By G. MARK LaFRANCIS

Special to The Democrat

NATCHEZ — A sparkle lit up Mary Warren’s eyes as she dipped back into her memories of nearly eight decades ago.

The United States had just entered World War II after the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese in 1941.

Barely 5 feet tall and slim, Warren (then Mary Baroni) was armed and shooting fire … not from a rifle, but from her welding torch at Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Co. in Mobile, Ala.

She was one of the women affectionately called “Rosie the Riveter.” The “Rosies” comprised a stateside army of women who made bullets, tanks, planes, ships and did much more, such as welding ocean-going vessels.

“The only thing I can tell you right now, I think it’s great (to weld). It’s something that can hold parts together. Something like the side of his ship, a boat or whatever,” Warren said. “I had big tankers to weld on. One time I had to weld on a propeller. Boy, that was a mess — all that sand got down in it, the propeller. Boy you talk about a time. It took me a one solid day to clean it and weld it.”

Warren’s journey to the welding profession began in Natchez, the youngest of 15 children of Antonia and Yoretta Baroni. She was born on Aug. 17, 1924. Her father was a farmer and her mother a housewife, and the family was of modest means, but hard workers. Warren recalls she even picked cotton as a child for a time.

She attended local schools through the ninth grade.

“This idea came to me of being a welder. I jumped for it. I wanted to do something for my country and they (welding school) accepted me,” she said. She was 16 at the time.

Warren went to welding school in Brookhaven in a program run by the Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Co. There she achieved the rating of a first-class welder before heading to Alabama where she was to work for several years. “I loved it from the start,” she said. “A lot of my friends turned out to be teachers and nurses. I became a welder.”

At the shipyards, the work was hot and hard, but enjoyable, Warren said.

“Oh, we went to the show, and we saw different shows,” Warren said. “We went to visit friends. It wasn’t a very lonesome life. We were pretty busy.”

Being involved with naval vessels allowed Warren to meet several sailors. Blushing a little, she smiled and said, “I met a lot of them.”

But it was her work as a welder she took seriously, so much so that she became the welding champion at the dry dock, edging out veteran women welders.

“The winner’s work was judged superior by American Bureau of Shipping Inspectors, who were present throughout the contest,” read a news story at the time. Then, Warren was only 19, and was eligible to compete against national champion female welder. However, the contest never materialized, which disappointed Warren, who said she felt she had the skills to take down the best.

She said that in her early contest, “My welds were perfect. It (the finished product) was a solid piece of steel. He (the inspector) said you couldn’t beat it. It was just so special. Boy that made me feel good. It was just so clear. There were no flaws in it. No nothing. Just as clear as it could be.”

The skill that Warren and other women welders achieved was lauded in a newspaper story by Welding Supt. M. O. “Tex” Collier. “Collier said a first-class woman welder was the equal of any man,” the story said, adding, “Collier said, ‘It is my opinion that the quality of their work is superior to men welders. They have keen eyes and steady hands needed by welders to make an even weld.”

For Warren, welding on naval ships was more than a job. It was her contribution to the war effort. “I hated the war, but I said at least I’m gonna try to help,” Warren said. “I’m gonna do my best. That’s all I could do.”

After the war ended, Warren returned to Natchez, hung up her welder’s mask went to work and raised a family. However, for the interview she donned her mask for old time’s sake.

“Brings back memories,” she said, cracking a big grin.

Her son Ricky Warren of Natchez said, “We’re all so proud of momma. She was one of the unsung heroes of World War II.”

Mary Warren’s life will be celebrated on the date of her birth  — Aug. 17 — with a funeral Mass at St. Mary Basilica, Natchez. Arrangements are being made.