One Rosie’s search for Rosebuds
Jane Tucker invites family members to share their loved ones’ experiences.
‘It takes tons of courage to take two teenage girls to work in Savannah where they will be surrounded by soldiers. I recently had a story published about my mom. I am so proud of her.’ Jane Tucker Rosie the Riveters member
Jane Tucker will be 90 years old in May but still remembers how she became what is how commonly called a Rosie the Riveters, a working woman during World War II.
“I was a 16-year-old in high school when my mother’s cousin contacted us and asked us to travel to Savannah,” the Floyd County resident explained. “She knew my mother had a great deal of debt due to the depression and that you could really make a lot of money doing the ‘men’s work’ at the port.”
Tucker said her mother loaded up her and her sister and they went straight to work.
“I went from making $ 1 a day back home in Alabama to making $1.20 an hour,” Tucker remembered. “We worked six days a week in the sweltering heat, but we really got the work done.”
Tucker said that her mother sent money back home every check until her debt was entirely paid off, something she said she always admired in her character.
“It takes tons of courage to take two teenage girls to work in Savannah where they will be surrounded by soldiers,” Tucker laughed. “I recently had a story published about my mom. I am so proud of her.”
Tucker said that it is because of the hard work these women like her mother, herself and
her sister did during WWII that it has remained so important to tell their stories.
“There are only four left around here that I know of and it is important that we find their children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews that know their stories,” Tucker said. “There were originally 12 in our Georgia Chapter and I know that there are more out there that we haven’t heard from.”
Tucker said that she has been a longtime member of the American Rosie the Riveter Association and has worked hard to preserve the stories of these women. She explained
that there are two types of members: Rosies and Rosebuds. To be a Rosie you would have worked during World War II. To be a Rosebud you must only be related to a Rosie and willing to help share their history.
“Any family member that has information that can be shared and added to the ARRA archives is invited to join and participate,” Tucker said. “They may also register their loved one with the War memorial in Washington D.C.”
The ARRA was originally founded by five Rosie the Riveters and has grown to around 2,000 members. Tucker said
that every chance she gets she tries to attend their national conventions to fellowship with other women with her experiences.
“They have even been working to pass March 21 as a permanent national holiday for Rosie the Riveters.” Tucker said.
Tucker said that she feels that all the ladies in “her age group” had returned to a second childhood and that every time they get together they have a “great time.”
“I won’t get to attend this year’s conference because I do not like to fly and my niece is busy with work, but I am excited
to read about what happens.” Tucker said. “I remember we had an appearance at the Atlanta museum sometime last year and I so enjoyed hearing our president Fran Carter speak. When she was asked what women did when the men came home she laughed and said ‘Well we went back to the kitchen and to the bedroom’ — she has a wonderful sense of humor.”
Tucker also recalled when she and the group went to the White House to meet with Former Vice President Joe Biden.
“President Obama was hiding behind one of the curtains and popped out all the sudden to greet us,” Tucker said. “We were so excited to meet him — he is such a nice man. One of the other ladies, which had reverted to childhood again, had no fear.
“She just up and kissed him. Mr. Obama just laughed.”
Tucker, who never married and has no children of her own to recruit as a Rosebud, is very proud of her niece who she said is very active in the group.
“My niece is a veterinarian and I will never forget when she stood up in front of the convention to speak and thanked all the Rosies for making it OK for her to be a vet — something she might not
have been able to do if the women hadn’t stepped up during the war,” Tucker said. “She gushed with tears of happiness while she spoke to us.”
Tucker said she was inspired to work with the ARRA by this phrase that is inscribed on her own plaque she received from the group. Anyone interested in telling their story, their family members story or joining the ARRA can call 1-885-5576743 or visit www.RosietheRiveter.net.
“Please don’t let their stories go untold,” Tucker said.