FORT BENNING, Ga., (March 25, 2015) -- Smiles and high-energy levels radiated from six World War II Rosie the Riveters who gathered recently for a Women's History Month event to share how their home front efforts helped end the war 70 years ago.

The women told their stories March 11 at Riverplace, a retirement residence in Columbus.

All but one of the women - members of the Baker's Dozen chapter of the American Rosie the Riveter Association - were in their 90s with the two oldest, Jean Liparota and Eva Ulrich, turning 96 this year. The youngest, June Midkiff Tinker, turns 90 in July.

The Baker's Dozen Chapter is the American Rosie the Riveter Association's 13th chapter in the nation, and one of four in Georgia. The nonprofit ARRA honors all women who worked or volunteered in support of World War II, not just those who worked in factories. Franklin D. Roosevelt's Little White House in Warm Springs, Georgia, is the honorary ARRA headquarters.

Two of the women, Elizabeth "Liz" Minton and Tinker, with their hair hidden by a knotted bandana and wearing overalls, were older versions of the young woman thrusting up a 'We Can Do It' fist in the iconic 1940s Rosie the Riveter poster.

Tinker, a former Ms. Senior Columbus, quit high school and left her home in a West Virginia coal camp to join the National Youth Administration, which taught young women how to work in defense plants. She and her sister, Hope, who later joined the Women's Army Corps, worked at Patterson Airfield in Dayton, Ohio, repairing B-25 aircraft that had been shot at overseas.

Minton, who turns 91 this year, is the resident Rosie the Riveter at FDR's Little White House. She was a bucker and riveter at Doak Aircraft Co., in Torrance, California, where she worked on bomb bay doors for Douglas A-26 Invader aircraft. Her grandmother, mother, an aunt and a sister were Rosies.

The battle of Iwo Jima has special significance for both Minton and Tinker.

One of Tinker's two brothers who fought in World War II was killed at Iwo Jima, and Minton's late husband was one of the battle's survivors.

Tinker, a musician and singer, wrote a song, Gold Star Mother, in honor of her brother. She played the guitar and sang the song at Riverplace while Minton stood next to her.

Ulrich, 96 this year, was one of six people who opened Lawson Field at Fort Benning in 1942. She began working at the Fort Benning Hospital in 1941. Her late husband was a World War II veteran.

Ulrich and Rosie the Riveters were honored in Culinary Treasures for the Queen of Battle, a cookbook published several years ago by the National Infantry Museum.

Liparota, was part of an assembly line of workers who produced 40 mm shells at Monroe Auto Equipment in Monroe, Michigan. Her late husband was a World War II, Korean War and Vietnam veteran. A photo of Liparota, her husband and son can be seen on the desk in the orderly room at the National Infantry Museum's World War II Street.

Juanice Still, who turns 91 this year, quit college during the war to take over a country school that lost its teacher when he went off to war. Her late husband and brother, who was inducted into the 2014 Georgia Military Veterans' Hall of Fame, were World War II veterans.

Faye Johnson Edwards, who turns 91 this year, worked as a Rosie the Riveter at American Hammer and Piston Ring in Baltimore, Maryland. She is also a World War II veteran who served overseas as a member of the Women's Army Corps.

Several Family members and friends of the Rosie the Riveters were part of the Women's History Month gathering.

Female descendants of Rosie the Riveters are called Rosebuds and spouses and male descendants are called Rivets.