In remembrance of the women who served in
the US Women's army Corps 14th WAC Army band, women of the 400th, 401st, 402nd, 403rd and 404th
world war ll bands who paved the way. Thank you for your service and dedication You will be missed. It was
an honor serving with all of you that I knew.
AMAZING GRACE
Performed
by
US
Navy band
Patriotic Salute to the Military Family Album
The Precious gift
One gift, above all others
God gives to us to treasure
One that knows no time, no place
And one gold cannot measure
The precuous, poignant, tender gift
of
memory-- that will keep
our dear ones ever in our hearts.
Although God gives them sleep
It brings back long remembered
things
a
song, a word, a smile
and our world's a better place
Because we had them for a while
14th Women's Army Corps Band
WOJG Katherine Allen-Laura Lee Armel-Ruth Anderson-Sid Amer-Christine
Bamberger-Evelyn Beauchamp-Kay Baker -Beverly Boyle- Peggy Foster Boyle- SGM Patricia Browning 1994-SP4 Kathy McAllister Blount
2004- SFC Wanda Jean Blair 1986-SP5 Thelma Lee Bryant 2011- Quinetta Brown-Cooper-SP4 Cindy E.Clark 2011-SFC Velma Calcio
1992- Sara Conklin- SFC Rosella Collins 2003- Sue Dawson 2011-Florence Deltfo-Carla Dunn- Rose Davis- LTC Joyce Eslick 2010-Beverly
Falck-SSG Ardyce Gregor 2011- Gladys Grimm Graham- Donny Gray- Lucille Clemons Granger- 1SG Janet Helker-
Sue Hesler- SFC Sue Horne 2012- SGT Debra Karns 2004- SFC Majorie Kimmel 2003-Leslie Locke- MSG Delores Mattox
2007- Sandra McPhate- Francis Carroll McPhail- Marsha Parker- 1SG Margaret Clemensen Overstreet 2003- Laura
Liz Powel-Kitty Potts- Joyce Rupert- Freda Rose- SGT Mary Silvis-Sandy Sollecito-SFC Dora Schondel 1984-Sheilia
Slayton- Betty Schwetter-Eva Jo Sever- Joan Thompson-SGT Kathy Tapp 2010 - Elaine VanDalwyck--SP4 Kay Withers 2009-Jane Wheeler-SSG
Audrey Zenor 1977-
Funeral services for SFC, Ret Sue Jo Horne, 75, of Belton are scheduled
for 1:00 pm Monday, April 30, 2012, at Heartfield Funeral Home Chapel. Interment with full military honors will be in Bellwood
Memorial Park.
Sue was born on September 27, 1936 at San Saba, Texas to the late Thomas Lloyd and Helen L. (Brown)
Horne. She was educated in Belton and Wurzburg, Germany and attended San Antonio College, University of Maryland and Louisiana
Tech.
In 1957 Sue joined the US Army at San Antonio and served 21½ years retiring on May 31, 1979 as Sgt. First Class
at Fort Polk, LA. She was a Life Member of the Association of United Army, NCO Association D.A.V., and W.A.C. Veterans Association,
V.F.W., Charter Member of the Women in the Military Memorial, Women in the Army Museum, Charter Member of the US Arm Museum,
Army Historical Society and AARP. She died Sunday at her home in Belton.
Preceding her in death were her father, Thomas
L. Horne; step-father, James J. Mikkelson; mother, Helen Horne Mikkleson; two brothers, Lloyd Butch Horne and John L. Horne.
Survivors include her sister–in–laws Mitzi Horne of Point, Tx; Linda Horne of Allen; nephews, Chris Horne
of Richardson, Jason Horne of Dallas, Derek Horne of Allen; nieces Melanie Bulls of Temple, Melissa Thompson of Harker Heights
and great-niece, Dyrkia Lee Garcia Sevilla of El Paso.
The family will receive friends from m 6-8 pm Sunday, April
30, 2012 at the funeral home.
Should friends desire memorials may be made to American Heart Association, American
Cancer Association or the American Lung Association.
Sue was a saxophone player with the 14th Army Wac band from 1957
to 1963.She retiired while serving with the 5th infantry Mechanized Division, Fort Polk LA in 1979. She attended WAC aniversary
reunions and was a lively participant in the WAC ban reuion concerts.
