Helen Anderson Glass was born in March 1923 in North Walpole, New Hampshire but was raised in New Jersey. Even though the family lost their home in the Great Depression, her life was wonderful. She enjoyed living in her multi-ethnic neighborhood. Her father was an electrician and her birth mother was a beauty school operator and owner. Her step mother was a full time homemaker. Glass joined the Navy on her 20th birthday in March 1943. Prior to that, she had worked for the telephone company. Her father had served in World War 1 in the 76th Field Artillery, 3rd Infantry Division. His unit was known as the "Spirit of 76". The outfit fought in many of the major conflicts American land forces participated in. She also had an uncle who served in the same war and was gassed and subsequently spent time in the VA [Annotator's Note: Veterans Affairs] hospital. She was inspired to write poetry after seeing some of the patients while visiting her recovering uncle. Her second uncle served in World War 2. Her father rarely spoke of his war experience unless some spontaneous event inspired a memory. Some were rather funny incidents. [Annotator's Note: Glass laughs about an anecdote concerning praying over a pig.] Her father was impacted by PTSD [Annotator's Note: post traumatic stress disorder] which was referred to as shell shock at that time. Glass recounts several events her father told of when inspired by incidents that occurred through their lives together. Glass and her brother graduated in June 1941 before Pearl Harbor [Annotator's Note: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941]. Her brother joined the Navy in January 1942. Later that July, the WAVES [Annotator's Note: Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service; United States Naval Women's Reserve] were established. Glass' brother and father encouraged her to join the WAVES. She did so as soon as the age limitation criteria allowed. She joined because of her patriotism. Things changed in several ways when the war started. It became acceptable for women to date military personnel, unlike prior to the United States' entry into the war. Her brother and father were very supportive of Glass as she grew up. She learned mechanics from family members which enabled her to score high in those related examinations. Consequently, she was sent to NATTC, or Naval Air Technical Training Center, in Norman [Annotator's Note: Norman, Oklahoma].

Helen Anderson Glass enlisted but could not enter active service until she was investigated by governmental security agencies. Once accepted, she entered Hunter College in the Bronx, New York [Annotator's Note: New York, New York]. She was billeted in an apartment by the college. The trainees learned drill and calisthenics and attended various classes to familiarize themselves with the terminology used in the Navy. She wrote poems about her experiences with some published. After graduation, she took a crowded troop train that had trouble traversing the regional mountains. There was no dining car to provide food for the many passengers. The town ahead was telegraphed requesting food for the passengers to purchase. The whole town seemed to turn out and freely provided food to the service men and women even though it was a Sunday and stores were closed. It was a wonderful experience. Glass is saddened that she cannot remember the name of the town. She had wonderful adventures and met some special people while in the service. In Norman [Annotator's Note: after boot camp, she was sent to the Naval Air Technical Training Center, or NATTC, in Norman, Oklahoma], she trained on aircraft of various types. She learned to troubleshoot engines and instruments. She was the butt of jokes at times. [Annotator's Note: Glass laughs heartily.] As the women advanced in rank, some sailors resented that but they were always there to help if needed. She had only four weeks in boot camp. She was at Norman from May to the end of October [Annotator's Note: 1943]. In September, she received a telegram that her brother was missing in action. He had been killed but that detail was withheld due to reluctance to provide news of ships damaged or lost. [Annotator's Note: Glass' brother was killed in action aboard the light cruiser USS Savannah (CL-42).] She graduated as an AAM 3rd class [Annotator's Note: Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd Class] and was allowed leave [Annotator's Note: an authorized absence for a short period of time] at home. It was there in November that she found out that her brother had died. That affected her father particularly hard since he had been in the service [Annotator's Note: Glass' father had served in World War 1 in the 76th Field Artillery, 3rd Infantry Division and fought in multiple major engagements]. Refusing an extension to her leave because of her brother's death, she was looking forward to going to her next station in Florida. Her parents prepared a picnic basket for her trip which turned out to be a blessing. There were so many people on the train that the food ran out. Glass shared her food were several people who would not have otherwise eaten. After some of her brother's personal effects were returned, Glass wondered why her father never receive a gold flag. The MIAP, or Missing in Action Program, later provided one and Glass presented it to the new cemetery and wrote an appropriate poem for the event. She provided flags in honor of her father and her brother. The family had always had flags in their window at home. At first a blue star for her brother was displayed and then two blue stars for him and Glass. That changed to be a gold star with the death of her brother and a blue star for her. Glass wrote a poem about that. The loss of her brother made her even more patriotic. The country responded with scrap drives, rubber drives and rationing. People helped one another. Her father opened his house to military personnel, especially during the holidays. Her father insisted that she become a member of the American Legion which she did in 1945 under her maiden name.

