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Object Description
| Title | [Letter from Adeline LaPlante to parents, 1943] |
| Date | 1943-11-08 |
| Item creator's name | LaPlante, Adeline Sears |
| Subject headings |
World War, 1939-1945 United States. Army--Women |
| Era | World War II era (1940-1946) |
| Service branch |
Army--WAAC Army--WAC |
| Item description | LaPlante writes a letter to her parents mentioning recent leave spent at a beach in Florida, and a subsequent train journey to Air Service Command at Patterson Field in Ohio. LaPlante writes about her desires for her impending assignment. Also mentioned are her social activities and a trip to Dayton, Ohio. |
| Veteran's name | LaPlante, Adeline Sears |
| Veteran's biography |
Adeline Sears LaPlante (1919-2006) of Easton, Pennsylvania, served as a recruiter and as a public relations officer in the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) and the Women's Army Corps (WAC) from 1942-1945 . Adeline Sears LaPlante (1919-2006) was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, on 19 November 1919. She attended the University of Rochester and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree . LaPlante joined the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) in September, 1942. She attended Officer Candidate School at the WAAC Training Center at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, and was commissioned in October, 1942. In January, 1943, LaPlante attended recruiter training in Atlanta, Georgia, before being assigned as a WAAC recruiter in Charlotte, North Carolina. While stationed in Charlotte, LaPlante preformed her recruiting duties by traveling to various cities and towns throughout North Carolina. In September, 1943, LaPlante attended Intermediate Officer Training at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, and Daytona Beach, Florida. She was transferred to Patterson Field, Fairfield, Ohio, in November, 1943, and worked in public relations. LaPlante met her future husband, Roy LaPlante, there and they married in March, 1944. She was discharged from the WAC in August, 1945, as a 1st Lieutenant. LaPlante died on 21 November, 2006. |
| Type | image |
| 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 | WV0395 Adeline Sears LaPlante Papers, 1942-1945 |
| Collection summary | This collection includes letters, postcards and Christmas cards from LaPlante to her parents about her career in the WAAC and the WAC from 1943-1944. The collection also contains a photograph album, and news clippings from LaPlante's time in the service. |
| Box | 1 |
| Folder | 3: Letters, 1943 September-1944 January |
| Finding aid link | https://libapps.uncg.edu/archon/index.php?p=collections/controlcard&id=504 |
| 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 | wv0395.4.006 |
| 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 |
P.M. Nov. 8, 1943 Sunday nite Dear Mother and Dad' Didn't take me long to leave Florida, did it! I certainly miss seeing those palm trees silhouetted against the sunset' these bare trees, wintry gray skies, and rainy winds don't look too appealing. Hard to believe that a week ago I had had a busy day on the beach swimming and getting tan'. As for Patterson Field[Ohio]. We are at the ""Air Service Command"" which has been described in this set-up as the Vatican is in Rome. In other words the ASC is located in Patterson Field, but the ASC is headquarters for all the Air Force. Patterson Field is just one of the fields under it'as is Wright Field which is also here near Dayton'. About seventy of us came up from Florida. The train ride was delightful' Pullman all the way and only one to a berth. Tomorrow we collect travel money for the trip! We had 2 ' hrs. to roam around (Jacksonville," Florida; we stopped at Chattanooga for about 20 min. I was hanging out of the car and who should come about but Jo Martin from Charlotte (Mother met her) with a group of 50 girls from N and S Carolina. They had hooked on in Atlanta. Talked to her for about 10 min. ' everything is just the same in Charlotte' how glad I am to be away from it all! I was happy to be able to tell her that I was on my way to Patterson Field. We arrived in Cincinnati at 10:30 Thursday nite' our second nite on the train' the r.r.