From the Dec. 13, 2009, Des Monies (Iowa) Register "Honoring the home front" by Jane Scchorer Meisner.
THE DES MOINES ORDNANCE PLANT IN ANKENY (north of Des Moines)
Some 19,000, mostly women, worked the plant 24-hours a day producing eleven railroad cars worth of the munitions to win the war. Three former workers were interviewed for the article: Tina Baltran, 85, and Marge Swartfager, 89, explained the 72-steps to make a bullet. Bernice Muehlenthale used salt tablets to stay awake.
Today, John Deere now makes equipment in the old plant.
The Arkeny Area Historical Society is now developing an interactive mobile of the history of the plant.
The story of workers, next.
A 100% Effort Here on the Homefront. --GreGen
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