World War II Honoree

Flora Austeen Gilliam

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Antlers, Oklahoma

Honored By

Billy J. Gilliam

Relationship

Brother

ENLISTED IN THE WOMEN'S ARMY AUXILIARY CORPS (WAAC) IN AUGUST OF 1943. SERVED BASIC TRAINING AT FORT OGLETHORPE, GEORGIA, AND AFTER BASIC WAS SENT OVERSEAS WITH HER COMPANY. SERVED WITH THE MESSAGE CENTER AT ALLIED FORCE HEADQUARTERS IN ALGIERS, AFRICA. SHE WAS BILLETED IN A MUSEUM THAT WAS BUILT INTO THE SIDE OF A HILL. SHE LIVED ON THE FIRST FLOOR AND HER MESS HALL WAS ON THE TOP FLOOR. SHE WAS ONE OF THE CLERKS IN THE MESSAGE CENTER WHERE THEY RECEIVED THE INCOMING MESSAGES FROM THE WAR ZONE AND DISTRIBUTED THEM TO THE PROPER DEPARTMENT. SHE WAS SHIPPED TO ITALY AFTER 8 MONTHS IN AFRICA, ALONG WITH THE ALLIED FORCE HEADQUARTERS. SHE WORKED IN A CASTLE (ABOUT 10 MILES OUT OF NAPLES) WHICH SERVED AS ALLIED FORCE HEADQUARTERS. SHE WAS STILL IN A COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY WHICH RECEIVED MESSAGES FROM THE FRONT LINES THAT WERE MOSTLY CODED INFORMATION FOR THE HEADQUARTERS OFFICES. SHE WORKED AT THE SERVICE DESK, AND HANDLED ALL MESSAGES THAT WERE GARBLED. GARBLED MEANT IT WAS IN PLAIN LANGUAGE BUT IN A QUESTIONABLE CONDITION DUE MOSTLY TO FAULTY TRANSMISSION. THE SERVICE DESK'S JOB WAS TO CLARIFY THE CORRECT LANGUAGE OF THE MESSAGE AND TO PRESENT IT TO THE CHIEF MESSAGE CENTER SERGEANT. SHE WORKED ON THAT DESK FOR THE REMAINDER OF HER TOUR OF DUTY. DISCHARGED AS A TECHNICIAN 5TH GRADE WITH AWARDS OF A WOMEN'S ARMY AUXILIARY CORPS SERVICE MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE STAR, THREE OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.