Lucy T. Elliot was born in 1924. Her father was Dennis Toups. There were five girls and two boys in the family. Her mother had triplets, but they died. Her father and one brother who passed away. Additionally, one sister, Joyce Carmoush [Annotator's Note: unsure of spelling] along with her husband, Ashton Carmoush passed away. They were the parents of Elliot's niece, Carmen. [Annotator's Note: The niece, Carmen, accompanied Elliot on the interview.] Elliot left Donner [Annotator's Note: Donner, Louisiana] to live with her aunt when she was 16 years old. She took her first job with a meat packing company, L.A. Frey and Son. From there, she went to work for Flintco off of St. Claude and Poland Avenue [Annotator's Note: in New Orleans, Louisiana]. She worked where the tar paper was manufactured. She wanted to leave that firm but could not do so for 30 days. She was penalized because the product she helped produce was for the government. She next went to Delgado School for six weeks in order to learn to be a burner [Annotator's Note: one who cuts steel with a cutting or burning torch which combines oxygen with a highly inflammable gas to create an intense flame to melt the steel]. She learned to use an acetylene torch that combined with oxygen to create a flame to cut metal. She practiced by cutting scrap steel. The foremen would observe the trainees in order to select the burners they wanted for their crew. They had to qualify before they could become a burner on the tank-lighter vessel [Annotator's Note: landing craft capable of deploying tanks to the beachhead]. Elliot and a few other ladies were lucky enough to pass muster. She worked in the fabrication department with other females. A crane operator brought steel to the burners for them to cut. The shipfitters would do a layout of the side of the vessel to be cut from the steel sheet. The women burners would use their torches to cut the section out of the plate. When they finished, they took a break while another sheet of steel was brought to their work area for them to cut. They worked for eight hours cutting the steel on their knees and then taking a break while another plate came to them. By the time the section got to the end of the line in the huge building, the tank-lighter was complete. The building was on the Industrial Canal in Gentilly. At times, Elliot would also be assigned to work on the ramps for the landing crafts. That was referred to by the workers as "the spider." Elliot also worked on manholes on cargo ships. Her boss, Mr. Maxwell [Annotator's Note: no given name provided], would temporarily loan her out for that burning job. Elliot's work was so efficient that hardly anything had to be done to it as a follow-up. She made few mistakes. She went on to work for a Russian supervisor in the torpedo tube shop. Her job was to cut the braces for the saddles that held the tubes. Higgins [Annotator's Note: Andrew Jackson Higgins owned Higgins Industries] was making the tube or casings for the torpedoes destined for Russia. Testing was done in the Industrial Canal to assure that the firing mechanisms worked properly. The test torpedoes were retrieved from the Canal. She came to work in the war production effort because of her patriotism. Her brother, Julius, was in the service at the time. She made more money at Higgins than she had made at her previous employment. After two years on the job, she was promoted to first class burner. Her salary went to one dollar and 25 cents [Annotator's Note: per hour]. She thought she was a "big dog." [Annotator's Note: Elliot laughs.]

Lucy Elliot enjoyed the work at Higgins Industries. They had fun because they were doing something important for the soldiers. They were doing their part and never missed a day of work. Elliot worked overtime with the electricians and the welders after her shift. She went to the location where cargo ships were being constructed. The electricians wanted her to do the burning of small, precise holes for them. She had good eyes to see where the center-punch markings were. She worked with them on cutting holes in the steel structure so that electrical cable could be routed through the steel. Before the cable was run, a piece of steel called a nipple had to be installed in the penetration so that the cable would pass through it. She did that work from 11 at night to seven in the morning. She worked 16 hours a day when she did the extra shift. Higgins worked 24 hours a day. Elliot generally worked five days a week with an occasional sixth day. Some men who were not in the service worked seven days a week. Elliot worked in the fabrication department. There were six ladies doing the burning, three on each side. Elliot and some of her coworkers possessed specially designed and fabricated tips for their torches. The tips had been made for very precise and efficient cutting. The tips were produced in the shop by a friend of one of Elliot's friends. The burners could really put out some work with the specially devised tip. Others wanted a similar tip, but the burners never revealed their source in the shop. Elliot guarded the secret with her life. When she was laid off, she had to turn in her equipment. Whoever got the special tip received a good thing. Elliot enjoyed her work. She started working at Higgins when she was 17 years old. It was after war broke out in 1941. She started in 1942 and worked until VJ-Day [Annotator's Note: Victory Over Japan Day, 15 August 1945]. Her brother, Julius Toups, was in the service during that time. He served in France and crossed the Rhine River into Germany. His regiment crossed the river at the wrong location and had to return to France and then cross into Germany again at the right place. Her brother did not talk too much about his service. The same was true for her father [Annotator's Note: Elliot points to Carmen, her niece, who accompanied Elliot on the interview] who also did not discuss his experiences. They had devastating things in their memories that they attempted to forget. Elliot's uncle and godfather, Joseph Toups, was in the Navy. Her uncle, John Toups, was in the engineers. Gratefully, they all returned from war safely. Elliot saw Mr. Higgins [Annotator's Note: Andrew Jackson Higgins owned Higgins Industries] when he came to make speeches. The workers enjoyed being employed by him. He sold war bonds. He declared that each employee had to pay a victory tax of a few cents on each dollar earned. The workers were promised that the money would be returned after the war. That did not happen. Higgins was a good man and was respected because he was good to his employees. Everyone working there was nice. The men and the coloreds [Annotator's Note: period reference to African-Americans] all got along. There was no animosity or discrimination. They all knew they had an important task to do. The ladies certainly felt that way. They were glad to be working. The women were there to do their business. Elliot was not involved in any gossip. They worked hard and then went out and ate and drank a few beers. There was nothing discriminatory. Elliot was happy to be doing her part. There were no announcements of the progress of the war at the plant. News only came over the television. A big speech was made about the Hong Kong flu. Everyone in the shop had to get a shot. When Elliot did, she was sick for two weeks afterward. That was the only two weeks of work she missed at Higgins in the three or four years she was employed there. Vacation was an unused word. The employees were there to work. Elliot refuses to take injections since that experience. No matter who requests that she take a shot, she will not do so. [Annotator's Note: Elliot laughs.] Elliot worked on landing craft with a ramp that was referred to as "the spider." It was like a belly that landed below the vessel. [Annotator's Note: She gestures to explain.] It was round and gave support for the soldiers to run off the ramp. When Elliot first heard the word spider, she was frightened. The other workers laughed because it was just a nickname for the structure. It had to be welded to the bottom of the craft. It would land on the beach and help make the craft stable. Elliot never saw any dignitaries that passed through the plant. The workers were too busy to look up. At times, Mr. Maxwell [Annotator's Note: her supervisor] would talk to people, but that was none of her business. She had work to do. It was rewarding. If a bathroom break was needed, they were granted 15 minutes to walk across the shop to reach the facility. At times, lunches would be prepared, but it was for a cost.

