Elizabeth R. Escobedo, author of From Coveralls to Zoot Suits: The Lives of Mexican American Women on the World War II Home Front
Special to El Rrun-Rrun
The year was 1943 when Navy officials came to Texas to make a call for more women to join the WAVES. Valley girls were gladly listening to the cry to join the war effort.
In Brownsville, city merchants were the first to link with the Lions Club in creating a recruiting drive. Within days merchants were asked to display their flags and other emblems of the Navies of the United States and the United Nations.
Highlighting the drive was a USO dance with Meme Garcia’s orchestra providing the music with the Victory Girls on stage. The event was highly successful—reinvigorating patriotism.
Recruitment was statewide and it delivered with a good number of women answering the call, but many more were needed.
Who could join? Age limits for enlisted Waves was 20 to 36 years old with at least two years of high school and/or business school. The Valley became famous for young women joining the waves. Recognize any of the local women who joined?
The year was 1943 when Navy officials came to Texas to make a call for more women to join the WAVES. Valley girls were gladly listening to the cry to join the war effort.
In Brownsville, city merchants were the first to link with the Lions Club in creating a recruiting drive. Within days merchants were asked to display their flags and other emblems of the Navies of the United States and the United Nations.
Highlighting the drive was a USO dance with Meme Garcia’s orchestra providing the music with the Victory Girls on stage. The event was highly successful—reinvigorating patriotism.
Recruitment was statewide and it delivered with a good number of women answering the call, but many more were needed.
Who could join? Age limits for enlisted Waves was 20 to 36 years old with at least two years of high school and/or business school. The Valley became famous for young women joining the waves. Recognize any of the local women who joined?
15 comments:
Thx Juan one of them listed was my aunt
Looks like the majority of these women were Anglos, not Hispanic. Maybe change the title, JM.
Valley women were always ready to service
Many other girls serviced in local defense work
Local merchants were people we knew and ready to cooperate, unlike today.
Yes there was more white than brown. Color doesn’t matter when you are engaged in saving democracy
@ April 11, 2019 at 12:14 PM
You must not be from Brownsville or just live in a bubble.
There are many Hispanics with non Hispanic sounding names.
Brownsville and Matamoros were Multicultural before Multicultural was cool.
If you just need to bitch then Go ahead.
Wow! A piece of history for the descendants of these women. I, for sure, made a copy to share with my family members for we were always proud of our aunt who served in the Navy. May she rest in peace, knowing that she left a legacy for all of us to follow.
There was no lack of Patriotism during this era. Everyone was on the same page, not like today’s liberal idiots who depend on freebies
I have fond memories of my grandmother, who is on the list of the girls in blue. She was from Harlingen
Thank you Juan for posting this kind of stories
It shouldn't matter at all period...
Leave it to a racist republican to come up with their racist rants @April 12, 2019 at 7:21 AM low life idiots...
Illegal aliens don’t have to fight for help like Veterans do. Shame on democrats n the overrated McCane. He did little for veterans a lot just for Arizona
Que viva la mujer
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