World War II Honoree

ShirleyJean Kaufman Golden

Branch of Service

U.S. Coast Guard

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

Family

ONE OF THE FIRST FEMALES TO JOIN THE COAST GUARD WHEN IT WAS OPENED TO WOMEN DURING WWII. SHE TOOK HER TRAINING IN THE BRONX, NEW YORK, AND WAS FIRST STATIONED IN WASHINGTON, D.C. SHE WAS ASSIGNED AS A KEY-PUNCH OPERATOR ON ONE OF THE FIRST COMPUTERS OWNED BY THE GOVERNMENT. SHE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPUTING INFORMATION ON LOCATIONS OF SHIPS AND SUPPLIES BEING SENT TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC. ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS, SHE MET MRS. ELEANOR ROOSEVELT, WHO WANTED TO SEE THE NEW COMPUTER AND ALSO SHOW THE FIRST LADY'S FRIENDS THE NEW COMPUTER. DURING ONE OF THEIR CONVERSATIONS, SHIRLEY EXPRESSED HER DREAM OF GOING TO HAWAII. WITHIN ONE MONTH SHE WAS SENT TO HONOLULU, AFTER MRS. ROOSEVELT EXPRESSED HER WISH THAT SHE BE TRANSFERRED TO HAWAII. SHE STAYED IN HAWAII THROUGH THE DURATION OF THE WAR AND WAS ASKED TO RE-ENLIST AND HELP SET UP THE NEW GOVERNMENT IN JAPAN UNDER GENERAL MACARTHUR.