-
Bernadette Doucette
Bernadette Doucette was born in the winter of 1891 in Michigan. Her parents, August and Angeline (Gautheir) Doucette, were both French-Canadian immigrants. She grew up speaking some French in their large family, although required some tutoring prior to her acceptance in the US Army. She had at least 11 siblings. The family had been in…
-
Cecile Joncas
Cecile Joncas was born in Quebec in the winter of 1889. Her parents were Edmond and Marie Loilda Ezilda (Blais) Joncas. She grew up speaking French at home. Edmond Joncas was a sea captain and Crown Land Agent. Cecile lived in Chicago many years. For some time she was the governess to Frank Beaches, of…
-
Lena Roy
Lena Roy was born on 10 November 1893 in Quebec, one of five children of Thomas Roy and Alexandria Mousseau. Her mother spoke French exclusively, so Lena grew up speaking French in her home. The family moved to Idaho in 1897, where she went to school and her father became a US Citizen. She attended…
-
Louise Le Breton, March 1918
Letters From Miss Louise Le Breton, Signal Corps Telephone Operators’ Unit, A. E. F. , To Her “Folks” In Berkeley, California[1] Somewhere in England,Sometime in March, 1918.Dearest Little Andree: English Slang They told me yesterday that I had to get up at the “top of the morning.” Search me if I knew what they meant!…
-
Anna Adline Kinney Graffitt
Ms. Anna Adline Kinney Graffitt was a member of the US Army Signal Corps in France during World War I. Formally called the Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators Unit, these women known as the “Hello Girls” became the unsung heroes of communication. Recruited to operate switchboards in France, Ms. Kinney and her comrades connected calls…
-
Marjorie Thomas Twyman
(2 April 1889 – 24 May 1975) Group 2 Operator Marjorie Thomas was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1889, the eldest daughter of Emmet and Nellie (Hodgsdon) Thomas. She was educated, along with her sister, Evelyn, at St. Patrick’s Academy. Following high school, she lived with her parents in their lavish home on Michigan Avenue.…
-
Evelyn Thomas
(23 July 1893 – 23 October 1984) Group 2 Operator Mary Evelyn Thomas was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1893, one of three daughters of Emmet and Nellie (Hodgsdon) Thomas. She went by “Eveyln” as an adult. She does not appear to have used Mary during or after the war. Evelyn’s father, Mr. Emmet Thomas,…
-
Marguerite Monnet Wolf
Born: 19 Nov 1898 Died April 1977 Seventh Group Operator Marguerite Monnet Wolf was born in the winter of 1898 in New York City, the daughter of Caesar and Catherine (Wespiser) Monnet. The Monnets had both immigrated from the Alsace region, which historically has shifted between French and German control. They both were French by…
-
Alisse Lambert
(27 August 1885 – 18 September 1972) Group 7 Records differ about the birthplace of Operator Alisse Lambert. Her Army records state that she was born in Paris, while various census records claim French Canada was her birthplace. She was the youngest child of Pierre Lambert and Virginie Baillargeon and grew up speaking French at…
-
Yvonne R. Haas Herren
(31 July 1898 – August 1966) Group 7 Operator Yvonne Regina Haas was born in 1898 in Wauconda, Illinois, the daughter of Joseph and Regina (Copie) Haas. Her mother passed away when she was young. Yvonne was sent to France to be educated and live with her father’s mother, Marie (Milla) Haas. In 1917, following…