Military (ACWH)

Vickie Doolan-Fearon, Iraq War Veteran

The following article, written by Greg Larry, appeared in the December 21, 2013 edition of the Cumberland Times-News. Doolan-Fearon shares within the article the Iraq War experience that resulted in her injury.

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Army veteran hurt on duty in Iraq given gift of greater mobility

Pair of 'walking angels' deliver electric wheelchair to woman’s Cresaptown home

Shannon Lee Workman

Shannon Workman of Cumberland graduated from Fort Hill High School in 1984 and the United States Naval Academy in 1988. She is officially considered a pioneer in women’s aviation. Shannon flew patrols over the “no-fly” zone in Iraq during the first Gulf War.

Jane Schwab, 1922 - 2010

Jane Schwab is typical of many local women during World War II. She wanted to do “something for my country”. Schwab entered the Coast Guard after her sophomore year in college. She received basic training in communications and learned Morse Code, worked in ordnance and chemical warfare, and in the administration, training, and deployment of recruits to lifeboat stations and lighthouses.

During WWII thousands of women worked in local industries which had been converted to wartime production. These “Rosie the Riveters” worked the assembly line at Celanese producing material for parachutes, while others “manned” the production of pontoon boats, .50 caliber ammunition, and eight-inch shells at the Kelly-Springfield Tire plant.

From: Work & Wait – Allegany County: The Home Front Years, 1941-1945, , Allegany High School, 2003)
 

M. Kathleen "Katie" Ruppert Mikowski, 1920-2016

Dorothy Mellotte, Rosie the Riveter

It was during World War II that the Kelly-Springfield Tire Company in Cumberland, Maryland was involved in the production of 8-inch M106 and .50-caliber shells. Dorothy Mellotte of Ridgeley served as a shell inspector at the factory. She, along with her late friend Emma Jean Smith, were among the twelve women who served as shell inspectors during her time at Kelly-Springfield.

Nancy Jane Leo
1921 - 1945

Nancy Leo was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patsy Leo of Frederick Street in Cumberland. She was a graduate of Catholic Girls Central High School, and went on to become a member of the 1942 graduating class of the Allegany Hospital School of Nursing.

Local woman recounts life in WWII Polish resistance

Jodlowski wanted story kept private until after her death

GRANTSVILLE — The harrowing story of the late Alina Jodlowski, who survived a prisoner of war camp in Poland, hasn’t been shared publicly until now.

Alina, who died in August, was adamant that her story wasn’t heard until after her death. She and her late husband Stefan, who died in 2003, were members of the Polish Home Army (Armia Krajowa).

Matylle Gerson, "Frostburg Angel"

The following article appeared in the Overseas Edition of the Cumberland Sunday Times, July 2, 1944:

Frostburg 'Angel'

Margaret K. Esposito, 1931

Margaret was born in Alabama and grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. She joined the Air Force after her high school graduation. Upon marrying John Esposito in 1952 they moved to Cumberland, John's hometown, after he completed four years in the Air Force. Margaret went on to attend Cumberland's Catherman's Business School.