World War II Honoree

Dorothy Wiedemeyer Hartley

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Carroll, Iowa

Honored By

Carol H. Foley

Relationship

Daughter

JOINED NAVY, NOVEMBER 1941 AT GREAT LAKES NAVAL STATION. BOOT CAMP AND BASIC TRAINING AT HUNTER COLLEGE, NEW YORK. STATIONED IN SHELTON, VIRGINIA; DRIVING METRO VAN TO CAMP BRADFORD AND NORFOLK, VIRGINIA DELIVERING MAIL AND MESSAGES. TRANSFERRED TO GUNNERY DEPARTMENT TEACHING SYNTHETIC GUNNERY TO THE WOULD BE GUNNER'S MATES, OPERATING TURRETS ON A SHIP. A CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS WENT OUT AND SHE SIGNED UP FOR OVERSEAS. FIRST DRAFT OF WAVES (WOMEN ACCEPTED FOR VOLUNTARY EMERGENCY SERVICES) TO GO. DESTINATION UNKNOWN. TRAVELLED 11 DAYS ON A HOSPITAL SHIP TO HONOLULU, HAWAII. SENT TO BASE ON KAHULUI, MAUI TO CONTINUE GUNNERY ASSIGNMENT. WORKED HARD BUT FOUND TIME TO WORK IN HOBBY SHOP, RIDE HORSES, PLAY FAST PITCH SOFTBALL, BOWLED, HIKED AND TRAVELLED TO OTHER ISLANDS. HAWAIIANS WERE VERY FRIENDLY AND INVITED SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN TO THEIR HOMES. ON V-J DAY, A POINT SYSTEM WAS SET UP AND SHE QUALIFIED TO GO HOME IN 1945.