K. Dougherty Promoted in Charleston
It was revealed her Thursday that Wave Kathryn Dougherty, formerly of Waterloo, has been promoted from Lieutenant junior grade to full lieutenant at Charleston, S.C. where she is Sixth naval district director of the women's reserve activities.
Lieutenant Dougherty wears her two stripes after a "spot" promotion.
She was formerly social welfare and relief director for Black Hawk county and later director of women's work projects administration in eastern Iowa, with headquarters in Waterloo; and then served 18 months as director of all women's WPA work in Iowa with offices in Des Moines.
She joined the Waves in September, 1942.
Source: The Courier, Waterloo IA -- October 26, 1944 (photo included)
Wave Lt. Dougherty Calls on Admiral
Shown in a navy photograph taken in the Charleston, S.C. navy yards, are a former Waterloo girl and two high ranking naval officers as the Waves paid an official call on Rear Adm. Jules James, commandant of the Sixth naval district. In the center of the photograph is Capt. Mildred H. McAfee, director of the Waves reserve of the navy, and, at right, Lt. Kathryn Dougherty, district director of the Women's reserve. Lieutenant Dougherty, 256 Denver street, was formerly social welfare and relief director for Black Hawk county and later director of women's work of the WPA in eastern Iowa.
Source: The Courier, Waterloo, IA - February 27, 1945 (photo included)
WAVES to Receive Regular Training Washington (AP) - Women sailors are going to get the same recruit and advanced training as men, or "as closely as possible," the Navy said Thursday. Lt. Kathryn Dougherty of Waterloo, Iowa, was named to boss the first peacetime boot camp for WAVES.
WAVE recruiting starts September 15, and Lt. Dougherty will get her first class of 160 on Oct. 1, at the Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill.. There will be 160 more recruits every six weeks thereafter until the Navy fills its quota. The goal between now and next June 30 is 4,500 enlisted women. ... the first WAVE officers for their regular Navy are now being selected. Only 200 will be picked from 1,200 applicants, both active and inactive reserve officers. Congress directed that the WAVES be built up gradually to not more than 500 officers and 6,000 enlisted personnel in the next two years.
Source: The Burlington, Iowa, Hawk-Eye Gazette, Thursday, April 12, 1948, Page 14
<excerpt>
In Command
Lt. Com. Kathryn Dougherty, formerly of Waterloo and Des Moines, is the commanding officer of the WAVES training center.
She formerly was Black Hawk county welfare director and Iowa head of WPA welfare projects.
The WAVES have approximately the same training program as the men.
The don't have fire fighting, deck seamanship or weapons training. Most of their work is in the classrooms.
The training cycle is now 10 weeks. During World War II, it was only four weeks.
Source: The Des Moines Tribune, March 2, 1951 (photo included)
Kathryn Dougherty was born Feb. 7, 1912 to James K. and Mabel E. Mader Dougherty. She was the foster daughter of Joseph H. and Louise Sullivan of Waterloo, IA.
Lt. Dougherty served in World War II with the U.S. Navy WAVES 6th Naval District Headquarters, Charleston, SC from Nov. 1943 to July 1948. In 1948 she was with the Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, IL.
Source: ancestry.com
