Hurry Up and Wait: Experiencing War: Veterans History Project (Library of Congress)

Experiencing War: Stories from the Veterans History Project

It's an expression long associated with life in the armed forces: the endless lines, the delays while an assignment is being readied, the long night before a major battle, and finally, the anticipation of final orders. For some who serve during war, the sounds of battle remain tantalizingly distant, as they are left waiting stateside for the duration.

"I made one or two understand that I wasn't there to fool around, I was there for the war effort and I was there to weld for our boys overseas..."

Meda Brendall may not have left Baltimore during World War II, but she made her own contribution to the war effort by working as a welder in the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard. Brendall earned the respect of her colleagues with her spirited work ethic while raising a young son on her own. That son, Paul Alexander Steppe, is featured on this site, under Stories of Buddies, for his service in the Korean War.