Lucy Elliot knew of the area off Gentilly Road where Higgins [Annotator's Note: Andrew Jackson Higgins, owner of Higgins Industries] had a large section of employee housing called Higgins Houses. It was temporary, prefabricated rental housing for those who could not find a place to live. Elliot has not returned to the area since she was laid off. Across the Industrial Canal, there was a place called Morton's where the workers would go after work to eat and drink a few beers. Afterward, they would go to the back and dance until one or two o'clock in the morning. It helped relieve frustration. They would go home after that. Everybody [Annotator's Note: at Higgins] got along. There were no fights. Higgins' son had a different shop location which built speedboats. Elliot had no contact with him or that operation. When the war ended in Europe, there were mixed feelings at the plant. They were happy the war was over, but the Higgins work was ending at the same time. The workers had to draw Social Security at about 20 dollars. Elliot knew she had done her part in the war. She built tank-lighters [Annotator's Note: landing craft capable of deploying tanks to the beachhead] for the war effort. The workers celebrated the peace by going to Morton's and eating, drinking and being merry at the end of the war.

After the war, Lucy Elliot went to work for a motion picture advertising company at 1815 Baronne Street [Annotator's Note: in New Orleans, Louisiana]. She then took a position with the telephone company as a long distance operator. Then, she got crazy and got married to Bama. [Annotator's Note: Elliot laughs. No further name is provided for her first husband.] She thought she was doing right but ended up being married a total of three times. She refuses to get married again. She married Charles Elliot. He was a good husband. They enjoyed hunting and fishing and outdoor activities. He purchased several rifles for her as well as a double action pistol that was one of the first ones made. They frequently hunted together. Most of the time, they used a pirogue to go down the canal to find game. Once, they made an exception because he wanted to go to Violet and find squirrels there. As they walked along, she wore hip boots. When she was about to take a step, he strongly urged her not to move. He saw a rattlesnake under her foot. She was about to step on it. He shot the snake. Elliot vowed never to go hunting in Violet again. Nevertheless, they continued to hunt squirrel and rabbit. She loved it. Now, she has four vices. She drinks. She smokes. She goes to church. She likes to go to the casino. She is happy drinking her Crown and Coke. [Annotator's Note: Elliot laughs.]

Lucy Elliot survived Katrina [Annotator's Note: Hurricane Katrina] in 2005 and then went to live with her niece. They were happy to have a place to live. The National WWII Museum is important for future generations. Elliot had desired to visit long before she had the opportunity. While she traveled on a tour bus to Mississippi, she shared her wartime experiences as a burner at Higgins Industries with a World War 2 veteran. He urged her to go to the Museum and see the exhibits. When she revealed that she was going to be interviewed by the Museum, the veteran was happy for her. The family was excited about the upcoming event. Carmen [Annotator's Note: Elliot's niece] transported her to the interview. She lives with her niece. Elliot was living in the same house when Carmen was born. Teaching World War 2 history to new generations is very important. The efforts of the Museum staff to bring the stories to students helps the next generation know what the veterans went through. If you do not talk about the history, the young people will not learn it. She talked to Blake [Annotator's Note: neither relationship nor surname provided] the previous night about the war and he was interested. It is an honor that the Museum interviewers are taking the time to do what they do with the veterans. It helps young people understand what the veterans went through. The Museum staff is doing an admirable job. Thank goodness Carmen and Don [Annotator's Note: no surnames provided] brought her in for the interview. She felt comfortable during the interview.