Ten Sioux City Women Learn About Army in Waac Centers
Many Hope to See Service Abroad After Training
Studying war maps, military customs and courtesies, protection against air and chemical attacks and other phases of basic training, 10 Sioux City women are learning about army life in Waac training centers.
Auxiliary Bonnie Jean Brodie enlisted the day she became 21, which is the minimum age for entry. She hopes to serve as a nurse’s aid overseas, so that she may serve close to her cousin, Lieut. Gordon Brodie of LeMars, Iowa, who is in an infantry division.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, March 9, 1943 (photo included)
Pvt. Bonnie Brodie, of the W.A.C., is spending an 11-day furlough in the home of her sister, Mrs. Harley Hall. Bonnie is stationed in Des Moines.
Source: LeMars Sentinel, July 30, 1943
PVT. BONNIE BRODIE PUT ON CORPORAL’S STRIPES LAST WEEK
Fort Des Moines, Ia. Oct. 4: Pfc. Bonnie Jean Brodie sewed on her Corporal’s stripes this week, the reward of her excellent record as a member of the Women’s Army Corps. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Brodie of LeMars, Private Brodie went to Administrative School in downtown Des Moines after completing basic training at first WAC Training Center, Fort Des Moines.
Pvt. Brodie is stationed in downtown Des Moines where she is acting supply sergeant for a WAC company at the Savory Hotel.
Her cousin, Lt. Gordon Brodie, is serving with the United States Army overseas.
Source: LeMars Globe-Post, October 4, 1943
Cpl. Bonnie B. Hassebroek, of LeMars, has been awarded the Good Conduct Medal. She is stationed at First WAC Training Center, Fort Des Moines, Iowa. This was one of the first awards of this nature ever presented to a WAC at Fort Des Moines. The Good Conduct medals were awarded to WACS who had shown exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity and who had served in the Army for a year or more. Since no medals are presented by the War Department during the war, the WACS received red and white striped ribbons and will be awarded the medals when the war ends. The ribbons are worn over the upper left pocket.
Source: LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, March 21, 1944
An Army headquarters release from England states that Corporal Bonnie (Brodie) Hassebroek of LeMars is among members of the first mobile army unit, composed entirely of WACS. They are the first WACS assigned to a tactical army ground forces unit in England, and will follow hard on the heels of the invasion troops as they chase Hitler’s armies in the general direction of Berlin.
Source: LeMars Globe-Post, June 22, 1944
Ripley's Believe it or not
RIPLEY SPOTS 'EM -- M. Sgt John F. Hassebroek of Buffalo Center and his WAC wife recently were subjects of one of Ripley's "Believe it not" marvels. The sergeant received a 3-day pass to marry a WAC corporal at Des Moines where both were stationed. When he went overseas, they lost track of each other until one night in France he made a convoy to the front lines and went to a farm house to spend the night. There he met his wife on the exact day and hour of their first wedding anniversary. His wife's home was at LeMars. ~Note his wife was the former, Bonnie Brodie.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, April 4, 1945 (photo of the couple included)
