Celebrating WWII Women During Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History Month which began more than thirty-five years ago in Santa Rosa, California, as the National Women’s History Project. Five female colleagues were dismayed that women’s achievements were rarely mentioned in the school’s history books and that girls had limited role models. So they set out to change that and their grassroots’ efforts paid off. In March 1980, they convinced Congress and the White House to create the National Women’s History Week. Then seven years later it was expanded to the entire month and became known as National Women’s History Month. Thanks to their vision and persistence, we now have a national event that celebrates women’s contributions, inspires diverse career options and intentionally ‘writes women back into history.’

I have always looked forward to March, not just to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day or the advent of spring, rather I have relished the events celebrating women. Since I worked for many years on women’s education and employment issues, I actively participated in numerous events highlighting women’s accomplishments. It was gratifying to support these efforts and exciting to discover fascinating details about these women. However, while researching my parent’s WWII story, I realized that there was still a gap in the acknowledgement of those women who worked on the Home Front and overseas during WWII. Many of their contributions are still hidden much like those of the African American women scientists featured in the recent movie “Hidden Figures.”

This was an ‘aha’ moment for me as I decided to do something about this on my website and blogs. Starting today, I am highlighting these women, primarily civilians who made contributions that impacted our county, our soldiers and our nation’s future. Over the next thirty days you will be in introduced to a variety including some you may have heard of – Dinah Shore, Francis Perkins or Heddy Lemar. Others like Colonel Oveta Hobby, Edith Rogers, Dorothy Stratton or Jane Delano may be totally unfamiliar. These women are our ‘unsung heroines’ and you will encounter many more over the next year.

Today I am starting by introducing you to the well-known singer, actress and entertainer Dinah Shore. It may seem strange that I have chosen an entertainer as the first women to be recognized this month; however, Dinah Shore was one of the most popular and respected women during the 1940’s and 1950’s. Also today she would be celebrating her 100th birthday if she was still alive. While she was born in the small town of Winchester, Tennessee just seventy miles west of Chattanooga, she never forgot her southern, down-to-earth roots and this humility appealed to wide and appreciative audiences everywhere.

Her first million-seller was the single ‘Blues in the Night’ (1941) which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. In 1943 she married George Montgomery who was in the Army and throughout the war, she entertained servicemen all over the world. She understood how important it was for the service men to have access to musical shows when they were far from home. “There’s nothing to compare with the enthusiasm of those GIs,” she said in a radio interview. “You don’t find that much applause lying around loose for the rest of your life”.

Her career spanned more than fifty years including success in radio, pop records and television. She received ten Emmy Awards and during the 1950’s she appeared four times in a Gallup Poll of the most admired women in the world. Thank you, Dinah for sharing your musical talents with so many of our ‘boys’ far from home and their loved ones. You boosted their morale with your songs and humor and you helped them to temporarily forget their living conditions and the battles ahead. Happy Birthday to an American Icon!