W E STC H E STE R WOM E N & WAR P O R T R A I T S 1 9 4 3 – 1 9 4 5
Pvt. Jane Estelle Mooney, enlisted 1944. Brother John, U.S. Army and sister Aileen DeBrocke, WAC
A R M Y F A M I L I E S
Pvt. Frances Calder Emerson, enlisted 1944. Husband Walter, U.S Army, served in England.
I want my brothers home again, that’s why I’m joining the WAC. Pvt. Frances Depole
As World War II raged, Yonkers women took a first-time chance to soldier for their country—they enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps, the WACs.
Pvt. Retta Shaefer, enlisted 1944. Brother Ross, Signal Corps, US Army, sister, Nancy, WAC
Before embarking for posts around the word, the Hudson River Museum joined forces with an artist and an Army officer to capture their likenesses
Pvt. Dorothy Spaulding, enlisted 1945. Brother Ralph killed in action October 1944.
in oil and pastel. Portraits of 70 years ago, they are Lt. Joanne Coates, U.S. Army officer, whose art background inspired her creative recruitment plan to paint the portraits of Yonkers women who enlisted in the WACs.
now an honored part of the Museum’s Permanent
Pvt. Frances Depole, enlisted 1944. Two brothers, Henry and Albert, joined the Army. Albert, died in combat in Italy
Collection. In 2012, the Museum widens its view of women in the military with photographs of 12 contemporary soldiers.
Pvt. Nancy Quartarella, enlisted 1945. Sister, Laura, WAC
Pvt. Kathleen A. Dupree, enlisted 1944. Brother Charles Mayerhofer, Coast Artillery, U.S. Army Pvt. Louise Theresa Bendick, enlisted 1944. Brother John, U.S. Army, served in Germany and Italy.
Tec 4 Irene Helena Wramble, enlisted 1944. Brother, Eugene, U.S. Army, stationed in South Dakota.
Pvt. Jennie George Lee, enlisted 1944. Husband Kenneth, Merchant Marine; brother William Robinson, Navy seaman; stepfather Cpl. Harry Greene, U.S. Army
Pvt. Florence Wallace, enlisted 1944. Brother, George, Medical Corps, U.S. Army
Pvt. Laura Quartarella, enlisted 1944. Sister, Nancy, WAC. Brothers Thomas, Coast Guard, and Nicholas, Army Air Forces, Italy
“ROSIE THE RIVETER”
WO M A N ’ S P L AC E I N WA R
CALLI N G ALL AG E S
Yonkers “Factory Girls” in the War Effort
239 Kinds of Jobs for Women
WACs were required be 21 to 45 years old,
Pvt. Julie Bernadette Topolosky, enlisted 1944. Niece, Marie O’Buck, WAC Brothers, Michael, U.S. Army; Joseph, U.S. Navy
versus ages 18 to 37 years for men soldiers.
Pvt. Rose Untener, enlisted 1945. Born 1925. One of the youngest recruits.
Pvt. June Ewart, enlisted 1944. Air-WACs (Army Air Forces)
Pvt. Marguerite M. Chase, enlisted 1944. GM Eastern Aircraft, North Tarrytown
Pvt. Rachele Caione, enlisted 1944. GM Eastern Aircraft, North Tarrytown
Pvt. Loretta Cahill, enlisted 1943. Alexander Smith & Sons Carpet Co., Yonkers
Pvt. Abigaile Halley, enlisted 1945. Otis Elevator Company, Yonkers
Pvt. Abagail Bovshow, enlisted 1944. Attended the “Yonkers Defense School” to prepare for wartime factory jobs.
Pvt. Evelyn Corey, enlisted 1944. Born 1904. Maid of honor at WAC niece Jean Beerman’s wedding, a two-generation WAC family.
Pvt. Marie Patricia O’Buck, enlisted 1945. Born 1925. Under-age enlistee, joined with parents’ permission.
Pvt. Flora M. Murray, enlisted 1945. Born 1909. A new WAC at age 36, she served in WWII, the Korean War, and became a Smithsonian war historian
Pvt. Gerda Thomas, enlisted 1944. Born 1897. Emigrated from Germany in 1929. Over the enlistment age of 45, she achieved the rank of Technical Sergeant.
Sgt. Lois Wilson, enlisted 1944. Born 1905. At 39, she began, a new WAC, as sergeant and occupational therapist. Post Army, recognized as a prolific Yonkers folk artist.
Pvt. Eleanor Miller Scapoli, enlisted 1944. Born 1912.
Pvt. Anne Bodian, enlisted 1944. Cryptographic Operator, U.S. Army Signal Intelligence Service, Virginia Cpl. Technician Jeanette Henriques, enlisted 1944. GM Eastern Aircraft, North Tarrytown
Pvt. Jeanne S. Solimine, enlisted 1944. Trained nurse
Pvt. Charlotte Harris, enlisted 1945. Otis Elevator Company, Yonkers Pvt. Mary Neary, enlisted 1944. Habirshaw Wire & Cable Company, Yonkers
Pvt. Myra Sessions Zarcone, enlisted 1944. Telephone operator at Army airbase, Whitehorse, Canada
Pvt. Lucretia Grace Antonacci, enlisted 1943. One of the first Yonkers Air-WACs (Army Air Forces) Sgt. Mary Virginia Nardy, enlisted 1943. Telephone operator in France after D-Day
Pvt. Elizabeth Kocis, enlisted 1944. An Air-WAC, she and friend Pvt. Olgee worked at Mitchel Field, Long Island.
Pvt. Mary Kurilecz, enlisted 1944. Surgical Technician Pvt. Helen Harrison, enlisted 1945. Trained nurse Pvt. Camille I. Olgee, enlisted 1944. Her wartime experiences inspired her life-long service in the American Legion as a veteran officer.
Cpl. Helen Organ, enlisted 1945. Born 1924. Joining the WACs at 20 years, she earned the rank of Medical Technician, 5th grade at a West Virginia Army orthopedic hospital.
Sgt. Eva A. Tompkins, enlisted 1943. Born 1921.
Pvt. Alice R. Kelly, enlisted 1945. Born 1910.