Thelma served in the 14th Women's army corps band as a saxophone
player 1970-1973. She passed away in at the Life Care Center of Reno from Breast Cancer in Reno NV, she is
survived by a son Trevor Bryant. Daughter of James D Bryant and Marilyn Kennedy Bryant. Thelma had 16 years of eduation,
she was a bar tender in Reno NV.
photo courtesy Greenquest Video Productions www.greenquestvideo.com
She joined the army in 1968 from Leeds ND, She rapidly became the WAC bands principal vocialist
and was also a accomplished keyboard and woodwind player.
She was both a gymnast and a swimmer, went to college with a vocal major, and played anything that
had a reed on it. A bearcat in rehearsal, she was one of the most laid back performers on stage . After ten years, she left
the Army and became an RN. She returned to her home state and that is where she is now. A good NCO, a monster musician, and
a friend to many of us.
she had a driver's license at age 11. She said the crops didn't care how old you were when it came
time to bring them in from the field
Blue preferred to play oboe or English Horn. Bass or alto clarinet came next. If it had a reed,
Blue could play it. She left the Army after 10 years as a SSG. She also was a great keyboard player (played with the combo and
the dance band) and percussion player - things like cymbals on the march, or mallet stuff in concert band. she had
been thought of as always 1. singer, 2. oboe for concert band, 3. keyboard for combo and dance band, and 4. cymbal
player on the march and mallet player in concert band - in that order.
Cindy Clark 54, daughter of Russell Clark and Virginia Clark (Mason)
Brett passed away peacefully at her home on 13 Naggragansett Drive, Plymouth MA. She was a Member of the 14th Army band at
Ft McClellan AL as a trombone player. She graduated from basic Training in 1978, CO A 1st Bn at Ft McClellan AL and she served
a tour of duty in Korea 2nd Infantry Divison Band at Camp Casey in 1981. She attended the Army School of music basic course,
which was once open only for the men. She finished her service at the rank of Spec E-4.
At the time the WAC band was
being disbanded and reorganized to have both female and male musicians, She never really got to play with the 14th Women's
Army Corp's band.
she entered the US Army in 1978, at the very end of the era of the Women's Army Corps and the WAC
Band. She was stationed with the 14th Army Band at Fort McClellan, Alabama, where the WAC Band was stationed for decades.
She undoubtedly heard of the heritage of the WAC Band, and may have made acquaintance with former WAC Band women members while
she was stationed there.
She mentioned that when she attended the WAC Band reunion at Ft McClellan in 2006, and
got to perform with them , she knew then how it felt to be part of the WAC band and play along side her band sisters. She
really love her band and looked forward to going to the next reunion in Oct 2012.
Services for Cindy will be on 10
Dec at 1pm at her church and Inurnment will be inside her church's columbarium, she was a member of Christ Episcopal church
149 Court street in Plymouth MA. Cindy was a member of the church choir and Womans club.
Cindy was from Marshfield,
MA, she graduated from Marshfield High School in 1975, she attended Rochester Institute of Technology, and she had worked
at Richards Micro Tool, Inc. She is survived by her mother Virginia Clark Brett of Plymouth MA and a Aunt Mrs Barbara Davis
of CT and her cousin Donna Keenan, Her good friend Donna Townsend and numberous friends from her Face Book group and the Women's
Army Corp's Band.
Cindy was informally made an honorary member of the Women's Army Corps Band when she attended the
reunion and played in the reunion concert in 2008, and she was welcomed with open arms.
(Obit created with information provided by the WAC BAND members)
Kathryn Louise 61, passed away on June 29, 2010 in Claremore,
OK. She was born on June 29, 1949, in New Orleans, LA, daughter Cecil and Ruth HenriettaTapp. She was a member
of the Women's Army Corp's band WAC band . A memorial service will be at 2:00 PM on Thursday, July 8, 2010, at Ft.
Gibson National Cemetery. Arrangements provided by Cremation Society of Oklahoma, Tulsa, OK. Graveside memorial service 2
p.m. July 8, Fort Gibson National Cemetery, Fort Gibson. Cremation Society, Tulsa.
