November 6, 2024
Claudia’s Story – Part 8
With childcare space secured by June, Alma Robertson and Carol Bridges were the first two “moms” hired by the Naval Air Station followed by Stephanie Davis and Joy Iverson. A total of eight children…six during the day plus two afterschool care. The First United Methodist Women’s Auxiliary donated cots, blankets, toys, and books. Others baked bread or shared vegetables from their victory gardens to make soup for the children. Even others volunteered their invaluable time. The lady in purple, whom Claudia learned was Ida Smith, volunteered to do the cooking. Was a complete surprise to everyone! She wore a different colored apron every day and never missed either a day or a different apron. And Dr. Morse not only agreed to the project but also insisted upon reading from his favorite children’s books before naptime.
One afternoon while the children played outside Claudia placed clean sheets on the four cots in the bedroom designated for the older children. Minnie stuffed a pillow into a cotton pillowcase, plumped it up and set it at the top of a cot.
Claudia shook out another sheet and said, “Did you know after we first met you at church, Mark told his dad that night he met Minnie Mouse!”
Minnie laughed. “I suppose our names do sound similar!”
“Min-nee?” a voice called from downstairs.
“Is that Ida?” Claudia asked.
“Ida.” Minnie shrugged her shoulders and smiled.
“Min-nee!” Ida called again with a more forceful shrill. “There’s two officers down here to see you.”
“Officers?” Claudia asked as she followed Minnie out into the hallway. “What can this be about?” Claudia peered over the railing. Two naval officers, a man and a woman, stood in the foyer.
As Minnie and Claudia descended the stairs, the man looked up. Claudia immediately recognized him. “Petty Officer Williams!”
“I should have known you had a hand in this.” Smiling, he removed his head cover and placed it under his arm.
“You two know each other?” the female officer asked.
“Yes, we’ve met, but only briefly,” Petty Officer Williams replied.
“Please come into the den. May I offer tea? We are out of coffee.” Minnie led the guests to the den.
“No, thank you, ma’am. We are fine. I failed to introduce Petty Officer Dina Ethridge. She is a WAVES Specialist S, a personnel supervisor. PO Ethridge, this is Claudia Woods and Minnie Morse and….” Petty Officer Williams turned his attention toward Ida.
“Ida Smith’s my name. Mrs. Ida Smith. What’s a WAVES…isn’t that what you called her?”
“Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services,” the young woman answered politely.
“Well, ain’t that a hoot? WAVES! Thank you, for your service, Miss Ethridge! Let me get you that tea. Hot or iced?”
“Thank you, Mrs. Smith. Don’t trouble yourself. We only a few minutes.” PO Williams smiled.
“Please, sit down,” Minnie motioned to the hunter-green upholstered sofa that sat parallel to the picture-window overlooking the backyard. Six children including Claudia’s were busy at play.
Minnie and Claudia took a seat in the matching chairs situated across from the sofa. Ida stood in the doorway and fiddled with the pockets on her apron…a full-length white cotton, starched and ironed, covered in a print of pink cupids with red bows and arrows.
Petty Officer Williams leaned forward and smiled. “You are probably curious why we are here. I was curious, too, when every woman I interviewed when asked if they had children had the same reply. ‘They’re being kept at Minnie’s house.’ I digress. Petty Officer Ethridge, please explain.”
The young woman dressed in the traditional WAVES dark blue dress uniform with gold-colored buttons sat perfectly poised and confident. “In March when our civil plane mechanic Jo Beth Murphy mentioned your endeavor…I believe you know Miss Murphy?”
“Yes, we do,” Claudia answered. Minnie nodded.
“Well, I thought your plan a brilliant undertaking. You may be unfamiliar with the Lanham Act 44 passed in 1940 giving the Federal Works Agency funds to build houses and schools for those laborers working in the defense industry. Now that the U.S. is actively at war and our defense most crucial, those funds have been reallocated to provide childcare for mothers who work defense related jobs. I have here…just a moment…” pausing to open the dark-blue leather purse slung over her shoulder and across her chest. “This is an official letter from the Federal Works Agency addressed to you, Mrs. Morse, with instructional procedures for claiming funds for your childcare center. Since funds won’t be necessary for construction, your funds most likely will be used for food and supplies. Could also be used to hire caregivers.”
