The Gang at Bay 4, Manitowoc shipyards

Creator

Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co. (Manitowoc, Wis.)

Date

• 1943

Summary

• The nineteen men and three women who comprised the "Bay 4 gang" work crew at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company pose with a long "chain letter" that they were sending to a shipyard worker who had left for service with the armed forces. The letter consisted of separate sheets of greetings taped together to form a long "chain." At the time that this photograph was published in the April-May, 1943 issue of "The Keel Block," the company newsletter, the Bay 4 Gang had written three such letters -- all about 14 feet long -- to former co-workers George Haas, Stuart Burnett, and Cliff Champagne who were now in service. Along with each letter they sent a check for cigarettes. This photograph shows the variety of work clothing worn by production workers at the shipyards. Several of the men have safety goggles. Many in the group wear their round employee identification pins. Identified seated left to right are Bob Christiansen, Ed Hoeffner, Norbert Stronisla, David Kenney, Odo Gonzo, Kenneth Johnson, Fritz Levenhage, Francis Meany, and Albert Willson. Standing left to right are Lawrence Hall, Paul Mrotek, Clarence Luedtke, Bill Nortemann, Lloyd Junk, Charlotte Jaeckel, Jerry Barnes, Nellie McNolan, Jack Kurth, Florence Norquard, Warren Gamble, and Leland Stafford.