Photo Courtesy of Dyamix Productions www.wacband.com
LTC Joyce E. Eslick
31 Aug 1929- 31 Dec 2010
Company Commander Wac Band
FT McClellan AL
1964-1966
findagrave photo volunteer: Louise)
Roane Memorial Gardens
Rockland TN
photo: G. William Whitworth Jr find a grave voluneer
Joyce E. Eslick, Lt. Col., U.S. Army, Ret., 81, died December 31,
2010 in Seattle, WA. Born to Lewis and Selma Eslick in Huntsville, AL on August 31, 1929, Joyce moved to Tennessee with her
family and graduated from Roane County High School in Kingston. She attended U.T. and received her B.A. at the University
of Washington. Joyce joined the WAC as an enlisted person and after attending OCS increased in rank until her retirement as
Lt. Col.
Among her many accomplishments, Lt. Col. Eslick was the company commander of the 14th Women's Army Corps
Band and the first female liaison officer to the S. Vietnam Women's Army. She served her country in both the Far East and
in Europe during war and peace. she received the Bronze Star medal in 1972 and the Joint Services Commendation medal for achievement.
Lt.
Col. Eslick is preceded in death by her parents, sister-in-law Jo Eslick, brother-in-law Anthony Keko, and several nieces
and nephews.
She is survived by her brother, Gerald Eslick of Lenoir City TN , sister Peggie Keko of Paint Rock TN
, niece, Neocca (Lynn) Liles, nephew Peter (Elizabeth) Keko; aunt Mary Jo (Dale) Smith, beloved friend, companion and caretaker
of more than 35 years, Clydean McCarn, Seattle, WA, several great nieces, nephews and cousins, her extended family the members
of the WAC Band and all the Women of the Army, active and retired, who befriended and supported her during her adult Life
and her years of illness.
Funeral 7:30pm Tuesday January 11, 2011 in the Kyker Chapel. Burial 11am Wednesday with
Military Honors at the Roane Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6 until 7:30pm Tuesday at the Kyker Funeral
Home in Kingston.
Kathy J. McAllister Blount. passed away on May 29, 2010
after a courageous battle against cancer. She was born November 21, 1951 at Fort Lee, Virginia. Kathy lived in the El Paso
area and graduated from Parkland High School in 1970. Kathy
was a member of the 14th Women's Army Corp's Band. She followed in her mother's footsteps, who also served in the Army WAC
band stationed at Fort McClellan, AL the home to the Army Corp Basic Training and School.
Kay passed away 21 Sept 2009 in Seatlle after a brave
fight with cancer. She was born Nov. 29, 1949, in Fort Worth, Texas, to John and Evelyn Withers. She came to Alaska in 1955
and experienced some of Alaska's significant events including statehood in 1959 and the 1964 earthquake.
Kay displayed
a talent for music at an early age. In seventh grade, she began playing the tenor saxophone. Kay excelled at it and played
in the honor band at Central Junior High School. She graduated from West High School in 1968.
After completing one
year at the University of Alaska Anchorage, she joined the Women's U.S. Army Corps Band in 1970 and toured throughout the
United States. A memorable moment was performing before her paternal grandmother and other family members in Texas. She was
honorably discharged and returned home to her studies at UAA.
In 1975, Kay represented UAA at the Miss Alaska Pageant
and stunned the audience with her tenor sax performance. She graduated from UAA with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology.
She
began working at Cal Worthington Ford in 1980, and for almost 29 years, she greeted customers in person and over the phone.
Many customers recognized her voice and knew her first name.
During the late '70s and early '80s, Kay continued to
play sax with several Anchorage bands. On a company-sponsored cruise, she entered the ship's talent contest and won first
place - for her singing! She also won numerous awards at the Fur Rendezvous Miners and Trappers balls for her spectacular
costumes.
Kay will be remembered for her warm smile and gentle, generous spirit. She loved animals and always had pets.
She also loved to shop for special gifts for family and friends.
Dokey enlisted in the Women's Army Corps in 1961 and retired from
the U.S. Army in 1982 as M/Sgt. Played sax in the Army band for 8 years, then was in logistics for the remaining time. She
grew up in Long Beach, CA, attending Whittier Elementary, Hamilton Jr. Hi, and Poly High School. She was a long-time member
of Girl Scout Troop 28, and attended reunions until she died. She was a friend for a lifetime.
