Braver Than the Average “Girl”

Decades before there was a month dedicated to women’s history and long before the words “Nevertheless, she persisted” become a cultural touchpoint and rallying cry, there were groups of American women that that were daring to make history in extraordinary ways. Some of these women still have yet to receive recognition they deserve. One such group is the Red Cross Clubmobile girls of World War II.

One of the biggest challenges to the military in second world war was soldiers’ low morale, and they enlisted the Red Cross to help combat this problem. It was American Red Cross Commissioner Harvey Gibson that conceived of the Red Cross Clubmobile program for soldiers in remote areas. These Red Cross Clubmobiles, essentially “clubs on wheels” – think of them as the equivalent of the modern day food trucks. The Clubmobiles were converted GMC trucks staffed by three American girls who would play records and serve coffee, donuts and “a bit of home” to the officers and GIs in the field.

The Clubmobile Girls were young, accomplished professional women. The role was considered a prestigious one and the Red Cross launched a sophisticated recruitment campaign and sent teams across the country to find young women that fit the criteria for the role. To become a Red Cross Clubmobile Girl, you had go through a rigorous selection process including a physical, reference letters and personal interviews. Only one out of six applicants made the cut and those that made it were described as “the cream of the crop”. Requirements included a being over twenty-five years old, at least some college education and professional work experience. There were also more subjective qualifications such as “physical hardiness”, “a friendly sociable manner” and pretty, “girl next door” looks.

In their diaries and letters, these women wrote of seeing their male family members and friends go off to war and feeling frustrated that they couldn’t do more themselves. For many, becoming a Clubmobile Girl finally offered them a chance to contribute to the war effort in a meaningful and impactful way. Most of them didn’t realize just how impactful it would be until they arrived overseas. Women were not allowed in military combat at the time, so the Clubmobile Girls were some of the only American women to serve at or near the front lines of the war.

While, at a glance, their Red Cross Clubmobile Girl job description sounded rather simple, the coffee and donuts, as one of the girls put it, were “just their props”. For the soldiers, they served the role of older sister, social worker, therapist and cheerleader. They worked incredibly long days and often lived out of tents in the most brutal weather on harsh terrain. They witnessed the horrors or war first hand and were required to be brave and resourceful under harrowing circumstances. The emotional and physical toll on these women was heavy, but in their writings, there was never self-pity, and nearly always a mention of how much worse off the soldiers were, and how honored they were to serve in their role.

Many of the Clubmobile Girls were awarded army medals both for service in a combat zone and for valor. In the European Theater of Operations, Group F, comprised of eight clubmobiles, was awarded Bronze Stars for moving five truckloads of Christmas mail out of the town of Bastogne, Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge, one of the final and most devastating battles of the war.

Sadly, some of these women, like Anne Kathleen Cullen, gave their lives. She was killed when the U.S. hospital in Belgium she was being treated at was struck by a German shell. She was the only one killed by an enemy strike, but several other Clubmobile Girls lost their lives in tragic accidents in the field.

Since discovering through research the extraordinary work of the Red Cross Clubmobile Girls in WWII, I’ve thought a great deal about how some stories in history are revered and celebrated, while others, particularly those about women, get left behind.

Not just during women’s history month, but always, we should persist in discovering these lesser known but remarkable stories of women in history – and shine a light on their bravery and sacrifice so that ours and future generations may honor them in the way that they deserve.

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Jane Healey is the author of THE BEANTOWN GIRLS, a novel based on the true stories of the Red Cross Clubmobile Girls of World War II.

Follow her on Twitter @healeyjane

Find out more about Jane on her website https://janehealey.com/

About THE BEANTOWN GIRLS

A novel of love, courage, and danger unfolds as World War II’s brightest heroines—the best of friends—take on the front lines.

1944: Fiona Denning has her entire future planned out. She’ll work in city hall, marry her fiancé when he returns from the war, and settle down in the Boston suburbs. But when her fiancé is reported missing after being shot down in Germany, Fiona’s long-held plans are shattered.

Determined to learn her fiancé’s fate, Fiona leaves Boston to volunteer overseas as a Red Cross Clubmobile girl, recruiting her two best friends to come along. There’s the outspoken Viviana, who is more than happy to quit her secretarial job for a taste of adventure. Then there’s Dottie, a shy music teacher whose melodious talents are sure to bring heart and hope to the boys on the front lines.

Chosen for their inner strength and outer charm, the trio isn’t prepared for the daunting challenges of war. But through it all come new friendships and romances, unforeseen dangers, and unexpected dreams. As the three friends begin to understand the real reasons they all came to the front, their courage and camaraderie will see them through some of the best and worst times of their live

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Category: Contemporary Women Writers, On Writing