World War II Honoree

Barbara Rappaport

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Grosse Ile, Michigan

Honored By

Nathaniel R. Fenton

SHE FIRST SERVED IN THE RED CROSS MOTOR CORPS AND THEN SIGNED UP TO SERVE IN THE NAVY WOMEN ACCEPTED FOR VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY SERVICE (WAVES). SHE ENTERED THE FIELD OF CRYPTOGRAPHY, BEING TRAINED IN JULY, 1944 AT SMITH COLLEGE. SHE SERVED AT WASHINGTON, D.C., BREAKING CODES, PRIMARILY JAPANESE SHIP COMMUNICATIONS. THE CRYPTOGRAPHERS WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK AT LONG TABLES IN A FORMER SCHOOL. SHE WAS GIVEN THE RANK OF ENSIGN.