Staff Sgt Deborah Rae Karns , 55 of Robinwood Drive, Clarion PA,
died Friday, April 2, 2004, at the Washington VA Medical Center in Washington DC. She was born Oct 4, 1948, in Kittanning
PA and was the daughter of Ray Karns, who survives in Clarion, and Louise Ann (Harvey) Karns, who preceded her in death on
Mar 5, 1999.
Staff Sgt Karns,served in the US Army and she served in the Women's Army Corps as a medic, receiving the
Army Service ribbon, National defense service medal, Bronze star, Army reserve components Achievement medal, Overseas service
ribbon, Good Conduct medal, Army Achievement medal and Army Commendation medal.
She was a member of the 14th US WOMEN'S
ARMY CORPS BAND 1970-1976- Tuba player, Ft McClellan AL.
Sandy McPhate, born around 1940, was a clarinet player who joined
the Women's Army Corps Band at Fort McClellan, Alabama in 1957 or 1958. She was from Pasadena, Texas. In 1974
or 1975, Sandy was transferred to the 214th Army Band at Fort McPherson, GA. She retired from there in 1981 and returned
to Pasadena, Texas, where she died after a long illness in 2002.
It is hard to say what Sandy was truly like because she let very
few people get close to her, and, it seemed to many, that she went out of her way to keep people at a distance. She
was a woman of few words, but was very wise and intelligent, and very particular in her ways. Whenever Sandy had
something to say everyone paid attention, and with just a look, she could strike fear into the hearts of her subordinates.
She could be strict and unapproachable, and many people found her to be difficult to work with.
Yet, underneath it all, she really had a heart of gold, though she
did not always let it shine through. One WAC Band member said of Sandy that she was patient with anyone when the subject
was music, but at other times, and with other subjects - not so much. Another WAC Band member said that Sandy could
be kind, a sweetheart, and quite a gal, when the spirit moved her. But getting though the public persona she projected
as strict, tough and mean was hard. It is believed that Sandy's favorite things, as far as is known, were music and
animals. It is suspected that Sandy loved animals more than people, which is not a bad thing. Sandy loved dogs,
and raised shelties during her time at Fort McClellan. One of the WAC Band commanders commented that Sandy introduced
her to shelties, and she bought one of Sandy's dogs. She said she will always be grateful to Sandy for bringing so much joy
into her life. Sandy also had some artistic talent. She willingly designed a very nice certificate for the WAC
Band that was given out to
many departing band members.
When it was learned that the Women's Army Corps Band would be inactivated
and women and men would serve together in regular Army bands, Sandy was transferred to the 214th Army (Forces Command) Band
at Fort McPherson, Georgia, around 1974, where she was promoted to E8, Master Sergeant. Having women forced by the Army
into previously all male bands was not received well in any of the Army bands in the 1970s. The transition was hard
for the women, as well, because not only were they not welcome, but they had to deal with rampant institutional sexual harassment,
abuse and discrimination. Through the sheer force of her personality, MSG Sandy McPhate more than stood her ground.
She stood up for what was right, and fought for fair and equal treatment for the women in the band in a frequently hostile
climate that discriminated against women.
MSG Sandy McPhate will be remembered with respect and honor by those
who served with her, and especially by the members of the Women's Army Corps Band.
Obit created by information from the WAC band and composed
by MSG Melinda Whitman USA Ret.
She wrote the music score for the Pallas Anthena March, performed
by the 14th Womens Army Corps band. Lois Jay Kaplan, A Decorated WAC officer was also musician, poet she never paid much attention
to the opinions of others.Her generation told her that women didn't serve in the military. But she enlisted in the Women's
Army Corps and was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
Her childhood music teacher told her that she didn't have any talent
and should stop taking lessons. But she mastered more than 20 instruments, even playing the trombone in an adult orchestra
at age 14 .Ms. Kaplan, 69, died Friday, July 6,2001 of pneumonia and Alzheimer's disease in Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas.
Nicknamed
"Sunny" in grade school because of her cheerful demeanor, Ms. Kaplan approached life the way she did her work in the military:
She made long lists of goals and methodically worked toward meeting them.
"At her house, she would be working on 10
different projects," said her nephew, Bryan Brooks, who spent summers with her in Alabama, where she was stationed at Ft.
McClellan in Anniston.
