World War II Honoree

Hazel Adelaide Peigler

Hometown

Concord, North Carolina

Honored By

Debra Kay Roy

Relationship

neice

She worked at the Shell Plant during the War. The U. S. Rubber Company, locally called the “Shell Plant,” was located 10 miles south of Charlotte. In order to get a job, you had to apply and take a test. During the height of production, the U.S. Rubber Company employed several thousand people and had over 200 buildings in Charlotte. Its function was to produce 75 millimeter anti-aircraft shells for the Navy. It received the Army-Navy “E” award of excellence in April 1944. Its peak day of production was December 6, 1944, when it produced 213,143 rounds in 24 hours. Employees worked around the clock. Shifts, which were 7 a.m.-3 p.m., 3 p.m.-11 p.m., and 11 p.m.-7 a.m., changed each month. This was an extremely dangerous place to work, and the employees took their jobs seriously. No rings could be worn on the line as a safety precaution. Employees were required to wear steel-toed shoes, navy blue skirts or slacks and light blue shirts. Without this type of uniform, you could not get on the premises to go to work. Employees had photo IDs that were pinned to their shirts while at work. Hazel was proud of the Shell Plant's record and her contribution to the war effort.