An Independent Spirit Guided Her Through World War II — And Beyond

https://www.npr.org/2021/07/03/ [login to see] /an-independent-spirit-guided-her-through-world-war-ii-and-beyond
When World War II started, Connie Doria Rocha was 16 and living with her mother and siblings in San Antonio.

Not long after, she found a way to join the war effort as a mechanic for the military.

It all started with an Uncle Sam sign that she'd seen at what was then known as Kelly Air Field in San Antonio. She was working there in the sheet metal department, helping her family financially instead of going to school. Rocha remembered that the signs were everywhere on base and said "Uncle Sam needs you." She'd heard that the military was accepting transfers to far-away bases.