Brooks was one of her projects. She taught him to play the trumpet, piano and chess. When he
lacked direction in high school, she encouraged him to take challenging classes. "She knew how to light a fire under you,"
he said. "She motivated you by example, by showing you how to succeed."
Ms. Kaplan attended Marshall High School on
the city's West Side. After graduating from DePaul University, she traveled to Europe to produce shows for U.S. Army troops
stationed there. In 1961, she returned to the United States to finish her first master's degree, in recreation administration,
at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Later she received a master's in humanities at Jacksonville State University in
Alabama.
She was always drawn to the military, and in 1963 joined the WACs, which was created during World War II to
enlist women as auxiliaries for noncombatant duty. She was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and Meritorious Service Medal.
When the WACs were dissolved in 1978, she served in the reserves at Ft. McClellan, where she managed recreation facilities
until retiring in 1986.
Ms. Kaplan held offices in numerous community organizations, worked as a Chicago public school
teacher, won music and sports competitions, sculpted and set up a woodworking studio in her basement. Under the name "Suka,"
which was a combination of Sunny and Kaplan, she published poems, stories and songs, including an official WAC march. In her
spare time, she was a pool player, master gardener and gourmet cook.
In the early 1990s she divided her time between
her home in Oxford, Ala., and Tallahassee, Fla., where she was working toward a doctorate in music and humanities at Florida
State University. When her Alzheimer's symptoms worsened in 1998, she moved to Willow Creek Nursing Home in Las Vegas to be
near her sister, Marion Brooks.
Source: July 12, 2001|By Sarah E. Richards, Tribune staff reporter
Sgt.
Mary Alice Silvis from Greensburg, Pa. served in the WAC from 1950 to 1954. She
auditioned for an Army band position with Major Chester Whiting, commander of
the Army Field Forces Band at Fort Meade, Md. She was a member of
the 14th Army Band (WAC) under band director Warrant Officer Junior Grade Katherine
V. Allen. She died Apr. 28, 2000
photo: Mary Ann Baggett Ferguson find a grave volunteer
SGM US ARMY
Weaver Al, Private graveside services for retired
Sgt Major Patricia R Browing 66, of 900 Ridge Drive, Weaver, will be Friday at 10 am, with Chapel Hill funeral home in charge.
The family will recieve friends at the funeral home from 7 to 9 thurday tonight. Miss Browning died Tuesday at her home
Survivors
include her mother, Margaret Browning of Anderson IND, three sisters, Kathyrn Browning of Wasgington DC, Dixie Browning of
Anniston and Carol Browning of Anderson, a brother Roy J Browning of Forth Worth Texas.
An Elyria Ohio native, Miss
Browning was a 1945 graduate of Anderson High school and attended Jacksonville state university for music theory courses.
She took her basic training at Ft McClellan Al from Oct to Dec 1954.
She was assigned to the 14th Army Wac band from
1954 to Apr 1974, where she was a First Sgt with the band from 1966 to 1974. She was assigned to the 214 Army Band forces
command from Apr 1974- to Sept 1976 at Ft McPherson GA and retired from the army in 1976 as a Sergeant Major enlisted band
leader of the 214 Army band forces command, now known as the Army ground Forces band.
SGM Browning was awarded the
Good conduct medal 1st through the 7th award, the National defence service medal, Meritorious service medal and the Legion
of merit medal. She was a member of the WAC veteran asssociation chapter 62, Amercian Legion post 57 of Jacksonville Al and
retired military musicians and NAUS.
SFC Wanda Jean Blair joined the Women's Army corp in 1954. After
completing basic training at Ft McClellan Al, she went directly to the 14th Women's army corps band stationed at Ft McClellan
Al. She was a Trumpet player and a Bugler and also a featured member of the brass section.
On 15 Oct 1967, SFC Blair
re-enlisted for 6 more years, she was given the oath of enlistment by her Wac Band Company Commander 1LT Frances A. Austad.
During SFC Blair's career, she received three Good conduct medals, the 3rd award was presented to her by LTC Sue Lynch, Commander
of the WAC CENTER in Nov 1963.
Wanda had either six or seven awards of the Good Conduct Medal by the time she retired.
She was a neat, neat lady and a monster trumpet player. Sgt (as in E-5) Blair got the third award of the GCM, meaning she
had been in the Army over nine years. Promotions in the Band were really hard to come by.
