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Object Description
| Title | [Letter from Marcelle Fisher to her parents, 1942] |
| Date | 1942-12-05 |
| Item creator's name | Fischer, Marcelle K. |
| Subject headings |
World War, 1939-1945 United States. Army--Women |
| Era | World War II era (1940-1946) |
| Service branch |
Army--WAC Army--AAF |
| Item description | Fischer describes how she was unable to come home for the weekend because she did not receive her pay. She describes the unit parading in the snow and ice, supply and administration exams, her latest paycheck, and the distribution of her finances. |
| Veteran's name | Fischer, Marcelle K. |
| Veteran's biography |
Marcelle K. Fischer served in the WAC from 1942-1945 . Marcelle K. Fischer of Skokie, Illinois, had already held several jobs, one with the Treasury Department in Washington, DC, when she decided to enlist in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in 1942. She went to basic training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, and then had advanced training in army administration at Drake University, also in Des Moines, where she prepared for duties in handling technical manuals and teaching office work to male soldiers. In early 1943 she was sent to Fort Custer, Michigan, then by fall of 1943 had moved to Rapid City Army Air Base in South Dakota. She was finally stationed at Ft. McPherson, Georgia, where she was discharged from the WAC in November 1945. After the war, Fischer went to work for the Railroad Retirement Board, until, in 1951, she decided to resume her college studies and enrolled in the Sorbonne in Paris, France. While in Europe, she began visiting flea markets, a hobby which eventually launched her into a career of dealing in antiques. |
| Place | Des Moines (Iowa) |
| Type | text |
| Original format | correspondence |
| Original publisher | [Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified] |
| Language | en |
| Contributing institution | Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, UNCG University Libraries |
| Source collection | WV0253 Marcelle Fischer Papers, 1935-1961, 1990 |
| Collection summary | The Marcelle Fischer Papers primarily consists of correspondence, printed materials, photographs andArtifacts, most of which date from or pertain to Fischer's service in the WAAC and WAAC during World War II. Correspondence from Fischer includes discussion her duties teaching office work to male soldiers and general WAC life, such as barracks life, dating, social outings, her feelings regarding her contribution to the war effort, and her desire for advancement in the WAC. The correspondence also includes letters from male soldiers, both stateside and overseas, and correspondence from WAC friends such as Mildred Estabrook, who was stationed in Europe in 1945, and Ruth Tamayo, who primarily wrote about religious topics and mysteries while posted in Germany and Japan from 1950 to 1953. Printed Materials in this collection take many forms, primarily booklets, souvenirs, newspapers and newspaper clippings, event programs, certificates, and training manuals. Most of these are related to Fischer's duties in the WAC or collected by her during her time of service, and some can be found in the Oversize Series. Also included in this collection are a fewArtifacts, primarily uniform accessories, and a significant number of photographs of Fischer and her WAC friends. |
| Series/grouping | 1: Correspondence, 1935-1959 |
| Box | 1 |
| Folder | 1-6: Letters, 1935, 1939-1944 |
| Finding aid link | http://libapps.uncg.edu/archon/index.php?p=collections/controlcard&id=460 |
| Rights statement | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
| Additional rights information | IN COPYRIGHT. This item is subject to copyright. Contact the rights holder noted above for permission to reuse. |
| Object ID | WV0253.4.004 |
| Digital publisher | The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University Libraries, PO Box 26170, Greensboro NC 27402-6170, 336.334.5304 -- http://library.uncg.edu/ |
| Full-text transcript |
Dear Folks:" I really don't feel much like writing but feel that I should in lieu of me home with you. I was awfully sorry I couldn't get home. Expected a nice rest and chance to really scrub some of my clothes, as we have very little hot water, and the water is ho hard! I waited until this morning to call because I thought until the last they might pay us sooner so we could leave, but in the army you do nothing but rush some where and then wait. That was the reason my pass and about ten others were cancelled. No pay no leave! So unless something else happens I shall be home nest weekend - same train, time, and everything so you can plan on me being home. Today we stood in the freezing cold and snow for almost two hours to parade for Mrs. Hobby - It is a big thrill to parade. You can be half frozen - but when you hear the music - you feel cold chills go up your back and then you get warm all over. I hope some day you can see us parade it is wonderful. Oh, by the way I got a beautiful pen and pen set from the Skokie Defense council for a Xmas present. I opened it - don't tell anyone, but guess I couldn't wait. They are submerging me with letters and cards. Nice though! Two more weeks and school will be over. I wonder what will happen to us then. No one knows and seems to care less - you just seem to get in a rut and nothing short of TNT has any affect on you. - By the way I'm going to Larry's sisters for dinner. Never seem to be able to get together as she lives on the other side of town and I can't very easily make it there during the week as I don't get out of class till 7:00 o'clock and then have to be in bed by 10:30. Last week end I was on K.P. duty again so couldn't make it then. You really work on K.P duty but I don't mind it at all. We had two very hard tests this week, in the one on Administration I got 80 - the highest was 87 and there were not too many ahead of me. So far we haven't had the marks of the Supply exam but I rather imagine every one will have a low mark, because it was hard. How is everyone? What is this about Francis enlisting in the Merchant Marine? Why? Why doesn't he join the Navy if he wants to travel, My gosh, he might make lots of money for a convoy, but whether he arrives to collect it is another story. Now, Ikie asked about those stockings I wanted her to pick up, they are the ones I had mended - so she can if it isn't too much trouble pick them up for me so when I get home I can put them together with the mates I have. The five dollars I left with you for a pen she can use that towards what I owe her and I will give the rest to her next week end. Do you suppose Ikie would have time to do me a big favor that is just my name and address in the upper left hand corner of the envelope on my Xmas cards. I would appreciate it very much - If she would just write to this. Aux Marcelle Fischer A601-691; 14th Co. 2nd Training Regt." Des Moines, Iowa. It would save me so much time, when your time is so very limited, you don't seem to have time for hardly anything. I just wish I could have a couple of days to myself so I could catch up on all the things, and letters I have to write and do. I have so much studying to that I don't get even that done. All day we had to have parades and inspections - so finally went down town this afternoon to see if I could do any shopping but the town (stores) close at 6 o'clock so I didn't get any done. Just guess I won't do any this year. Have you heard from Mrs. Bodevin lately. Has Doc. Koch been out? How are the Fehey's. Tell Skippy I shall bring him a little pin next week. Tell him he won't know me in my soldier suit. We just got paid $40 this moth, until the [sic] figure out all the different things. So when I come home I will explain what I intend to do. First of all, I'm having 10 dollars deducted for bonds, Then out of the other forty I'm going to give you and pa 20 dollars for yourselves. Now don't say you don't want it because I want you to have it, and if I get a specialist rating why I can afford it very easily. Well, it is very late now and I have to go to church tomorrow - So until next week lost of love to all. Marcelle |
| OCLC number | 900816689 |
