Wac Pvt. Geraldine Zell, daughter of Mrs. Sophia Zell, 301 State street, will report to Ft. Des Moines, Ia., on Jan. 17 for her basic training, after taking her oath Saturday at the headquarters at Ft. Des Moines, it was revealed here Tuesday. She is a graduate of East high school and has been employed by the Rath Packing Co.
Source: The Courier, Waterloo IA - January 9, 1945
Harold L. Zell, fireman first class and his sister Pvt. Geraldine Zell, met in San Francisco recently, according to word received by their mother, Mrs. Sophie Zell,301 State street. Fireman Zell was on shore leave from the U.S. George Clymer on which he is serving at sea. Private Zell is stationed at Ft. Mason, Cal., as cook with the Wac.
Source: The Courier, Waterloo IA - January 19, 1945
Wac Pvt. Geraldine L. Zell, daughter of Mrs. Sophia Zell, 301 State street, is now stationed at Ft. Mason, San Francisco, Cal., after completing cooks and bakers school, Ft. Des Moines. She is in a detachment which cooks for 240 Wacs at Ft. Mason.
Source: The Courier, Waterloo IA - June 6, 1945
Company 24, 3rd Regiment, 113 Cook Class was photographed at the First WAC Training Center, Fort Des Moines, Iowa. It included Geraldine (Zell) Johnson now of Bloomington, far right in second row from back (circled), from Westgate, Iowa, who would serve her duty at Fort Mason in San Francisco, settle in Pontiac, Ill. and remember her military service with pride.
Women Pioneers in Military Look Back
[Excerpt]
Geraldine Zell had graduated from high school in Westgate, Iowa, and was working as a meat packer in Waterloo. She joined Jan 6, 1944 and spent two years and 11 days as a WAC.
"It was wartime," she said, "and I just felt it was my job."
She wanted to go overseas, but her mother wouldn't let her. So she settled for bakers and cooks school, and was a cook at Fort Mason in San Francisco.
Source: The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Illinois, July 5, 1992 (Vintage Photo Included)
