Her courageous work did not go without its rewards. While in Spain, she received an award for her work in France. She received the award of Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, or the MBE. President Truman also wanted to award her for work as a spy, and he wanted to do so publicly. Virginia declined his offer. She did not believe her work in France deserved any special awards, and because she wanted to maintain her cover as a spy. Although she declined, she still received the award. On September 27, 1945, in a private OSS office, Virginia Hall gained the award of the Distinguished Service Cross award. She was the only American woman and first civilian to receive this honor during World War II, but Virginia was not the only honorable
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At the end of the war, the wartime production record included 296, 429 airplanes; 102, 357 tanks and self-propelled guns; 372, 431 artillery pieces; 47 million tons of artillery ammunition; 87, 620 warships; and 44 billion rounds of small-arms ammunition. It was called a miracle by Times magazine. According to Donald Nelson, head of the War Production Board, “This is a record: For nine years before Pearl Harbor, Germany, Italy, and Japan prepared intensively for war, while as late as 1940 the war production of peaceful America was virtually nothing. Yet two years later the output of our war factories equaled that of the three Axis nations combined.” Mostly women –the real Rosie Riveter, set these records. However, when the war was over, it did not matter who had set these records.
Once the war had ended, many companies had to lay off their woman workforce. Companies would soon return to their regular workforce. Our victorious men did need a job after all. A woman testified by saying, “There was a distinct message that we should let the men take over the real world and we should silently return to our kitchens. Unfortunately, many of us did and we should have known better, for we were really pioneering, adventuresome
At the end of the war, the wartime production record included 296, 429 airplanes; 102, 357 tanks and self-propelled guns; 372, 431 artillery pieces; 47 million tons of artillery ammunition; 87, 620 warships; and 44 billion rounds of small-arms ammunition. It was called a miracle by Times magazine. According to Donald Nelson, head of the War Production Board, “This is a record: For nine years before Pearl Harbor, Germany, Italy, and Japan prepared intensively for war, while as late as 1940 the war production of peaceful America was virtually nothing. Yet two years later the output of our war factories equaled that of the three Axis nations combined.” Mostly women –the real Rosie Riveter, set these records. However, when the war was over, it did not matter who had set these records.
Once the war had ended, many companies had to lay off their woman workforce. Companies would soon return to their regular workforce. Our victorious men did need a job after all. A woman testified by saying, “There was a distinct message that we should let the men take over the real world and we should silently return to our kitchens. Unfortunately, many of us did and we should have known better, for we were really pioneering, adventuresome