{"id":25749,"date":"2024-03-06T15:57:57","date_gmt":"2024-03-06T15:57:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/06\/its-a-womans-war-too-pieces-of-history\/"},"modified":"2024-03-06T15:57:57","modified_gmt":"2024-03-06T15:57:57","slug":"its-a-womans-war-too-pieces-of-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/06\/its-a-womans-war-too-pieces-of-history\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s a Woman\u2019s War Too! \u2013 Pieces of History"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><em>Today\u2019s post, from Alyssa Moore in the National Archives History Office, is in honor of <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.archives.gov\/news\/topics\/womens-history\"><em>Women\u2019s History Month<\/em><\/a><em> and looks at the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service program, or WAVES, during World War II.<\/em><\/p>\n<figure data-carousel-extra=\"{\" blog_id=\"\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-scaled.jpg?ssl=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"685\" height=\"367\" data-attachment-id=\"36412\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/2024\/03\/06\/waves-its-a-womans-war-too\/44-pa-1122\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1372&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1372\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Copyright (C) reserved&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"WAVES poster\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Advertisement poster to join the WAVES. (National Archives Identifier 514649)&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C161&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-scaled.jpg?fit=685%2C367&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"36412\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36412 jetpack-lazy-image\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C549&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C161&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C412&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C823&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1098&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-scaled.jpg?resize=685%2C367&amp;ssl=1 685w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1072&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-scaled.jpg?w=1370 1370w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-1024x549.jpg?resize=685%2C367&amp;is-pending-load=1#038;ssl=1\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"685\" height=\"367\" data-attachment-id=\"36412\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/2024\/03\/06\/waves-its-a-womans-war-too\/44-pa-1122\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1372&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1372\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Copyright (C) reserved&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"WAVES poster\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Advertisement poster to join the WAVES. (National Archives Identifier 514649)&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C161&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-scaled.jpg?fit=685%2C367&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"36412\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-1024x549.jpg?resize=685%2C367&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36412\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C549&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C161&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C412&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C823&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1098&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-scaled.jpg?resize=685%2C367&amp;ssl=1 685w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1072&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/44-pa-1122-scaled.jpg?w=1370 1370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><\/noscript><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Advertisement poster to join the WAVES. (<a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.archives.gov\/id\/514649\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Archives Identifier 514649<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Less than one year after the United States entered World War II, the Navy was facing a dire shortage of manpower. Searching for a solution, the Navy\u2019s Women\u2019s Advisory Council suggested that Congress pass a law permitting women to serve in the Navy. These women could operate the naval shore stations on the home front, releasing men for active sea duty abroad.<\/p>\n<p>The idea of women joining the Navy was not popular in Congress or the Navy. But, after intense debate, on July 21, 1942, Congress passed legislation creating the WAVES, the women\u2019s branch of the U.S. Naval Reserve. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed it into law eight days later. Its creation can be credited in large part to the unrelenting efforts of the Navy\u2019s Women\u2019s Advisory Council, Dr. Margaret Chung, and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.<\/p>\n<figure data-carousel-extra=\"{\" blog_id=\"\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-scaled.jpg?ssl=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"685\" height=\"531\" data-attachment-id=\"36413\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/2024\/03\/06\/waves-its-a-womans-war-too\/80-gk-5663\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1985&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1985\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"80-GK-5663\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;WAVES at Naval Air Station in Oakland, California. (National Archives Identifier179036512)&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C233&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-scaled.jpg?fit=685%2C531&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"36413\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36413 jetpack-lazy-image\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C794&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C233&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C596&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1191&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1588&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-scaled.jpg?resize=685%2C531&amp;ssl=1 685w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1551&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-scaled.jpg?w=1370 1370w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-1024x794.jpg?resize=685%2C531&amp;is-pending-load=1#038;ssl=1\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"685\" height=\"531\" data-attachment-id=\"36413\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/2024\/03\/06\/waves-its-a-womans-war-too\/80-gk-5663\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1985&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1985\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"80-GK-5663\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;WAVES at Naval Air Station in Oakland, California. (National Archives Identifier179036512)&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C233&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-scaled.jpg?fit=685%2C531&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"36413\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-1024x794.jpg?resize=685%2C531&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C794&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C233&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C596&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1191&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1588&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-scaled.jpg?resize=685%2C531&amp;ssl=1 685w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1551&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/80-GK-5663-scaled.jpg?w=1370 1370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><\/noscript><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">WAVES at Naval Air Station in Oakland, California. (<a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.archives.gov\/id\/179036512\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Archives Identifier179036512<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Women were now permitted to serve as commissioned naval officers and at the enlisted level. However, Congress made clear that their inclusion was purely a war-time emergency measure. The law stipulated that WAVES were only allowed to serve for the duration of the war plus six months, and only in the continental United States and the territory of Hawaii. They were not permitted to board naval ships or combat aircraft, and they did not possess command authority, except within the women\u2019s branch.