Here’s the update.

The Buildings

The United States Army built Spanish Colonial buildings at many of their bases. All had tile roofs and stucco exteriors, however, if you look closely at the details of the structures there are differences. Roof lines vary, as do the window designs.  Several people told me they thought these women posed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.

I reached out to the Fort Sam Houston Museum. Jacqueline Davis, director of the museum spent time examining older photos of the Fort with curator of the collection, Bill Manchester. They were able to rule out Fort Sam Houston and added information about the architecture. “The style of building in that photo is the Spanish Colonial revival style that was used all across the southern tier of military installations during the massive upgrade in the 1930s. There are variations in building details and, of course, layout of the buildings.”

She also forwarded my inquiry to Robert Kane,  Air University director of history.  He sent me this photo. Look familiar.  He thinks it’s a match.  I do too.

So..now we have a place.

The women posed at Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery Alabama.

Maxwell AFB began as a flight school for the Wright Brothers. You can read more about the history here.

Why Are They There?

Dr. Kane added: “From the picture, I suspect that the two were WACs (Women Army Corps) as the US Army Air Forces (AAF) didn’t have a separate “unit” or organization for women assigned to AAF installations during World War II. The AAF had WACs assigned to these installations. Since these two women are near a vehicle, I suspect that they were drivers for senior officers on Maxwell Field. Finally, from the state of the deciduous (leaf-bearing) trees in the picture (that is, the leaves are gone), I believe the photo was taken in late December or early January, possibly over winter 1944-45.”

Who Are They?

All this new information narrows down the search:

Women who served as drivers at Maxwell AFB in early winter 1944-45. 

The sharp-eyed Phyllis Garratt looked at the pictures and noticed that the same woman appeared in two of the images. I found another matching face too.

Unfortunately the size of the photos makes it difficult to see the women.  While I know there are slim odds of figuring out their names, I’m holding out hope that someone recognizes someone in the images based on the new information.

The post Who Are These Women? An Update appeared first on Maureen Taylor.

The questions add up pretty quickly.

• Who were they?
• What branch of the service do their uniforms represent?
• Where were they photographed?
• When were they taken?

I posted these images on Facebook and thousands of people looked at them.  I’ve reached out to the World War 2 US Medical Research Centre and the U.S. Army Women’s Museum.  I’m waiting to hear from the National World War 2 Museum in New Orleans.

Adding Up the Facts

Here’s what I know so far based on my research as well as input from Facebook followers and military history experts. Deborah Humphries  of True Color Chrome.com suggested looking at Women of World War II. There are many photographs of World War II nurses on the site.

• Ronald Bingham of the U.S. Army Women’s Museum verified my conclusion that the uniforms (overalls and knit “jeep” hat) likely identify these women as Army nurses. Unfortunately the quality of the images is too fuzzy to see their collar insignia.
• He felt they were likely photographed stateside.
• Bingham also told me that the 1920s Spanish stucco style construction visible in the background was popular with military construction after WWII and in Army hospitals. This style of architecture was common before the war in certain parts of the country. Facebook followers Kristi Burns and Jana Wells suggested the photos were taken at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas.  Bingham thought the buildings looked like Fitzsimons Army Hospital in Denver/Aurora, Colorado area.
• Notice the trees. They are bare of foliage suggesting a temperate climate. The shrubs against the building are fully grown suggesting an earlier time period for that building.
• Additional research suggests that the car in one of images bears a resemblance to Plymouth vehicles favored by the Army in the 1940s.  This one has a side vent.

Drawing Conclusions

I initially thought these women posed during World War II, but it’s possible they were taken after 1945 when the Army favored this Spanish stucco design. That provides a beginning time frame for the images of after 1945.  But where were they taken?

According to Highlights in the History of the Army Nurse Corps, in 1946 there were still 8,500 Army nurses.  As of April 16, 1947, the Army was going to keep a minimum of 2,558.  On June 15, 1946, the Army offered courses in psychiatric nursing at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston and at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Washington, D.C.. On July 1, 1947, Army nurses attended additional clinical training at the following locations:  Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston; Fitzsimon General Hospital, Denver, Colorado; Letterman General Hospital, San Francisco; and Walter Reed General Hospital, Washington, D.C..

Jana Wells thought the buildings looked like Fort Sam Houston and she might be right. The buildings and the nurses are in the right time for training in that location. Google Image searches turn up similar buildings at Fort Sam Houston, but if the Army used this style of architecture other places, then these images could have been taken in another location.

Proving the Theory

Identifying even one of these women would confirm details about the pictures.  The World War II generation is quickly leaving us.  In senior centers, assisted living centers and nursing homes, may be someone who was one of the faces in these images, but I need your help.

Can you spread the word by sharing this story:

• With those who work with the elderly?
• Local newspapers that might be interested in the story?
• On your social media accounts?

Let’s not let these women in uniform go unidentified.  It’s a big task, but with help we can solve this mystery.

The rest of the pictures are below.

This picture appears to be taken in a different place.

The post Who Are These Women in Uniform? appeared first on Maureen Taylor.

The post Wordless Wednesday: 389th Regiment in World War II appeared first on Maureen Taylor.

Like so many of his generation, Dad enlisted in the United States Army during World War II. From October 22, 1942 to February 5, 1946 he served his country as a member of Company D of the 389th Infantry regiment as a Heavy Machine Gunner. He spent 18 months in Hawaii and several more in Japan. As kids we heard about the geishas of Japan and the pineapples of Hawaii, but never anything about his military service. He died on September 21, 2007.

I’ve inherited several photos of men in military uniform and a few of some Japanese citizens he befriended. It’s an ironic twist to my work as The Photo Detective. All the pictures are unidentified. I didn’t know they existed until after he died. Now I’m trying to piece together the life he didn’t want to discuss.

In a very personal Veteran’s Day column I thought I’d feature two of the images of these men in uniform. If you know who the unidentified fellows are please email me at mtaylor@taylorandstrong.com.

My Dad is in the center of this image. On the left is “Uncle Teddy” Hunt who lived in New Bedford after the war. He was no relation, just my Dad’s best friend from the service. I don’t know the name of the man on the right or where this was taken. Teddy Hunt died when I was just a kid. I’m not sure of his exact first name. Just another mystery to solve!

These three men are unidentified. Anyone want to comment on the significance of the animal heads!

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