Hello all,

Well, Greg and I are headed back to New Orleans soon! This time for a meet up with someone I've been friends with on Facebook for a few years now, and to attend a symposium hosted by the National WW2 Museum called "Women's History Symposium: American Women in World War II". The dates are February 29-March 1 of 2024 and the symposium is amazingly free! I learned of this thanks to my friend, Julia McCurdy Gimbel, who has the most fantastic page on Facebook, "Julia Writes WWII". She is also an author of a book about her father and his service in WW2, "Student, Sailor, Skipper, Survivor". Much of his experience mirrors my uncle Billy's as they both served in the Navy in the South Pacific. And, she is a graduate of the Master's program at Arizona State University with her degree in WW2 studies that was sponsored by the National WW2 Museum. Let's see, what else has she done? Oh - and now she and five other women who graduated from the program have a podcast! No grass grows under her feet! 

Julia emailed me and told me about this symposium, and my response back to her was almost immediate. Not just because I'd love to get back to New Orleans, but because I would finally meet her face to face for the first time. And the networking opportunities with kindred spirits! That alone will keep my adrenaline on high. We have discussed me being interviewed about the Strong project for their podcast, and this may be the perfect opportunity for that. I will keep everyone posted and share the link if we pull this off. By the time we have to board the plane for home, I will be utterly and thoroughly exhausted, mentally and physically. I will recover. 

Between this, and the plans I'm trying to make (research to do, people to notify, dates to set, ho boy....) for heading overseas to Vanuatu this summer, this promises to be a very busy year. Some of you expressed an interest in joining me on this trip, and when I have a bit more information to share I'll get back to you, soon I hope. For 3 years I've been in an anxious limbo. Three years of waiting to see what I could do with the plaque and where it would go to live in a place of honor. I finally see the light at the end of this tunnel thanks to the South Pacific WW2 Museum and the support of their top volunteer, James Carter. Upon returning home from the South Pacific, I can finish the book I started. Whether or not it will get published, to be determined. I've also been advised to set up an LLC - I have no head for business, and am looking for someone locally to help me out. This should be interesting. 

And last, but not least - the latest edition of the South Pacific WW2 Museum newsletter. They just received a nice grant that is allowing them to further new construction. Check out their Facebook page to see the progress: SP WW2 Museum Just click the links.

So, a bit of news to share and another chance to wish everyone a very happy holiday season!

-Tammi

It's been a while since I had something of substance to chat about here. Lately I've been reading a lot of books about the role of women in WW2 - reading about things and scenarios that were totally unknown to me because we never learned of them in school. The history of men in the wars that have served in wars which involved the United States is well documented. It's taken years, decades for this particular history to come to light. Many are written by women, including The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan, Code Girls by Liz Mundy, D-Day Girls by Sarah Rose and Wise Gals by Nathalia Holt. There are also books by women about historically important WW2 incidents such as Indianapolis by Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic. 



(Image above from ASU World War II studies program site)

When did the world finally figure out that women had been contributing all along? They weren't just Rosie Riveters working in the factories. These women were physicists, chemists, code breakers who broke the codes of the Japanese and Germans (including working with Enigma) that saved allied lives and thwarted Axis missions, pilots with deep roots in aviation, and spies - oh, they were amazing spies! And just like the men, many put their lives on the line and died for their efforts. 

There are many more books out there that tell stories nobody has heard before. And now, there are some women who have begun a podcast to educate others about these extraordinary stories. Through the National WW2 Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, via Arizona State University, a person can obtain a Master's degree in WW2 history. A friend of mine, author of the book about her father's WW2 role, Student, Sailor, Skipper, Survivor, and WW2 researcher Julia McCurdy Gimbel took this course and graduated. In the process she met five other women, kindred spirits absolutely, and became fast friends. These six ladies have developed a podcast that will feature stories about women in WW2 and women who have had a part in telling WW2 stories, both family related and otherwise. This is a great opportunity for others to see the contrubutions made by mothers, grandmothers, aunts, great aunts and more; maybe not combat related, but the war could not have been won without their brains, their courage and the energy they brought to the effort to bring our men home alive - or at the very least to bring them home. The podcast is titled "World War S.H.E.", for "sharing human experiences". The ladies refer to themselves as the "Riveting Rosies" and include Julia, Angelica Cordero, Laura Bailey, Carys Caffarel, Robin LaCorte and Mary Ellen Page. They are all of varying ages and backgrounds and share a common love of WW2 history that makes this possible. The first podcast went up a few days ago. To have a listen, click here: World War S.H.E. 

There might be an opportunity for me to appear on one of these podcasts. If Julia and her friends feel I can make a contribution in talking about Strong, I'll let you all know. In the meantime, let's give these ladies a listen, give them some hits and make it a popular place to park and listen for a bit. Share the link with friends and family, especially if you have daughters, nieces and such who might want to learn about these women. 

And to those who may be interested in following me to Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu next year, I'm doing some research and hope to soon share information with you on timing and travel details. It's all still up in the air, but I will let you know more as soon as I have something viable to share with you. 

​To everyone, have a wonderful holiday season, whatever and however you celebrate. I hope to have some exciting stuff to share with you all soon!

-Tammi