<\/p>\n<p>Their first director, Captain Mildred McAfee, successfully campaigned for WAVES to receive the same pay and benefits as naval men. Captain McAfee was also concerned that the WAVES maintained a positive public image, and set strict beauty and decorum rules that she required all WAVES to follow.<\/p>\n<figure data-carousel-extra=\"{\" blog_id=\"\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"685\" height=\"850\" data-attachment-id=\"36417\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/2024\/03\/06\/waves-its-a-womans-war-too\/portrait-113\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?fit=2062%2C2560&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2062,2560\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;NARA&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Portrait&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Portrait&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"WAVES \u2013 Bates\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;WAVES Apprentice Seaman Frances Bates inspects a Grumman Wildcat engine at the U.S. Naval Training School in the Bronx, New York, circa 1945. (National Archives Identifier 520638) &lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?fit=242%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?fit=685%2C850&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"36417\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36417 jetpack-lazy-image\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?resize=825%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 825w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?resize=242%2C300&amp;ssl=1 242w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C954&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?resize=1237%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1237w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?resize=1649%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1649w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?resize=685%2C851&amp;ssl=1 685w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C2483&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?w=1370 1370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?w=2055 2055w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-825x1024.jpg?resize=685%2C850&amp;is-pending-load=1#038;ssl=1\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"685\" height=\"850\" data-attachment-id=\"36417\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/2024\/03\/06\/waves-its-a-womans-war-too\/portrait-113\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?fit=2062%2C2560&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2062,2560\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;NARA&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Portrait&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Portrait&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"WAVES \u2013 Bates\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;WAVES Apprentice Seaman Frances Bates inspects a Grumman Wildcat engine at the U.S. Naval Training School in the Bronx, New York, circa 1945. (National Archives Identifier 520638) &lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?fit=242%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?fit=685%2C850&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"36417\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-825x1024.jpg?resize=685%2C850&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36417\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?resize=825%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 825w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?resize=242%2C300&amp;ssl=1 242w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C954&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?resize=1237%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1237w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?resize=1649%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1649w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?resize=685%2C851&amp;ssl=1 685w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C2483&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?w=1370 1370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0183373_43-0200M-scaled.jpg?w=2055 2055w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">WAVES Apprentice Seaman Frances Bates inspects a Grumman Wildcat engine at the U.S. Naval Training School in the Bronx, New York, circa 1945. (<a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.archives.gov\/id\/520638\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Archives Identifier 520638<\/a>) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"685\" height=\"895\" data-attachment-id=\"36416\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/2024\/03\/06\/waves-its-a-womans-war-too\/portrait-112\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?fit=1961%2C2560&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1961,2560\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;NARA&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Portrait&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Portrait&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"WAVES \u2013 Johnson and Small\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Florence Johnson and Rosamund Small, the first WAVES to qualify as instructors on the electrically operated 50-caliber machine gun turrets, walk to the target range at Naval Air Gunners School in Hollywood, Florida, April 11, 1944. (National Archives Identifier 520612)&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?fit=230%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?fit=685%2C895&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"36416\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36416 jetpack-lazy-image\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?resize=784%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 784w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?resize=230%2C300&amp;ssl=1 230w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1003&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?resize=1177%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1177w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?resize=1569%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1569w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?resize=685%2C894&amp;ssl=1 685w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C2611&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?w=1961&amp;ssl=1 1961w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?w=1370 