Yankee Doodle Girls

1. Yankee Doodle Girls the women who fought to keep their boys fighting By Genevieve Curtis and Gabrielle Field! =D

2. Objectives! • This Power Point is aimed to better your knowledge on the subject of the contributions of women in the military during World War II.

3. G.I. Joe goes to war • America became involved in World War II (WW II) on December 8, 1941 in order to retaliate on Japan for attacking Pearl Harbor. • Following the declaration of war, five million men enlisted to fight. An additional ten million were provided by the Selective Service.

4. Soon after FDR declared war on Japan, Americans were confronted with the problem of providing enough men and provisions where needed. The idea of having women help with the military and secretarial jobs began to dawn on several people. The Beginning

5. Women’s Past Roles • Congresswoman Edith Rogers remembered the roles women had played in prior wars. • For example, they had nursed, volunteered as dietitians, and worked as communications specialists. • Their work had freed men for much-needed places in combat. • However, the women had not been supplied with their own quarters and food. Neither were they eligible for veterans benefits after their service.

7. Girls-This is our war, too! • Rogers proposed the idea of forming an Army women’s corps, in hopes of freeing men in noncombatant roles for fighting positions. • She met with General George C. Marshall, who agreed with her proposition. • Together, they worked to gain popularity for their cause. The idea of women serving soon became very popular, but the army was resilient in their rejection of the idea.

9. Formation of WAAC • An agreement was finally reached. • The bill, a compromise between both sides, was signed into law on May 15, 1942. • The Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was created to work with the army, not a part of it, but as aid to the fighting men. • Women were initially set to work as typists and file clerks, but by the end of the war their positions had expanded to include stenography and radio operation.

11. More Organizations • As the WAAC gained popularity, other women’s military services began to appear. • Among these were the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) and Women Accepted for Volunteer Military Service (WAVES).

13. WASP • WASP were the first women to be trained to fly military aircrafts in the United States. • They had noncombatant jobs, but were still crucial to the success of the American forces. • These women would ferry aircrafts from place to place, test repaired ones, tow targets for gunnery practice, and train inexperienced males for military duty. • Their contributions enforced the original purpose of the incorporation of women into the army workforce: to free up a man for combat.

15. Stinging the WASP • Unfortunately, though over 30 million miles were flown and 38 women were killed, the organization did not receive full militarization. • The group was disbanded in fall of 1944, due to the pressing possibility of peace. • Finally, WASP members were granted some veterans benefits in 1979.

17. WAVES • The WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) were part of the US Naval Reserve. • The WAVES were started with a bit of persuading by Eleanor Roosevelt and was finally signed into law by President Roosevelt on July 30, 1942. • The first director was Lt Commander Mildred McAfee. • While some of the WAVES did traditional work such as clerical and secretarial jobs many were doing average aviation jobs.

18. Numbers of WAVES • Only a year after the women were allowed to join at least 27,000 women had joined the WAVES. • At its highest point in August 1945 the WAVES contained 86,000 women • At the end of it all 2.5% of the Navy’s strength was made of women.

19. Saluting Off! THE END!