History
Feature Member
JoEllen Fauteck
JoEllen (Guth) Fauteck first became a member of the American Legion
in 1947. Sixty years later, JoEllen again joined the American
Legion so that she, her two daughters and her granddaughter
can become charter members of the Post's Women's Auxiliary!
In 1944, JoEllen and two of her friends signed up to serve in WWII together. They were inducted into the Women's Army Corps (WAC) on December 23, 1944, JoEllen's birthday. They joined the Army because they were ready to not only serve their country during a very stressful time, but also to pursue new horizons and to seek a "measure of adventure".
They did their basic training at the First WAC Training Center in Ft. Des Moines, Iowa and it there that the three friends learned about broadening their horizons. JoEllen writes, "For the next six weeks, our horizons consisted of a morning bugle call that came at 4 a.m. (sharp!) every day, rain or shine, tired, or not. Once that bugle call sounded, we had 15 minutes to get up, make our cot, wash, get dressed, and line up for roll call. Fifteen minutes and no excuses and definitely no time to worry about how to get hair or make-up in order!"
"It was during these six weeks that our idea of adventure was contradicted by the reality of basic training. Often we became discouraged and exhausted, and it was during these times that our thoughts roamed to the question "Why did we do this?" But, when we were "at ease", we all enjoyed the adventure of being away from home for the first time and making new friends."
Within two weeks of completing basic training, orders came through and JoEllen was on a troop-train bound for a base near Indianapolis, Indiana. Once on base, JoEllen spent six weeks being trained in hospital procedures, specifically laboratory procedures and "learning to prep slides and identify various types of microscopic bacteria's". To ease the demands of studying, JoEllen joined the Army basketball team which served to provide her with not only a great physical outlet, but also another opportunity to meet more new people.
Her military time in Indiana passed quickly. Soon she received orders to be stationed in Miami Beach, FL. JoEllen couldn't believe her good luck! What better place to be than Miami Beach! Here she was, never having been out of Wisconsin and she was rolling right along on a troop-train, taking in the country and seeing all the sights! Finally, an adventure close to what she had hoped for when she enlisted.
They were billeted right on Miami Beach at the Roberts Beach Hotel. JoEllen's assignment was the A.A.F. Regional Hospital No.1 at Coral Cables (formerly the Miami Biltmore Hotel at Coral Gables). The Biltmore was designated as an R"&"R hospital for those soldiers from the European Theater who were wounded or needed down time from the action overseas and JoEllen was assigned to the hospital lab. However, the Florida assignment was short lived. Six weeks into her duty, she received orders to an SAAC base in Texas, specifically the Sq. D 3543rd AAF Base Unit, however, not before experiencing the traditional August hurricane season. You could say she left Miami Beach with a big send-off!
At the base, located near San Antonio, JoEllen was assigned to three physicians at the military Eye, Ears, Nose and Throat clinic. Although she loved her duty, she was hoping to go overseas. Specifically, she wanted to sign up for duty in China. Prior to this time most, recruitment for WAC's overseas was taken up by those with clerical skills, and of course the much needed nurses, so when a new recruitment opportunity became available, JoEllen rushed at the chance for a new assignment! However, three weeks later the war ended and JoEllen, along with many others, received notice of discharge (and never got to China!). It was 1946, the war was over and, at the "convenience of the government," JoEllen (Guth) Fauteck was separated from duty at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, specifically Sq D. 3543rd Army Air Force Base Unit on 26 July 1946.
JoEllen can recall a few times that she was discouraged about her service time. She said "The friendships made during this time were many, but unfortunately, short-lived. We met GI's at the many off-duty recreation facilities, and at times we even had the opportunity to tour around a bit. On one of my memorable seven-day furloughs, I hitched a ride to Kelly Field near the base and hopped from there to the Chicago area on a B-52 bomber. I was the only passenger and I still remember how VERY noisy it was."
JoEllen and her childhood friend and fellow enlistee, Phyllis, are still friends to this day and correspond regularly.