PFC Anna Louella Adams Oral History Part 2

title:

PFC Anna Louella Adams Oral History Part 2

creator:

Adams, Anna Luella (Johnson) (1932 May 3 - 2021 September 13)

subject:

Women's Army Corps (WAC)

description:

Part 2 of 2. Anna Luella Adams (formerly Johnson) was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 3, 1932. Her mother was a teacher and a secretary, and her father owned a cement factory before he died when Adams was 11 years old. She had 3 sisters, 1 older and 2 younger. She graduated high school in 1950, but didn't attend college until much later in life, choosing instead to enlist in the military in July of that year. She enlisted as part of the Women's Army Corps (WAC), completing basic training at Fort Lee in Virginia. Her first assignment was as a telephone operator at Presidio in San Francisco, due to her prior experience as a telephone operator while in high school. She worked the main switchboard there for 5 months before being transferred to the 7th Signal Battalion in Paris, France. She worked at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), the military headquarters of NATO. At the time, it was just outside of Versailles and led by General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Adams also worked as a telephone operator here, serving as part of the team responsible for wake-up calls to General Eisenhower and his wife, Mamie. She moved to Battalion Headquarters in early 1952, where she met her husband. They married soon after and she left the service in 1952, remaining in France for the following few years. She rejoined for a second tour of France with the 7th Signal Battalion near Verdun, serving from 1957-1962 as an accountant. After returning to the states, she worked as a telephone operator at Fort Leanord Wood in Missouri. She then became an accountant and worked in that industry until her retirement in 1995. In her time in the military, Adams served at Fort Lee, Virginia; Presidio, California; Paris, France; and Verdun France. The highest rank she achieved was Private First Class, and for her service she was awarded the National Defense Service Medal. This interview was conducted by telephone, and a transcript of this interview is available.

publisher:

Military Women's Memorial Foundation

contributor:

Scott, Kate M.

date:

2003-08-06

type:

Audio

format:

Cassette

identifier:

004.02; 2003.004

source:

CLIR - Recordings at Risk

language:

English

relation:

160901

coverage:

1950s | 1950-52

rights:

Restricted