Wanda's highest rank was
SFC, E7. She was trumpet section leader to many of the band members late 1960s and 1970s era trumpet players, and was one
of the NCOs who auditioned trumpet playing basic trainees for possible acceptance into the WAC Band.
She was a strict
disciplinarian to her trumpeters and demanded high standards of appearance in the wear of the uniform and personal grooming,
and, also, that her section practiced and knew their music at all times. But as strict as she was as an NCO, there was another
side to her - that of a "mother hen". Especially for the younger band members, Wanda was always available as a problem solver,
or just to have someone to talk to. She always made the band smile while listening to her warm, West Virginia accent, and
her frequent use of the word "darlin'" in every conversation.
Wanda was concerned about always providing a professional
appearance when playing trumpet. And she was unique in that she had her mouthpiece bent, so that when she played in marching
band or for military funerals, the trumpet would be parallel to the ground and not pointing downward. One of the missions
of the band during the Vietnam War era of the late 1960s and early 1970s, was to provide buglers to accompany all male Army
firing squads and pall bearers for military funerals in Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia. Although she didn't have to since
she was Section Leader,
Wanda took on the bulk of the funerals as bugler herself, in order to spare the younger trumpeters
the sexual harassment and abuse that was wide spread in the 1970s Army. She did so quietly and uncomplainingly. In the bands
eyes, she is a hero for doing that!
Wanda was a highly respected member of the Women's Army Corps Band, a good
and effective NCO and Trumpet player, and a really good person with a big heart and warm smile, who was loved and respected
by all who knew her, and very much missed.
(Obit created by information provided by the WAC BAND)
Audrey Marie Zenor - born March 1947. Died as a result of a one car
roll over crash, in which she was driving, at night in the state of Tennessee, in November 1977. She was 30 years old. Her
parents were Russell and Audrey Marie Zenor of Manchester, New Hampshire. Audrey had several brothers and sisters. The family
was raised Catholic. Her parents met while they both served in the Navy during World War II. Audrey attended the University
of New Hampshire at one time. It is not known if she received a degree. It is thought she entered the US Army and the Women's
Army Corps in the late 1960s, probably 1968 or 1969. After graduation from WAC basic training she was accepted into the Women's
Army Corps Band as a clarinet player MOS 02J. Audrey also played saxophone, but her primary instrument was clarinet.
Audrey was short in stature, but tall in intellect. When not playing
clarinet in concert and marching band, she could always be found reading a book, having a cup of coffee, smoking a cigarette,
and humming. She was a quiet person, but had a disarming dry wit. And she was not afraid to speak up to express a well thought
out opinion, or to befriend a new band member, to point out and correct something that was wrong, and defend another band
member, especially standing up for those of lesser rank. Audrey was well liked and respected.
When it became clear
that the Women's Army Corps Band was to be inactivated, Audrey knew that she did not want to serve in other Army bands or
go overseas. She had established her home in the Anniston, Alabama area. She left the Army as a Staff Sergeant, E-6 in December
1976. She worked for a friend who owned a gas station in downtown Anniston before her fatal accident.
Audrey was
loved and respected by all who knew her, and her sudden death deeply shocked and saddened her former WAC Band members, and
devastated her family. She will be remembered and treasured as a member of the Women's Army Corps Band.
(Obit created from information provided by members of the WAC BAND and Melinda Whitman))
Band master Camp Lee. A graduate of Juillard school of music, was welcomed 5 March 1949 along with
10 band members by the Wac Training Center commander, several months later 16 more members joined the unit. WO Allen
later formed small groups, A dance band, dixieland jazz band, barber shop quartet. She complete her tour in 1952 and
was replaced by then 2nd LT Alice V Peters, who maintained that position until 1961.
SGT Smith was the Army's first female bugler while a member of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps
in 1942 at Fort Des Moines, Iowa.
from 1942 to 1943 She was part of the WAAC training center's band, whose purpose
was to recruit women for the WAAC (later renamed the Women's Army Corps) and train band members for posts that were opening
in other states. Smith said she joined the Army because she wanted to help save the country.
Longtime Sutherlin resident
Donna-Mae (Baldenecker) Burr, Smith, a WWII Veteran and the First Woman Bugler in the United States Military, passed away
in Roseburg, Oregon on April 3, 2010. She was 90 years old.
