Mary Torres

Mary Torres was a Journeyman Welder from 1942-1945 at Moore's Shipyard, Oakland.

NPS Photo/Luther Bailey

Moore's Shipyard, Oakland - Journeyman Welder, 1942-1945

Mary Schevchik Torres was born in Donora, PA., on May 26, 1923. It was a nice quiet town with few jobs. On December 7, 1941 the Japanese planes bombed Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt declared war and lives were changed forever. Mary’s brothers John had joined the Army while Eddie joined the Navy. Mary wanted to help do something to win the war and she saw an ad in the local paper that war workers were needed out in California. With only a few months until graduation, Mary decided she would go to California. After saving money from her job at J.C. Penny, while her parents were at church, Mary gathered her graduation money, some food, packed a suitcase, left a note saying she was leaving to look for a job and caught a bus for a 5 day trip to California.

Although she was only 18 and traveling alone with no job, no place to stay, and no knowledge of what lay ahead, she was one determined young lady! Upon arrival in Sacramento, CA., she got a job as an inventory clerk at McClellan Air Force Base and found a room to rent. Soon, Mary grew restless as the work was not challenging enough for her. Upon hearing that workers were needed in the Bay area shipyards, she took a bus ride down and applied for a job as a welder at Moore’s Shipyard in Oakland, CA., where she was sent for a weeks’ worth of training. Here she felt she could really help with the war effort and with better pay! Mary was asked to take a small test and upon passing she was put to work as a tacker (spot welding). After 6 months she took & passed her Journeyman Welder’s test, which would include lots of shell welding (welding the plates that created the outer skin of a ship’s hull).

During her time at Moore’s, Mary and her boss Frank fell in love and were married. Since you could not tell people apart when they were wearing their leathers (welding outfit) and welding helmets, Frank and Mary decorated Mary’s welding helmet so that it would be easier for Frank to spot her on the floor! Mary worked at Moore’s from 1942 until 1945 when Moore’s started laying off all women workers as returning male war veterans would have first choice at any jobs.

Mary was now a housewife while Frank hired on at a larger shipyard and continued as a foreman in the shipyards until he retired after 48 years of service. They raised two sons, invested in the stock market and were able to purchase a bowling alley in Fremont. Ten years later they sold it and Mary became a beautician, with a full slate of clients even to this day!

Mary and Frank were married for 62 years before his passing in 2004. Today you can find Mary at the Rosie the Riveter WW2 Home Front Park in Richmond, CA where she will greet you with a big smile saying, “Hi! I’m one of the Rosies!”