JOINS WAC
Mrs. Orpha L. Bashford of this city has successfully qualified and enlisted in the women’s army corps at Des Moines. Mrs. Bashford’s husband, Cpl. Joseph M. Bashford, is stationed at Kingman, Arizona. Her son, Aviation Cadet Eric W. Hutchison, is taking training at Mission, Texas.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA, March 8, 1944
WAC TRANSFERRED
Private Orpha L. Bashford, 1814 Superior Street, Webster City, was a member of a Women’s Army Corps unit which recently left First WAC Training Center at Fort Des Moines for duty with the army at Fort George Meade, Md.
WAC units now are at work with the army on more than 268 posts in all 48 states, the District of Columbia, and in Africa, England, Italy, India, New Caledonia and Hawaii.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA, August 29, 1944
FACTS:
Orpha L. Balsley was born Dec. 18, 1906 to Harman and Mary Hill Balsley. She married (1) Eric W. Hutchison, Sr. They had one son, Eric W. Hutchison, Jr. Orpha married (2) Joseph McCaulley Bashford. Pvt. Orpha L. Bashford died May 17, 1980.
Pvt. Orpha was in the WACs in World War II. Sgt. Joseph ‘Mac’ Bashford was in the Army Air Corps. The Bashfords are buried in the Ruddick Cemetery, Garfield, AR.
Eric Hutchison, Sr., U.S. Army World War II and Eric Hutchison, Jr. U.S. Army Air Corps, World War II are both buried in Graceland Cemetery, Webster City, IA.
Sources:
Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA
ancestry.com and findagrave
