 The Bulletin kept the community informed once a week with news ranging from events to golf clubs for sale to lost and found kittens. It also listed movies being shown in the post theater. The community was fortunate that week. Meet Me In St. Louis was showing and starred Judy Garland, Margaret O’Brien and Mary Astor, now considered a classic featuring three actresses who became Hollywood legends. Courtesy. LA Historical Society Archive By SHARON SNYDER
Los Alamos Historical Society We’re living through a strange September these days. I thought it might be interesting to look back to a September in Los Alamos 75 years ago. The war was finally over, but the Women’s Army Corps contingency was still here and savoring a letter they had received days before. It was written on official War Department stationery and sent from Washington to the women assigned to the Manhattan District Project. “It is certainly with pride, and a deep feeling of gratitude to each one of you, that I send this message. The security measures that still involve the Manhattan District Project, the great responsibility that each one of you will always have, set you apart as very special and honored heroines in World War II. Your devotion to duty, the sacrifices you have made, the daily soldier privileges that you have forfeited, and your loyalty to the security measures necessary will be proudly recorded in the history of the Women’s Army Corps.” It was signed by Westray Battle Boyce, Director, Women’s Army Corps, and dated September 6, 1945.
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 This letter written in WWII and sent from France to a Women’s Army Corps (WAC) at Project Y in Los Alamos remained a mystery for 76 years. Courtesy/Los Alamos Historical Society By SHARON SNYDER
Los Alamos Historical Society Sometimes the old saying “it’s a small world” is amazingly true! That statement definitely relates to the circumstances of a letter written in WWII and sent from France to a Women’s Army Corps (WAC) at Project Y. A native of Oxford, Miss., Katherine “Pat” Patterson joined the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps—soon to be changed officially to WAC—in autumn of 1942. She was called to active duty in December and was soon on a train headed to New Mexico along with several other WACs. They were to report to Lt. Col. Whitney Ashbridge on arrival at Project Y. Cpl. Patterson was 22 years old and was among the first 200 military personnel assigned to the Manhattan Project on the Hill. She began work as a clerk in the Army Service Forces. As with most families during World War II, Pat had other family members in the Armed Forces. Her brother, Jim Patterson, was serving in France. In the way of siblings, Jim decided to have a bit of fun with his sister and sent a letter that would send up red flags for the mail censors and get Pat into a precarious situation. |
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The Los Alamos Historical Society preserves, promotes, and communicates the remarkable history and inspiring stories of Los Alamos and its people for our community, for the global audience, and for future generations.
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