She was born on January 3, 1920 in Manly Iowa. From 1935-1938
she played trumpet with the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M) Company band and in the Payne Avenue and Brown and Bigelow
Drum and Bugle Corp. She graduated from High School in St. Paul Park, Minnesota in 1938 and went on to attended Minneapolis
School of Music, Univ. of Minnesota and Pierce College.
In 1942 she enlisted in the military to play in the military
band. She rose to the rank of Sergeant while serving in the WAAC Band from 1942–1943 as solo trumpet at Fort Des Moines,
Iowa where she earned honor of first woman bugler in the U.S. Military. She awakened the troops with reveille, sounded the
calls for the day and played taps in the evening.
Donna-Mae held the position of Sr. Financial Manager with the Los
Angeles Board of Education for 14 years. Donna-Mae married Edgar H. Smith in December 1964, and in 1969, they moved to the
Placerville, California area, where she established a successful fruitcake business known as "Donna's Delight". At that time,
she was employed by the El Dorado County Auditing Dept.
Donna-Mae became a member of the American Legion, Post 15
(Oakland, Oregon) and also served as Post Commander. She was a member of American Women Veterans Association, and AMVETS.
Donna-Mae was a member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha International Sorority, Beta Iota Chapter for over 55 years and was also a member
of the Eastern Star. . She played taps with the VFW Honor Guard for veteran's funerals in the Roseburg area since 1992. In
June, 2009 she was inducted into the Bugler's Hall of Fame.
Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, April 7,
2010 at 2:00 pm at the Roseburg VA National Cemetery. . Military Rites will be offered by the VFW District Twelve Honor Guard
She was born Nov. 29, 1920 in Berlin, Oregon the daughter of Perry and Nellie (Canaga) Ginther.
Lois graduated from Lebanon High School in 1938 and then attended the University of Oregon, graduating in 1942 with a Bachelor's
Degree in Music. Lois then took her first music teaching job in Silverton in 1942.
In 1943, she entered the Women's
Army Corps., where she traveled throughout the United States with the 400th ASF Band. While playing in the Four Freedoms Bond
Tour, Lois and the band welcomed home General Dwight D. Eisenhower. She was discharged on September 27, 1945.
She married
James Abrell on Oct. 22, 1944 in Lebanon, Oregon. They settled in Lebanon and raised their family. Lois taught music for the
Lebanon Public Schools until retiring in 1981. Mr. Abrell preceded her in death on January 31, 2002.
Lois was a lifelong
member of the Lebanon First Christian Church. She was also active in the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary; she
was past president of both the American Legion Auxiliary Santiam Post 51 & District #3. She had been involved with numerous
activities and committees with the Linn County Veterans Association, 40/8, and VFW and was Linn County Veteran of the year
in 1972 and 1998. Lois had been named Lebanon Citizen of the Year and later Lebanon Senior Citizen of the Year. She was Past
Worthy Matron of the Marguerite Chapter # 60 Order of the Eastern Star, Past Worthy High Priestess of Cedars of Lebanon White
Shrine of Jerusalem #9. Lois has bugled at hundreds of funerals, flag ceremonies, and other veteran's events in her life.
Lois was known and will be remembered for her love of her family, her country and her Lord.
Helen Berg- Mary Currier- Roseta Wheeler Davis- Marjorie Devore-
Leah Snyder Hensel- Eleanor A. Hawke 2012- Martha Kostakos- Mary Kostakos Mary Marshall-- Marianne Stayton Parks-ArleneSorrells-
Midlred Bush Silver-
Mary J. Alamillo, 88, of 600 Laurel Street, Lee, formerly of Hillsdale,
NY, died Sunday at Laurel Lake Center in Lee.
She was born in Hillsdale, NY on October 7, 1921 the daughter of Robert
and Mary Brown Dodds and was a 1940 graduate of the former Roeliff Jansen High School in Hillsdale, NY. In 1942, she graduated
from Hillcrest School Nursing in Pittsfield.
She served as a WAC in the U.S. Army During WWII, serving from 1943 until
1946, and was discharged with the rank of Tec 5.
After the service, she began working at Fairview Hospital in Great
Barrington in the Maternity Ward, retiring in 1989.
