Women's History Month - Meeting Rosie the Riveter

2020-03-02T14:02:51-05:00

Main Image: Women Riveters at Willow Run Plant, Michigan 1944, Henry Ford Museum
2nd Image: Photo taken at Aralina’s residence in Toledo, Ohio
3rd Image: Iconic Rosie the Riveter 'We Can Do It' poster

When I think of WWII, I can’t help but think of some of the iconic imagery from that time. The view of the beaches from the landing craft on D-Day, the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima, And of course, the image of an overall-wearing woman named Rosie who has come to symbolize all of the women who stepped in to “do their part” for the war effort.

During the war, millions of Rosies worked in traditionally male fields, including serving in the military, on farms, and in factories and facilities building ships and planes. One such facility was the Willow Run Bomber Plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Built by the Ford Motor Company in 1941, the plant churned out bomber after bomber during the war years. Aralina DePolo-Ferrella was one of the women who built B-24 Liberators at Willow Branch.

At first glance, Aralina doesn’t look like the woman on that famed poster. Her hair has faded to white with the years and her memories of the war are pockmarked and intermittent thanks to the ravages of dementia. But beneath the trappings of age lurks the feisty young woman who moved from West Virginia to Michigan over 70 years ago to join the war effort.

I had the privilege to meet this hidden gem on a trip home to Toledo, Ohio over the holidays. With assistance from her daughter, Aralina sifted through the memories of that time.

“Are you Italian?” she asked me, shortly after we met.

“No, ma’am, but I see how you could associate my dark features with Italian.”

Aralina’s parents were Italian immigrants and my features prompted a story about how she was called a “Wop”--a derogatory slang term commonly used to describe Italians--during the war. After all these years, the insult was still fresh in her mind.

But the war didn’t know she was Italian and it didn’t care--it needed airplanes and the Willow Branch Bomber Plant provided them, churning them out at the astonishing rate of one bomber per hour!

The contributions of Aralina and the other Rosies paved the way for women like me to serve. Their courage, dedication, and willingness to do work previously only done by men proved “We Can Do It!” and forever changed the role of women in this country. After the war, Aralina, like so many of the Rosies, moved on to other things. Aralina got married, had a family, and became a mixed media artist and studio owner in Ohio. Though her service to her country was over, the legacy she left was not.

Thank you to Aralina and the rest of the Rosies for your contribution to this wonderful country. You are and will be role models for generations to come. I hope we make you proud.

The remaining Rosies are still busy. The American Rosie the Riveter Association (ARRA) was founded in 1998 to help honor these WWII trailblazers. The Willow Run chapter of the ARRA is trying to save the Willow Run B-24 Liberator plant and turn it into a museum. You can locate a chapter close to you and hear the stories of these amazing women at https://rosietheriveter.net/

*This article was co-written by myself and Capt Private RallyPoint Member, Air Force Veteran.

Rosie The Riveter | You can do it!

American Rosie the Riveter Association was founded to honor working women of World War II and to recognize and preserve the history and legacy of working women.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Mar 2 at 2020 2:20 PM

2020-03-02T14:20:41-05:00

Excellent history share ma'am, thank you.

Response by SFC Thomas Howes made Mar 2 at 2020 2:23 PM

2020-03-02T14:23:19-05:00

This was very good history lesson

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Mar 2 at 2020 3:16 PM

2020-03-02T15:16:10-05:00

Nicely done, Maj Alea Nadeem.

Response by SSG Robert Mark Odom made Mar 2 at 2020 3:17 PM

2020-03-02T15:17:02-05:00

Thanks for sharing ma'am.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Mar 2 at 2020 3:46 PM

2020-03-02T15:46:25-05:00

It is sad we still have places in the world that do not realize the importance of women. I taught my wife to drive and shoot and my seven year daughter to wrestle and shoot. Still cannot touch the pedals...

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Mar 2 at 2020 6:27 PM

2020-03-02T18:27:37-05:00

This is incredible...what an honor Maj Alea Nadeem. Not only to meet a legend like “Rosie”, but for her to also call you a fellow Italian!
You’re 100% in.