[railroad] station there is absolutely beautiful. We had an hour there'went back to the train and were told that we would not be able to stay in the cars all nite. We hit Osbourne at 1 a.m. Friday'and we all had to pile off at that hour! I slept in my berth till then. At Osbourne two large buses met us and took us directly to a cafeteria for food. Then we walked to the barracks we're in now' we pay $.25 each per nite. Beds are not 12 in. apart as at Oglethorpe and Daytona; we have lots of room' Venetian blinds' two latrines; two shower rooms (at each end of the squad room). We have to make our own beds but that's all' maid service! It's about time they treated us like officers'. Our food is all cafeteria' marvelous meals for about $.35. I'll bet you haven't seen food such as we get for many a month'. We are here very temporarily. Merely awaiting assignment. The first morning we arrived we were supposed to be allowed to sleep' but at 9 a.m. four of us had to go to hqrs[headquarters] for an interview. They were looking for company officers and I said ""no thank you." Capt. Christine Moon interviewed us. She is one peach, and I am lucky that she's here. She fully understood why one may not want company work' she doesn't after having been on the job she's on now. We talked about our mutual friends and she said she was so happy to see old friends again. By far (she is) one of the best WACS[Women's Army Corps] I know as I have always said'. Yesterday a man gave each of us a short interview. He put me down as possible public relations which will be fine'. Today Moon interviewed again. She still wishes the European background could be used; unfortunately intelligence is not yet open to WACS. Tomorrow I'll find out whether or not they can find something a little special for me. Moon is educated and appreciates an education; it seems to me that college is thought of here and don't believe many of these officers went to college'. I may be assigned here. If not' here comes bad news. Spokane, Wash. ' San Bernadino[sic] and Sacramento, Cal. ' San Antonio, Texas' most of the girls are going to these places. I couldn't get further away could I! It would be a good way to see the country but I did want to be able to get home once in awhile too. Oh well, I'll wait and see'. This is a remarkable place' the hub of the Air Force. Immense buildings that run like factories' army and civilians working together in shifts. Most of the signs in hqrs building are ""equipment"" ' that type of thing. Lend-lease[program where U.S. supplied Allied nations with material], all air force logistics are handled from here. At last I have seen a completely efficient, business like place and I can now realize how we are winning'. Last nite we went to Dayton. A clean looking place but there isn't much to do there. We saw a movie, Sweet Rosie O'Grady' pretty. Then ate some ice cream in a drug store' as we were leaving I saw a familiar face. Sue Sumey[?] from the U. of Rochester. She was a year ahead of me but I knew her quite well. Her husband, Don Good, was with her. I remember when they used to sit in Munro Hall mooning at each other. They are both leaving to go east until Thanksgiving; of course if I stay here I'll get in touch with them after then: Don works at Wright Field. I have finally run into someone I know'. The social set-up here is poor. More like a civilian business'at 5 people quit and go home. The officers club is exclusive' people go with dates. So that lets us out. It is a ritzy club with no pep and informality; from majors on up the officers with families live in clearing back[?] houses' English style' near the club'. The PX[Post Exchange] is wonderful. Anything you want' good place to get Christmas presents. I got Mrs. Wilson a box of #5 Chanel bath powder (she uses that perfume). I'll give it to her for Xmas'. Talked to Hank Friday nite for almost half an hour. I don't know how I feel about him' not completely gone I'm afraid. You yelled about my complaining about his taking Iowa. Well, he thinks I could take Iowa or Illinois. So what would I do when he had gone? ' even if I could choose. We couldn't see that we would see each other for at least a year' I feel that he would always go home in preference to visiting me. Yet he thinks that I would come to Ill. to spend Christmas. Where does my family fit in? I don't like it that way. There are just three of us and that's all there is to it'. Hearing so much (on the radio) about the Marines has made me think of Doug. Wonder where he is' he should be in the states now, I'd like to see him'. It's about time I take a shower. This is certainly a long letter' don't expect another like this for awhile. If I get sent west or to Texas I'll phone before I leave. Love' Adeline |
| OCLC number | 900817134 |
