Tribute to Tina C. Gilbert

Civilian Service:  Defense Industry

    Tina Christine Trisler, was born September 1, 1922 in Sperry, Oklahoma.  After high school graduation she caught a ride on the milk truck that hauled farmers' milk to the Carnation Milk plant in Tulsa and got a job as a curb hop at Pig Stand #2 at 21st & Boston.  Later, a better job came along at Bishop's Drive-Inn at 10th & Boston and she continued there until the family decided to go to California to find defense jobs.

    In an old 1932 Chevy with used tires tied all over, the family hit Highway 66 for the West.  Tina found a job at the Ammunition Depot at Mare Island Naval Yard, Vallejo, California.  There she made 3 inch anti-aircraft projectiles, which were filled with a bright yellow powder that was compressed by machine into the case.  These were all completed with detonators, grommets for protection, and shipped from the shop to the ships at the end of the island where sailors loaded them to head for battle.  Workers also made .50 caliber machine gun ammunition, belted them, and prepared them for shipment, which was handled the same as the 3 inch ammunition.  The small 1.1 inch projectiles were made there as well.  The cases were filled with a black granulated powder.  After they were completed, a protective grease was applied by hand before they were put in a steel box with each one independent of the other.  They were then sealed and shipped to the end of the island to be loaded onto ships.

    This was Tina's contribution to the war effort at home!  However, their personal efforts amounted to something as well.  They could not buy a new pair of shoes without a stamp.  No gasoline, meat, or sugar without a stamp.  When you used your stamp issued for the allotted time, you did without until another stamp was valid.  Tina still has some of her old ration stamps.  Rationing was a way of life and no one cared.

    When Tina married William Gilbert in 1946, they couldn't buy a refrigerator.  They got the first one in their hometown hardware store.  They lived on a 320 acre dairy farm the first 5 years of marriage, where their daughter was born.  Then the family moved to Wichita, Kansas where Bill was employed by the Boeing Airplane Company.  There the family was increased with the addition of a son.  Tina was a stay-at-home mom.

    After one of many Boeing transfers, the family was sent to Everett, Washington in 1968.  Tina then got her first job since 1945, as a teller in a bank.  She learned all she could and when a new branch was opened in 1972, Tina transferred there and in a couple of years became Branch Manager of the View Ridge Branch, Bank of Everett.  It was an all-girl branch and the customers liked that!  Tina refused to let the head office send a male to here branch!

    Life has been and IS wonderful for Tina.  Bill and Tina celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on May 10th, 2006.

Submitted by Tina Gilbert (herself)

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