1370w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-784x1024.jpg?resize=685%2C895&amp;is-pending-load=1#038;ssl=1\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"685\" height=\"895\" data-attachment-id=\"36416\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/2024\/03\/06\/waves-its-a-womans-war-too\/portrait-112\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?fit=1961%2C2560&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1961,2560\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;NARA&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Portrait&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Portrait&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"WAVES \u2013 Johnson and Small\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Florence Johnson and Rosamund Small, the first WAVES to qualify as instructors on the electrically operated 50-caliber machine gun turrets, walk to the target range at Naval Air Gunners School in Hollywood, Florida, April 11, 1944. (National Archives Identifier 520612)&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?fit=230%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?fit=685%2C895&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"36416\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-784x1024.jpg?resize=685%2C895&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36416\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?resize=784%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 784w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?resize=230%2C300&amp;ssl=1 230w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1003&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?resize=1177%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1177w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?resize=1569%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1569w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?resize=685%2C894&amp;ssl=1 685w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C2611&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?w=1961&amp;ssl=1 1961w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0045240_34-3665M-scaled.jpg?w=1370 1370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Florence Johnson and Rosamund Small, the first WAVES to qualify as instructors on the electrically operated 50-caliber machine gun turrets, walk to the target range at Naval Air Gunners School in Hollywood, Florida, April 11, 1944. (<a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.archives.gov\/id\/520612\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Archives Identifier 520612<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<p>By the end of its first year, WAVES trained 770 officers and 3,109 enlisted women. The officer curriculum consisted of two months of intensive training. This was too brief to transform civilian women into fully trained naval officers, but it equipped them with a basic understanding of the naval environment and administrative policy.<\/p>\n<p>Upon completing their training, female officers entered fields previously held by men, such as medicine and engineering. Enlisted women served as clerks and parachute riggers. Regardless if they were officers or enlisted, many women experienced workplace hostility from their male counterparts.<\/p>\n<figure data-carousel-extra=\"{\" blog_id=\"\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-scaled.jpg?ssl=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"685\" height=\"1018\" data-attachment-id=\"36561\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/2024\/03\/06\/waves-its-a-womans-war-too\/44-pa-0250-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-scaled.jpg?fit=1722%2C2560&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1722,2560\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Copyright (C) reserved&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"44-pa-0250\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;A poster encouraging women to join the WAVES advertised the equal pay and grade opportunities with men. (National Archives Catalog 513692)&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-scaled.jpg?fit=202%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-scaled.jpg?fit=685%2C1018&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"36561\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36561 jetpack-lazy-image\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-scaled.jpg?resize=689%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 689w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-scaled.jpg?resize=202%2C300&amp;ssl=1 202w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1142&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-scaled.jpg?resize=1033%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1033w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-scaled.jpg?resize=1378%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1378w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-scaled.jpg?resize=685%2C1018&amp;ssl=1 685w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C2973&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-scaled.jpg?w=1722&amp;ssl=1 1722w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-689x1024.jpg?resize=685%2C1018&amp;is-pending-load=1#038;ssl=1\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"685\" height=\"1018\" data-attachment-id=\"36561\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/2024\/03\/06\/waves-its-a-womans-war-too\/44-pa-0250-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-scaled.jpg?fit=1722%2C2560&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1722,2560\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Copyright (C) reserved&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"44-pa-0250\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;A poster encouraging women to join the WAVES advertised the equal pay and grade opportunities with men. (National Archives Catalog 513692)&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-scaled.jpg?fit=202%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-scaled.jpg?fit=685%2C1018&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"36561\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-689x1024.jpg?resize=685%2C1018&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36561\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-scaled.jpg?resize=689%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 689w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-scaled.jpg?resize=202%2C300&amp;ssl=1 202w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1142&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-scaled.jpg?resize=1033%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1033w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-scaled.jpg?resize=1378%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1378w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-scaled.jpg?resize=685%2C1018&amp;ssl=1 685w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C2973&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/44-pa-0250-scaled.jpg?w=1722&amp;ssl=1 1722w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><\/noscript><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A poster encouraging women to join the WAVES advertised the equal pay and grade opportunities with men. (<a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.archives.gov\/id\/513692\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Archives Catalog 513692<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The legislation that established the program did not mention race, and many Black women applied to join. Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox, however, flatly refused to allow Black women in the WAVES. After Knox\u2019s death in April 1944, his successor James Forrestal, under pressure from activists, reformed this policy, and on October 19, 1944, President Roosevelt authorized the Navy to integrate the WAVES.