FIRST IN WAAC SIGNAL CORPS
Miss Venita Skinner, of Garden Grove, Ia., a teacher at the Urbandale elementary school the last four years, Saturday became the first person enrolled here in the new WAAC signal corps training program.
Miss Skinner will be sent either to the Handley Technical High school in St. Louis, Mo., or the Trinidad State Junior college, Trinidad, Colo., for six months of technical radio training.
During this time she will receive $1,020 per year for the first three months and $1,440 per year for the last three months as a civil service employee.
Upon completing this training, Miss Skinner will be given five weeks of basic WAAC training and subsequently assigned to a WAAC signal corps detachment.
Many more women are needed for this new program, according to the WAAC recruiting office, 109 Federal building, Des Moines. To qualify a woman must have a high school education.
Source: The Des Moines Register, May 30, 1943 (photo included)
CPL. VENITA R. SKINNER
~Pvt. Venita R. Skinner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Guy E. skinner, of near Garden Grove, was a member of a women’s army corps unit which recently departed from the first WAC training center, Fort Des Moines. Pvt. Skinner is now on duty at Arlington Hall Station, Virginia.
~Corporal Venita R. Skinner, who is stationed in Washington D. C., concluded a seven day furlough Sunday visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Guy Skinnerof near Garden Grove. Cpl. Skinner says she likes her work real well. She is with the signal service battalion in the WAC.
Source: Decatur County Auxiliary Scrapbook; Submission by Decatur County Historical Museum, Leon IA, Sara Rose Joan LeFleur, June of 2016
