Danella Raworth Conway’s Story Highlighted By ERDC During Women’s History Month

You may not know the name Danella Raworth Conway, but she and others like her are key players in the history of the Waterways Experiment Station (WES), today known as ERDC headquarters.

During World War II, many of the men overseeing and executing research endeavors at WES in Vicksburg, Mississippi, were either drafted or volunteered for military duty, leaving behind their ongoing research projects. Several key and pioneering research projects at WES during the war included vital hydrological research that aided in the Allies’ successful D-Day landings.

Facing vacancies in various positions at WES, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers enlisted the assistance of women from the Vicksburg community, one of which was Conway, who served as a junior engineering aide.

Her contributions proved essential in keeping critical research at the facility moving forward. From operating sand seepage models to conducting hydrometer analyses of soil, the work she and others did were pivotal in investigations, including the control of levee seepage and the design of drainage systems.

After the war, Conway served as a schoolteacher at a small country school near her home in Eagle Lake, Mississippi. Transitioning to the role of librarian at Grove Street Elementary in Vicksburg, Conway continued to impact lives through her dedication to learning.

Her legacy serves as a reminder of the countless women who contributed to the war effort before charting new paths in the post-war era, embodying the spirit of determination and adaptability.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we pay tribute to trailblazers like Danella Raworth Conway.