FIRST RECRUIT
Ensign Mary L. Leffler (left) of the SPARS, takes pride in signing up her first officer candidate recruit, Helen Reich, assistant director of the office of student affairs at the State University of Iowa.
Helen Reich To SPARs
The SPARs, smallest of the women's armed services, Tuesday signed up a university faculty member as an officer candidate recruit in Des Moines. She is Helen Reich, assistant director of the offices of student affairs at the State University of Iowa, Iowa City.
On the staff of the university since 1930, Miss Reich was social director of the Iowa union there until two years ago. Her present position corresponds to that of dean of women, a title now obsolete at the university.
Miss Reich was sworn in by Ensign Mary Leffler, recruiting officer from Omaha, Neb., who comes to Des Moines once a month. The new recruit will leave Sunday for the coast guards academy at New London, Conn. She will not be commissioned until the end of her two month course.
Miss Reich said two of her friends of the academic world already are SPAR officers. She holds a master's degree in journalism and psychology from the state university, and is a native of Mystic, Ia.
Source: The Des Moines Tribune, July 11, 1944 (photo included)
Helen Reich Arrives At SPAR Training Station
Among the SPAR officers arriving at the New London, Conn., training station during September was Lt. (j.g.) Helen Reich of Iowa City.
An assistant director in the office of student affairs at the university of Iowa, Miss Reich was granted a leave of absence from her duties.
She received her B.A. and M.A degrees in 1930 and 1935. While at the university she as a member of the Morter Board, Theta Sigma Phi and Zeta Tau Alpha.
Miss Reich's mother, Mrs. Stella Reich, resides at 324 Woolf Ave. in Iowa City. Her four brothers, Capt. R.M. Reich, First Lt. J.A. Reich, First Lt. D.C. Reich and Corp. C.E. Reich and a brother-in-law, J.W. Potter, are with the army
Source: Moravia Union, October 5, 1944
