather be with them--than waiting" : Europe -- "Blueprint for victory" : the Pacific -- "To make men free" : victory won -- Epilogue: "Good soldier"

Extraordinary American servicewomen who helped win World War II