Wesley Girl Is Fourth to Join WAVES
Wesley -- Wesley's 4th girl to join the WAVES, Lavon Gerdes left Thursday night for Chicago, thence to Northampton, Mass., to report for boot training before entering Smith college for her officer's training.
Miss Gerdes is the oldest daughter of Postmaster Hazel Gerdes and Ihno A. Gerdes of Wesley. She was graduated from the Minnesota University at Minneapolis in psychology and took her initial steps to join the WAVES on her 20th birthday, June 5, 1943. She was an outstanding student all 4 years of her college work.
Upon her graduation as an officer in the WAVES she will be commissioned an ensign.
The other 3 girls to join the WAVES from this town are Miss Gertrude Otis, Miss Rita Wingert and Miss Alvina Oppedal.
Source: The Mason City Globe-Gazette, August 28, 1943 (photo included)
WAVE IS WED -- Ensign Lavon Gerdes, oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ihno A. Gerdes of Wesley, who is serving as a WAVE at Corpus Christi Naval Air Station in Texas, was married Jan. 6 to Lt. Richard Mayes of the Marine Air Corps. The wedding took place at the training base chapel.
Ensign Gerdes was graduated from the Wesley high school and from the University of Minnesota, cum laude, with a B.A. She held memberships in Sigma Alpha Iota (National music) and Phi Beta Kappa sororities.
She entered officers training in the WAVES at Northampton, Mass., in August and was graduated as an ensign in October. Following this she specialized in communication in which she is working at present.
Source: The Mason City Globe-Gazette, January 13, 1944 (photo included)
