Semester dos, honors blog

Dear Nancy,

I miss you so much. Since the military moved John and me to Minnesota it has been so lonely. He’s gone away to fight again. They told me he was going to Asia but not when he’s be back.

The jobs out here are easier to come by. Have you heard of the Twin Cities Ordnance Plant? Well, that’s where I am working now. You know what? More that half the workers there are women. It’s pretty amazing the extremes we’ve gone to in this horrible war. There are so many different tasks at Twin Cities there are people processing gun powders and a second set of people to check them over. There are people making bullet casing and creating bullets. There are even people working on bomb shells. I avoid that part of the factory at al costs. My job is to file bullets. I sort through them, keep them separated by size and check that they are all in top condition. Of course it’s not just me doing the job. That would be hell.

But the job is really scary too. Everyday they warn us about explosions and the danger of working with munitions. I was told that last year at the Dunlop factory the floor of the second story was blasted right though because of an explosion on the floor below. And you know what? Those ridiculous chemicals they make us work with stained three of my blouses. Three! My fingernails and hair are stained too. There seems to be no way to get it out since we have to work with the chemicals that make the stains almost every day. I heard that some of the girls were using lemons to bleach their skin. I saw Barb through her window with her elbows set in lemons. How odd.

I found out from some of the other girls that had been working their longer than me that the men get paid more than us. I mean I guess that’s to be expected but it still doesn’t seem fair. I’m told the unions are trying to do something for us but I doubt anything will come of it.

With John away and me being the only one at home I’m the only real source of income. You know our financial standing isn’t great but not many people are. Anyways being the source of income is rather empowering. I feel kind like the world should be looking to me to see how it should be. Women can play a huge part in society and we will, I just know it.

I heard that yesterday, just yesterday, that Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania declared war on US. Great more people that hate us. That’s what we need right. I guess the silver lining would be more work for me. I think that should be sarcastic but what ever keeps me fed. Right? I wonder if we’re going to fight back or what going to happen with that because at the moment our military seems pretty occupied.

I am so afraid that John will come back to me in a coffin. Do you have the same fear for William? I just don’t like the idea of his life being risked. I hate to think about Martha’s son, my husband, out there on the battle field. How does our government feel like they have the right to send someone’s child away to fight their wars. It just makes me so scared.

Did you hear that 6 days ago we declared war on Japan. What am I supposed to do about the Japanese people who live near me. They know my John is away fighting. Fighting them? Are they going to go to Japan to fight? I feel like they’re going to blame me and hurt me. I wonder if we’ll find a way to keep them away. I bet some of them are spies. Or at least that’s what I’ve been hearing muttered around town.

No matter how unlikely it is I hope you can come to visit me. Maybe you can find a older man from around town to drive you up here. I miss you dearly darling.

Much Love,

Millie

Resources

http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/nof/blitz/0700_info.html

http://www.euronet.nl/users/wilfried/ww2/1941.htm

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101230170348AAnpBfA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_front_during_World_War_II

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_roles_in_the_World_Wars#United_States_of_America

http://www.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00684.xml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_Cities_Army_Ammunition_Plant

http://www.mnhs.org/library/tips/history_topics/131women_homefront.htm