During World War II, Nell Young worked in the Wayne Wright Shipyard in Panama City, Florida. Her job as a welder required great strength as she had to weld in every direction. She got a lot of pleasure out of her work but was happy to give up her job when the men came back after the war. During the war, she also helped by picking up scraps, cans, pieces of wire and rubber and brought them to a recycling center so that they could be put to use in war production.