From the archives: Navy man praises home front work

This article originally appeared in Newsday on May 14, 1945

“After seeing the Hellcats in action, I’m proud that I helped build them before I entered the service, “ Edward Zegel, aviation machinist’s mate 2/c, declared in a letter recently received by his wife, Mrs. Dorothy Zegel at her home 55 East Main St., here.

Zegel, who is 25, is stationed on Luzon in the Philippines, has been overseas in the Pacific area for nine months. He joined the Navy a little more than a year ago. “People in the United States are doing a wonderful job,” he declared.

He had worked at the Grumman plant for two and a half years before donning the Navy uniform. Mrs. Zegel is now working on the Hellcats at Grumman where she has been aiding the war production for the past two years.

The couple have two daughters, June, 5, and Gertrude, 2 years old.