Helen Anderson Glass was stationed in Florida at Opa-locka [Annotator's Note: part of Naval Air Station Miami]. She spent her first Thanksgiving [Annotator's Note: 1943] in the service there. Holiday dinner was provided for them and local civilians at 35 cents each. When the military personnel were put in front of the line, the citizens grumbled. The Chief told them to cease or they would be denied the inexpensive meal. The fussing stopped. Glass was the newcomer with the outfit so she was chosen to say grace. She combined impromptu poetry with humor. Her grace was a success. She experienced her second instance of enemy activity while on duty there. The first had been spies discovered in her home town. At her base, there was a case of sabotage. Glass had an opportunity to see Eleanor Roosevelt [Annotator's Note: First Lady of the United States; wife of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States] while she was on the base. Glass was later stationed in Miami working engine overhaul. The day started early. She lost some of her hearing from working on oil pumps. In March 1944, she made up a big pot of Irish stew for Saint Patrick's Day. As the officer's passed for review through the area, the lid blew off the pot. The officers wanted to know who was responsible. Not just Glass but everyone stepped forward. The Admiral made a joke about it and commented that he would like to stay for lunch. Until then, Glass was fearful that she would get in trouble. [Annotator's Note: Glass laughs.] After Pearl Harbor [Annotator's Note: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941], the switchboards lit up [Annotator's Note: she was a telephone operator at the time of the attack prior to enlisting in the Navy]. Extra help was brought in to help. When she found out about the bombing, she cried. Her brother was in the Navy but not yet on active duty. Many of her friends were in the service. Her brother was the first to be killed and Glass was one of the first women to be in the WAVES [Annotator's Note: Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service; United States Naval Women's Reserve]. Tempers flared at times between citizens. One woman was so happy that all her children were working in the war industries that she said she wished the war would continue for a long time. A man nearby hit her twice and said his son was missing in action. The man was forced to leave but no one would testify on the thoughtless woman's behalf. Glass felt like she was tempted to hit the woman for her inconsiderate comment. People were so much more helpful, even after the Great Depression. The war brought people together. People worked for their money. They did not ask for it. There was the WPA [Annotator's Note: Works Progress Administration] for men. The CCC [Annotator's Note: Civilian Conservation Corps] for young men. The NYA [Annotator's Note: National Youth Administration] for high school youth. Glass and her brother were both in the NYA working at school and made five dollars per month. She was in Miami [Annotator's Note: Miami, Florida] for both V-E Day [Annotator's Note: Victory in Europe Day, 8 May 1945] and V-J Day [Annotator's Note: Victory Over Japan Day, 15 August 1945]. She grew up in the big band era and was fortunate to hear that music from artists such as Jimmy [Annotator's Note: James Francis Dorsey; American musician, composer and big band leader] and Tommy Dorsey [Annotator's Note: Thomas Francis Dorsey, Jr.; American musician, composer and big band leader], Glenn Miller [Annotator's Note: US Army Air Forces Major Alton Glenn Miller; American musician and big band leader] and even Frank Sinatra [Annotator's Note: Francis Albert Sinatra; American singer and entertainer] when he was just starting out. She enjoyed Sinatra's voice and his way of singing as she did Bing Crosby [Annotator's Note: Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby, Jr.; American singer, comedian and actor]. The high school girls were first paid a dollar to scream for Sinatra but payment was not needed after the first time. Glass and her colleagues did not date but in 1944 she met her future husband who would later be promoted to chief. When the war ended, she put in for her discharge. She married in July 1945 and separated from service in August 1945. The couple moved to California, his home.

Helen Anderson Glass was discharged from the WAVES [Annotator's Note: Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service; United States Naval Women's Reserve] and everything was different for her in California with her new husband. Her marriage only lasted one year The life she had adopted did not meet her standards from the way she was brought up. It was a wild lifestyle and party atmosphere. Her former husband would ultimately be married five times before his death. She left him three months pregnant and returned to her home in New Jersey. There was concern about her child because, other than her parents, people did not realize she had been briefly married. That was despite the wedding announcement in the local newspaper and her discharge documents showing she had been married at that time. She maintained her husband's surname until she remarried ten years later and became Mrs. Helen Anderson Glass. Her husband, son, daughter, granddaughter and great granddaughter predeceased her. Her son died at 36 years of age. He had been a SeaBee [Annotator's Note: members of US naval construction battalions]. Glass went back to work at the telephone company when her child reached eight months of age. She continued until she became pregnant again. World War 2 changed her life. She is a member of multiple veterans organizations and volunteers at the VA [Annotator's Note: Veterans Affairs] hospital. She never did anything spectacular during the war but was proud to simply do her job. Women in the WASP [Annotator's Note: Women Airforce Service Pilots] program and those working in the enigma program that helped save the war did so much to move recognition of the role of women forward. Glass helped family members seek medals for their mothers who played such roles. Glass realized when the WAVES opened to women that she could help the country. Her service and experience in the VA hospital inspired her to write poetry. She has learned the importance of capturing her feelings and memories for young people to learn from her achievements. She has won numerous awards through the years for her poetry and other writings. She has met famous individuals as a result of her recognition. World War 2 was fought by individuals of the greatest era. People knew what they were fighting for, unlike Korea [Annotator's Note: Korean War, 1950 to 1953] and Vietnam [Annotator's Note: Vietnam War, 1955 to 1975]. The National WWII Museum [Annotator's Note: in New Orleans, Louisiana] serves an important role in teaching the history in the Atlantic and the Pacific. There is so much history associated with the conflict. She was happy to do what she did but sometimes wished she could have done more. She would have loved to have gone overseas but never did because her brother had died and her father was in the VA hospital and projected not to live much longer although he survived another 20 years.