Petty Officer Ethridge retrieved the letter and held it out. A bracelet fastened about her slim wrist slipped underneath her dark-blue jacket as she extended her arm. Minnie took the letter and opened it.
“I don’t know what to say,” Minnie blubbered; tears flooding her eyes.
“How did the Agency know about us?” Claudia asked, trying to keep her emotions at bay.
“In April per the Agency’s requirements, I sent a letter along with an application requesting funding. I conveyed the extreme importance the eight women who were recently employed as civil workers are to us on base. I also explained the adversity preventing our hiring more capable women. Motherhood should not be a deterrence from serving our great country.”
Minnie opened the letter to reread it. “I can’t wait to show this to Vernon. He will be disappointed he was not here to meet you both.”
“Thank you for all you do here,” Petty Officer Williams said as he nodded at PO Ethridge. “Mrs. Woods, if you should ever change your mind about visiting the recruitment office, I would be proud to serve alongside you. You’ve proven you’d make a fine WAVES officer…see a problem before you and solve it!”
The Naval officers stood. Claudia, dumbfounded by Petty Officer Williams’ words, rose slowly. Minnie escorted the officers to the front door. Petty Officer Williams stepped onto the porch, replaced his hat, and proceeded to the Navy Staff car…a dark blue 1940 Plymouth…parked at the curb. Bold white letters ‘U.S. Navy ~ Naval Air Station’ were centered across the front doors. A crest of a large light blue sphere bearing a white star with a red circle in its center adorned both back doors.
As Petty Officer Ethridge stepped over the threshold, Minnie asked, “May I call you Dina?”
The young woman turned, “Yes, of course.”
“I wanted to invite you and Officer Williams to come back anytime. Vernon, Mr. Morse, and I usually have Sunday dinner alone and would enjoy your company. Anytime you’re free. Any of the officers who are away from home are welcome as well.”
“That would be lovely. Thank you. I’ll pass that along.”
“Do you mind my asking about the bracelet you’re wearing?”
“No, not at all.” Dina held up her wrist and jingled her bracelet. “This is my identification tag…name, naval serial number, date of service, unit and religion. We, the WAVES, are required to wear them in some fashion or another…necklace or bracelet…even though we’re serving stateside.”
Minnie’s sorrowful eyes betrayed her smiling face. “Vernon served in the Great War, and I keep his tags in my jewelry box. May I hug you?”
Dina surprised by the request, said, “Yes, you may.” Minnie enveloped her in such a tight grasp that left Dina completely surprised by and delighted in.
Claudia joined Minnie and together they watched the Naval staff car pull away. Claudia turned and smiled at Minnie. “We’ve done it!”
“You’ve done it!” Minnie replied.
“May I use your telephone? I’ve got to call Mallory!”
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The ID tags WAVES wore as mentioned above is a fact. Women as well as men who served in any branch of the military were required to wear identification tags just as they are today.
The Lanham Act 44 is also a fact:
“In 1940, the United States passed the Defense Housing and Community Facilities and Services Act, known as the Lanham Act, which gave the Federal Works Agency the authority to fund the construction of houses, schools and other infrastructure for laborers in the growing defense industry. It was not specifically meant to fund childcare, but in late 1942, the government used it to fund temporary day care centers for the children of mothers working wartime jobs.
As the war ended in August 1945, the Federal Works Agency announced it would stop funding childcare as soon as possible. Parents responded by sending the agency 1,155 letters, 318 wires, 794 postcards and petitions with 3,647 signatures urging the government to keep them open. In response, the U.S. government provided additional funding for childcare through February 1946. After that, it was over.”
Read more about childcare during WWII by clicking this link:
https://www.history.com/news/universal-childcare-world-war-ii
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That concludes Claudia’s story. I am hopeful you enjoyed reading it. Drop a line and let me know what you think about Seasons Under the Sun.