Response by Sgt Jim Belanus made Mar 3 at 2020 6:08 PM

2020-03-03T18:08:36-05:00

my mother was part of the group in 43 through 45. I don't know what she did or who she worked for . All she would tell us was that she was in Detroit .

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Mar 4 at 2020 7:01 AM

2020-03-04T07:01:34-05:00

Great post, thanks!

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Mar 4 at 2020 8:45 AM

2020-03-04T08:45:22-05:00

Great history share- very timely

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 4 at 2020 4:26 PM

2020-03-04T16:26:17-05:00

Women were instrumental in defeating Japan and Germany. They don't get that credit.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Mar 4 at 2020 5:04 PM

2020-03-04T17:04:52-05:00

Great share Maj Alea Nadeem Thanks to all the great women who've served this country and tose still serving in our military and those yet to raise their right hand!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2020 6:45 PM

2020-03-04T18:45:47-05:00

This is simply incredible. Thank you for sharing this Ma’am!

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Mar 4 at 2020 11:36 PM

2020-03-04T23:36:32-05:00

Thank you Maj Alea Nadeem for posting the article you wrote with USAF veteran Capt Private RallyPoint Member 'Meeting Rosie the Riveter"

Rosie the Riveter: Real Women Workers in World War II
"Sheridan Harvey explores the evolution of "Rosie the Riveter" and discusses the lives of real women workers in World War II."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04VNBM1PqR8

Thank you my friend Maj Marty Hogan for mentioning me.

FYI PO3 Phyllis Maynard Sgt Jackie Julius Cynthia Croft SGT Cynthia Barnard SP5 Jeannie Carle SPC Chris Bayner-Cwik SPC Diana D. SSG Diane R. LTC Hillary Luton Maj Kim Patterson Sgt Kelli Mays SFC Private RallyPoint Member SGT Elizabeth S SFC James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" MSG Andrew White COL Mikel J. Burroughs Col Carl Whicker

Rosie the Riveter: Real Women Workers in World War II

Sheridan Harvey explores the evolution of "Rosie the Riveter" and discusses the lives of real women workers in World War II. Sheridan Harvey is Women's Studi...

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Mar 5 at 2020 2:33 PM

2020-03-05T14:33:01-05:00

Excellent history share.

Response by SSG William Bruno made Mar 6 at 2020 1:53 PM

2020-03-06T13:53:21-05:00

So many seemingly small things made the effort to win the war. I'm just sorry that we dishonored the contribution of so many. Women and persons of color did a great deal of the work, but were fired or not granted benefits for their labor.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2020 7:53 AM

2020-03-09T07:53:49-04:00

Many thanks to all of the women's contributions .

Response by MSgt Joseph Holness made Mar 22 at 2020 2:05 PM

2020-03-22T14:05:27-04:00

Don't forget the WAACs, they usually got 1st-hand flight experience at the controls of the new aircraft comming off the factory lines.

Response by SPC Dwight Turner made Mar 22 at 2020 2:59 PM

2020-03-22T14:59:35-04:00

oh what a story !! she lead ladies to working while our brothers and fathers and moms were off serving our country !!! pictures so true strong minded lady tops in my bpok !!!!

Response by Col John Madison made Mar 29 at 2020 6:44 PM

2020-03-29T18:44:51-04:00

Prior to my father being drafted during WWII, he worked in the shipyards of Washington State building baby aircraft carriers, and he mentioned to me the number of women weldors coming onboard...of course he found that just fine. He said they were great and made it all the most interesting.

Response by COL David Turk made Apr 10 at 2020 12:03 PM

2020-04-10T12:03:30-04:00

https://youtu.be/p2zukteYbGQ
More info on Willow Run plant during WWII.

BUILDING THE B-24 BOMBER DURING WWII " STORY OF WILLOW RUN " 74182

Support Our Channel : https://www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Made by the Ford Motor Company during WWII, "The Story of Willow Run" explains the company's role...

Response by Cpl Eric Day made Apr 12 at 2020 1:53 PM

2020-04-12T13:53:04-04:00

those women are harder then most soldiers I have had the misfortune of meeting.