Celebrating Soldiers Without Guns

During World War II, while millions of soldiers were shipped overseas, it was women who were left to take care of the home front.  The News On 6's Carina Sonn reports a school project brought some Oklahoma students together with one real-life Rosie.

Three students from Canton High School in Blaine County created a play called "Soldiers Without Guns" for a statewide competition.  On Thursday, they performed the skit for some local retirees, including the woman who inspired their story:  a real-life Rosie the Riveter.

Short of stepping into the 1940's, Leah Shifflett, Taylor Bromlow, and Paige Sutton know all about the struggles of women during the second World War.

The women here at home during World War II fought a different kind of battle as Rosies assembling tanks and bombers, as housewives planting victory gardens, as WASPs (Women Air Force Service Pilots) who flew planes from the factory to military bases.

"These women opened the doors for us in our generation and without them we wouldn't be able to do a lot of the things that we can do today," said student Taylor Bromlow.

Taylor and her friend, Paige, spent the last several months combing through books and websites, writing letters and making phone calls.  They found the most valuable information came from the women that lived through that time.

"I go in there and I'm a little 18 year old from a small town and I'm in there and I think oh my gosh how do I get out of here," said Dorothy Dollarhite, a former Rosie.

Dorothy Dollarhite was just one of the thousands of Rosie the Riveters at Douglas Aircraft in Tulsa.   

"There were some men, you know, those that hadn't been drafted or older men," said Dorothy Dollarhite, a former Rosie.

Dorothy started working at the plant in 1942, a year after the war started.  She helped build planes in the factory until a medical problem forced her to take a job as a secretary there.

The girls say they're grateful women worked so hard on the home front.  They say it is a good reminder that when the nation's at war, everyone is in the battle.

Leah, Taylor and Paige placed first in the state competition and competed for the national title in Washington, D.C. last month.  They placed 6th in the nation out of 100 teams.