COMMISSIONED
Margaret F. Olesen of Avoca has been commissioned a second lieutenant in the WACs at the Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., training station. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Olesen of Avoca. She was formerly stationed with the anti-aircraft command at Boston, and later was stationed at Hampton Roads, Newport News, Va. She attended the University of Nebraska, and was chief clerk of the Avoca draft board before enlisting in the WAC.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Wednesday, February 21, 1945, p. 5
Dedicate Ft. Riley School
in Memory of Avoca WAC
FORT RILEY, Kan. – Center grad school at Fort Riley, Kan., became Margaret F. Olesen school Monday in memory of the former WAC lieutenant from Avoca, Iowa, who died July 19, 1947.
Lt. Olesen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Olesen of Avoca, was assistant adjutant general of the ground general school at Fort Riley at the time of her fatal illness. She died at Brooke general hospital, Ft. Sam Houston, Tex. Maj. Gen. John T. Lewis, commanding the general school center at Fort Riley, dedicated the grade school in Lt. Olesen’s memory, said:
“In honor and to the abiding memory of Margaret Oelsen we dedicate this plaque and hereby change the name of this school from Center grade school of Fort Riley to the Margaret F. Olesen school of Fort Riley.”
Draft Board Secretary
Lt. Olesen, born in Avoca on Oct.26, 1913, was graduated from Avoca high school in 1931. She was a member of the Avoca high girl’s state championship basketball team. She attended the University of Nebraska for two years and then did secretarial work in Avoca, serving as chief clerk of the Avoca draft board from the beginning of selective service until June of 1943.
She enlisted in the women’s army corps at that time, was graduated from the officer candidate school at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., and assigned to duty at Fort Riley. The dedication ceremony was attended by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Olesen, sr., and her brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Olesen. Her mother unveiled the plaque at the ceremony.
The Olesen family members were guests of Gen. Lewis at a tea held at the Fort Riley officers’ club following the ceremony.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, unknown date after her death in July 1947
Lt. Olesen is buried in Graceland Cemetery, Avoca, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
