World War II Woman

Ed’s mom

The other day, Ed told me about his mom, Ida L. Knopf. During World War II, she worked for Grumman in West Trenton, where the Navy fighter plane, the Hellcat, was manufactured. At first she was a riveter working the 4 to 12 shift, but when they learned she could type, they moved her into the office. Working in the shop paid better. It’s also where she learned to smoke – Camels, Chesterfields and Lucky Strike. Back then, the major cigarette companies gave out free samples at colleges, work places, and other locations where young people could be found.

At the close of the war, the plant reverted back to General Motors and the women lost their jobs. Ida eventually became the Administrative Assistant to the Attorney General of New Jersey.

Ed remembers peeking out the window through the closed curtains during the air raid warnings. He also remembers putting out scrap metal and rubber to be picked up for the war effort.

His uncle was in the Navy and died the same day President Roosevelt died in April of 1945. He died of a heart attack while serving in the Navy. Ed remembers being at the railway station in Trenton awaiting the arrival of his uncle’s coffin draped in the American flag and accompanied by a Navy burial escort group. The lid of the coffin was opened and one of Ed’s uncles identified his brother-in-law’s body and the train continued on to Philadelphia.

Ed’s father-in-law Samuel E. Watov, M.D. was the first doctor in Trenton to enlist in January of 1942. He served in the Army Medical Corps with Patton’s 3^rd Army. Dr. Watov received two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star.

For more stories from World War II, go to http://www.peggeorge.com/.

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