Women at Fort Warren: World War II

When the United States entered World War II in 1941, women looked to do their part on the home front. From serving in civilian positions as air raid wardens across Boston neighborhoods or shipbuilders in the Charlestown Navy Yard to donating time, goods, and energy to local volunteer organizations, many women found a way to help the war effort. Their contributions extended into the forts of Boston Harbor, including Fort Warren on Georges Island.

With few civilian positions available at these military outposts, women largely took on unofficial social and volunteer roles. They joined one of the numerous citizens' organizations in the area, including the Citizens Committee of the Army and Navy, the American Legion, the American Red Cross, and the Jewish Welfare Board. Through these organizations, groups of women visited soldiers on the islands. In some cases, they merely traveled to the islands to spread warmth and give away donated goods. For example, women belonging to the local Army and Navy Committee became known as the "Sunshine Girls," as they brought treats to soldiers at Fort Warren and other harbor forts and military hospitals.^[1] In other cases, women served as morale-boosters by planning social events and dances for soldiers stationed on the islands.

Women at a dance at Fort Warren, 1944.

The Boston Globe

Dances

The United Service Organizations (USO) through the Jewish Welfare Board, as well as other local organizations, often organized events at Boston area forts. Newspaper clippings indicate regular USO dances held at Fort Warren beginning in 1943. Always accompanied by chaperones, USO "hostesses" mingled with soldiers during an afternoon or evening on island, dancing and participating in other light-hearted contests.

Two young women who participated in these dances were Rita Reddington and Mary Snow. In an 1985 interview, they recalled their experiences attending these dances during the war. Due to wartime security practices, the dances were heavily chaperoned and they were cautioned not to ask sensitive questions about the Fort. Sometimes an emergency alert or drill would stop the dance, with Reddington and Snow never sure about whether it was an exercise or a real emergency. According to both women, their interactions with the soldiers were pleasant and congenial, and occasionally they would host a few of them for dinner at one of their houses.^[2]

In April 1944, The Boston Globe featured a dance at Fort Warren organized by the Malden Legionettes. Journalist Daniel O'Brien described the scene:

Cheers from the soldiers greeted the girls as they marched up from the dock to the recreation hall at Fort Warren. In no time the floor was well filled with soldiers and girls jitterbugging to music described as fast time.^[3]

Similar to the USO hostesses, the Legionettes organized social events for soldiers at military forts and bases:

The Legionnettes are out on these parties three nights a week. And almost every Sunday afternoon they devote to visiting military reservations. The girls pay all their own expenses. Most of them work in war plants or industries that are devoting their product to some phase of the war. They often go right from their place of business to the party.^[4]

"JITTERBUGS - Sgt Paul Sullivan of Roxbury swings his partner high, while Sgt Benny Terry twirls his partner around so he can grin at the camera."

Daniel O'Brien, "Legionettes Go," The Boston Globe, April 23, 1944.

Lifting Spirits and Touching Lives

Isolated from the mainland and freezing cold, the troops stationed at Fort Warren often faced lower morale in the winter. With this in mind, civilian organizations stepped up their efforts to brighten soldiers' spirits around the holidays. When the news broke that soldiers stationed at forts on the islands would not be allowed leave for Christmas in 1941, the women of the Boston Harbor Ports Recreation Committee donated money to send them Christmas trees and gifts. Similarly in December 1943, USO hostesses from Lynn held holiday parties at forts across greater Boston, including at Fort Warren on December 23.^[5]

In World War II, the women of Eastern Massachusetts did what they could to improve morale for the troops, contributing to victory and the security of the homefront. While not always recognized for their contributions, women's efforts touched the lives of soldiers stationed at Fort Warren. A staff sergeant expressed his gratitude for women volunteers in the Boston Chapter of the American Red Cross, writing, "It is the women of this fine character and unselfishness that have won the highest honors in our hearts and given us the ability to win."^[6]

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Footnotes

[1] "Army Hospital Visits Appreciated," The Daily Item (Lynn, MA), April 2, 1943.

[2] "Women at Fort Warren." Boston Harbor Islands Interpretive Binder. Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

[3] Daniel O'Brien, "Legionettes Go," The Boston Globe, April 23, 1944.

[4] O'Brien, "Legionettes Go."

[5] "USO Hostesses Hold Two Holiday Parties," The Daily Item, December 29, 1943; "USO Hostesses Plan Christmas Party for Soldiers," The Daily Item, December 10, 1943.

[6] "Boston Boys Laud Red Cross Overseas Work in Their Letters," The Boston Globe, March 05, 1943.