\u00a0While training programs were integrated, Black women still faced unfair treatment, including segregated living accommodations on some naval bases.<\/p>\n<p>The first Black WAVES officers were Lieutenant Harriet Pickens and Ensign Frances Wills, who enlisted on November 13, 1944, and were commissioned on December 21, 1944. Pickens and Wills went through officer training together. Upon completing their training, Pickens apparently climbed down from the top bunk in the room they shared, and said to Wills with a grin, \u201cWe made it, friend.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Pickens was assigned to the physical training program at Hunter College and later worked as director of the Navy Material Redistribution and Disposal Administration in New York, and Wills became a classification test administrator for the enlisted at Hunter College in New York City.<\/p>\n<figure data-carousel-extra=\"{\" blog_id=\"\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"685\" height=\"847\" data-attachment-id=\"36415\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/2024\/03\/06\/waves-its-a-womans-war-too\/portrait-111\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?fit=2070%2C2560&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2070,2560\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;NARA&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Portrait&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Portrait&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Pickens and Wills\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Lieutenant Harriet Pickens (left) and Ensign Frances Wills (right) posed for a photograph as the first Black WAVES, December 21, 1944.&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?fit=243%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?fit=685%2C847&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"36415\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36415 jetpack-lazy-image\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?resize=828%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 828w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?resize=243%2C300&amp;ssl=1 243w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C950&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?resize=1242%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1242w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?resize=1656%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1656w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?resize=685%2C847&amp;ssl=1 685w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C2473&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?w=1370 1370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?w=2055 2055w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-828x1024.jpg?resize=685%2C847&amp;is-pending-load=1#038;ssl=1\"\/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"685\" height=\"847\" data-attachment-id=\"36415\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/2024\/03\/06\/waves-its-a-womans-war-too\/portrait-111\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?fit=2070%2C2560&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2070,2560\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;NARA&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Portrait&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Portrait&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Pickens and Wills\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Lieutenant Harriet Pickens (left) and Ensign Frances Wills (right) posed for a photograph as the first Black WAVES, December 21, 1944.&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?fit=243%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?fit=685%2C847&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"36415\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-828x1024.jpg?resize=685%2C847&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36415\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?resize=828%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 828w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?resize=243%2C300&amp;ssl=1 243w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C950&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?resize=1242%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1242w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?resize=1656%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1656w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?resize=685%2C847&amp;ssl=1 685w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C2473&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?w=1370 1370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/080-G-0297441_43-0203M-scaled.jpg?w=2055 2055w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lieutenant Harriet Pickens (left) and Ensign Frances Wills (right) posed for a photograph as the first Black WAVES, December 21, 1944. (<a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.archives.gov\/id\/520670\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Archives Identifier 520670<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<p>By July 1945, 8,475 officers and 73,816 enlisted WAVES were contributing to the war effort, 72 of whom were Black women. WAVES served at 900 shore stations located throughout the United States and Hawaii. After the war ended, the demobilization process began on October 1, 1945, and was completed by September 1946. <\/p>\n<p>At the time, it was not clear whether or not demobilization meant women would be phased out of the military entirely. Just two years later, in 1948, Congress passed the Women\u2019s Armed Services Integration Act. From then onward, women could serve as permanent, regular members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. However, the\u00a0number of women who could serve was capped at 2 percent of all personnel, and women service members were prohibited from fully participating in combat.\u00a0Despite these limitations, the legislation was an important step for women\u2019s right to serve in the Armed Forces.<\/p>\n<p><em>Read about National Archives staff member <a href=\"https:\/\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/2023\/11\/06\/historic-staff-spotlight-eunice-whyte-navy-veteran-of-both-world-wars\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Eunice Whyte<\/a>, who was one of only two women to serve in the U.S. Naval Reserves during both World War I and World War II.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>To learn about the WASP program (Women Airforce Service Pilots), the Air Force version of the WAVES, read Ashley Mattingly\u2019s <\/em><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/2014\/12\/20\/a-wasps-story\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>A WASP\u2019s Story<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/prologue.blogs.archives.gov\/2024\/03\/06\/waves-its-a-womans-war-too\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today\u2019s post, from Alyssa Moore in the National Archives History Office, is in honor of Women\u2019s History Month and looks at the Women Accepted for<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25750,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[182],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25749","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25749","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25749"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25749\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25750"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25749"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25749"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25749"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}