SS Red Oak Victory Gets New Berth in California

From the March 1, 2016, Contra Times (Cal.) "Historic World War II Cargo Ship to land in new resting place in Port of Richmond" by Sarah Tan.

The SS Red Oak Victory is moving to basin 5.

Riggers Loft Wine Co. wanted the ship's relocation so its customers have a better view of the bay.

The Red Oak Victory was built in Richmond and is one of the last surviving ships built at the Kaiser Richmond shipyards during the war.

--GreGen

One Thousand "Rosie the Riveters"

From the August 27, 2015, KQED "Watch a Thousand Rosie the Riveters Set a World Record in Richmond."

Richmond, California.

And some of them were real Rosies who provided the weapons our troops used.  Some were blacks.

All sported the signature white polka dot red bandannas as seen on the era posters.  An Andrews Sisters tribute group performed.  A video accompanied the article.

From 1940-1944, some 8 million women worked in the nation's factories to replace the men who had gone off to war.  They produced the weapons, munitions, planes, ships and other items the military needed.

Their emblem was a determined-looking woman in blue overalls, flexing her right bicep.  She wore red knee socks, work boots and a red bandanna with white polka dots.  She was called "Rosie the Riveter."

On August 15, in Richmond, California, more than 1000 women of all ages gathered to set a new world record in "The Largest Gathering of people Dressed as Rosie the Riveter."  This will be officially confirmed by the Guinness World Records in September.

This event also marked the end of World War II.

--GreGen

USS Hoga, WWII Tug, at Mare Island for Repairs-- Part 2

The Hoga served four years as an Oakland, California, fire department boat.  The Navy signed the Hoga to the N.L.R. in 2005 after two years of effort.  Fundraising problems delayed the move from Suisun Bay.

Parts for the 325-ton tug will be scavenged from two ex-Navy tugs in Richmond.  Seagoing tugs Lion and Tiger will be taken to Mare Island's Dry Dock 2 for dismantling.  They were formerly the USS Quapaw and USS Moctobi, built just a few years after the Hoga.

At 8, Mare Island-built submarine tender Nereus left for its final voyage to Akllied defense Recycling.  It is 67 years old.  --GreGen

World War II Ship Gets Blue Star

From the May 29, 2012, Pinde Patch "World War II Ship Gets Blue Star from El Cerrito Garden Club" by Charles Burress.

The marker was set in stone next to the SS Red Oak Victory in Richmond, California.  It was built by the Kaiser Shipyards in Richmond during the war and is in the process of being restored.

The Blue Star Memorial Program is a long-standing project of the National Garden Clubs dating to World War II to honor veterans.

--GreGen

Rosie the Riveter Memorial in California-- Part 2

These Rosies, women who left the home to work in war industries, were just as responsible for the ultimate US victory as the men doing the fighting.  Without the weapons of war, there could be no victory.

Kaiser operated four shipyards in Richmond, California, from 1941 to 1945, and made 747 vessels.  Kaiser Shipyard No. 2 set a world record when it built the SS Robert E. Peary in 4 days, 15 hours and 29 minutes.

The "Rosie the Riveter" song was written in 1942 by Redd Evans and John Jacob Loclo.  It became a hit in 1943 when it was recorded by several groups, including the Four Vagabonds of St. Louis.   I don't remember ever hearing it, though, and I've heard a lot of World War II songs.

The May 29, 1943, Saturday Evening Post featured a Norman Rockwell painting of Rosie the Riveter on the cover, featuring very muscular arms, a grinning face and her foot on a copy of Hitler's "Mein Kampf."  Right behind me at the old 'pute, I have a popular poster of an unsmiling Rosie with a sleeve pulled up to reveal a muscular arm and the words "We Can Do It," a popular poster during the war, only mine is metal.

Couldn't Have Done It Without Rosie.  --GreGen