The World War Two Veterans Portrait Project: January 2013

During the war, Irene Gates was a Wave stationed in San Francisco. She was an extremely fast typist and was the first step in getting sensitive information to folks who would then put it in Morse Code to be sent via cable over the Pacific Ocean. She handled much of the communication from Admiral Nimitz for the Battle of the Midway. Needless to say, she couldn't tell anyone where she was working or what she was doing. When the war was over, she was transferred to a position that required her to type officers' discharge papers---13 onion skin copies. "You don't make a mistake when you have to correct all of those copies!" laughs Irene.

A Musical Tribute to WWII Veterans