WAAC Officer Candidates
Five Iowa women who were sworn in as WAAC officer candidates here Wednesday watched as one of their group, Jeanne Hardin of Dubuque, put finishing touches on a knitted sweater. From left, the candidates are Jane Courson and Eva Yost, Des Moines; Pauline McNally, Waterloo; Miss Hardie and Mrs. Vera Stiver, also of Des Moines.
Source: The Des Moines Tribune, August 5, 1942 (photo included)
Sioux City Woman Among W.A.A.C.’s to Be Commissioned
Fort Des Moines—One hundred twenty-three officer candidates of the women’s army auxiliary corps will be commissioned third officers at the Seventh graduating exercise at the training center Saturday.
The class includes six Iowan’s;
The Iowan’s: Clara Jane Courson, Belmond; Mary Bernadine Dinneen, Melrose; Elaine Clara Homan, Remsen; Pauline Mary McNally, Waterloo; Vera Ervin Stiver, Des Moines; Eloise Norma Wissing (1723 S. Patterson) Sioux City.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, November 1942
11 IOWA WAACS ARE ADVANCED
Washington, D.C. -- Promotions for eleven Iowans in the women's army auxiliary corps were announce Tuesday night.
The following officers were advanced to the rank of first officer, the WAAC equivalent of captain: Clara G. Han, 1063 Twenty-first st, Des Moines; Marion C. Lichty, Waterloo; Kathleen McClure, Iowa Falls, and Helen E. Hanson, 726 Guthrie st, Des Moines.
Promoted from the rank of third officer to second officer, WAAC equivalent of first lieutenant: Clara J. Courson, Belmond; Elizabeth L. Flanagan, Cedar Rapids; Kola S. Gallagher, Council Bluffs; Vera E. Stiver, 4309 Allison ave., Des Moines; Jeanne E. Hardie, Dubuque and Marcella M. McCue, Greeley.
Source: The Des Moines Register, April 21, 1943
Capt. Stiver Heads WACs
A Des Moines WAC, Capt. Vera E. Stiver, has been named commanding officer of the WAC detachment at Fort Des Moines army post, it was announced Thursday by the post headquarters. WACs assigned to the post detachment work in various offices there.
Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Hall, 4309 Allison st., Captain Stiver formerly was commanding officer of a receiving company at the first WAC training cetner. Her husband Capt. Neil Jay Stiver of the army engineer corps, recently was awarded the silver star for gallantry in service in the Milne bay section of New Guinea.
The WAC captain is a graduate of Drake university and a former violinist with the Drake symphony orchestra. She enlisted in the army in September, 1942, after her husband had entered foreign service.
Source: The DesMoines Tribune, March 9, 1944 (photo included)
WACs Take Time Out for Dip in Fort Pool
After a refreshing swim in the pool at Fort Des Moines, these Iowa WACs apply suntan oil, even as their civilian sisters do elsewhere. The are (left to right) Lieut. Esie M. Olson, Davenport, Capt. Vera E. Stiver and Lieut. Helen W. Timm, both of Des Moines.
Source: The Des Moines Register, July 7, 1944 (photo included)
Two Captains Speak
Shenandoah - Two captains, a husband-and-wife team, told of their army experiences at a Kiwanis club program Monday.
They are Capt. Neal Stiver who left New York with the first engineers to Australia and covered the Pacific islands and Capt. Vera Stiver, who was a WAC and told of the organization of the women's army. She is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Hall of Shenandoah.
Source: Council Bluffs Nonpareil, December 5, 1945
