3 Iowans in WAAC Officer Graduate Class, Des Moines
Fort Des Moines (AP) -- Three Iowans were graduated with the 34th officer candidate class of the WAAC here today.
The Iowans: Dorothy M. Pownall, Iowa City; Kathryn M. Bolte, Sioux City; and Wanda M. Telford, Waterloo.
Source: Carroll Daily Times Herald, June 30, 1943
Wanda M. Telford, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Telford, Route 5, known as the "world's shortest WAC" who received her commission as third officer (second lieutenant) in the WAC at Fort Des Moines, Ia., on June 30, is taking advanced specialized officer training at Fort Des Moines.
Entering the WAC as a private after failing on two attempts to get into officer training school because she was three-fourths of an inch too short, she made a sergeant's rating before being accepted for officer training.
Third Officer Telford was inducted in to the WAC last November.
She is a graduate of East High school, where she served as cheerleader. Her twin brother, Wayne, is with the army air forces in England.
Source: The Courier, Waterloo IA - July 28, 1943 (photo included)
Working round the clock in an army postal section somewhere in Australia the above WACS readdressing mail to be forwarded to advance bases include Lt. Wanda Telford, center, of Waterloo, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Telford, Route 5. Lieutenant Telford, who entered the service in November, 1942, was stationed in New Guinea before going to Australia. Her twin brother, Master Sgt. Wayne Telford, is stationed in England as a clerk in an army air force supply depot.
Source: The Courier, Waterloo, IA - November 22, 1944 (photo included)
Where Are Those GI Janes Since They've Again Become Civilians?
What has happened to those Waterloo girls who looked so smart in Wave, Wac or Spar uniforms, traveled the country and the world and the were discharged from service to return to civilian life?
Well, many of them were married while in the service and have settled in other states or brought their husbands to Waterloo to live. Still others entered new fields of work and have gone on to college through the benefits of education provision of the GI bill of rights.
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The Misses Anne Kowell, Wanda Telford and Frances Bukoff entered the Wacs at the same time and, since their discharges, have all been employed by Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. Miss Kowell is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James K. Kowell, 322 Webster street, and Miss Bukoff is the daughter of Mrs. Fannie Bukoff, 409 Cottage street. Acclaimed one of the world's shortest Wacs was Miss Telford, who is the daughter of the Frank Telefords, 924 Logan avenue.
Source: The Courier, Waterloo, IA - Sunday, March 9, 1947
