Haspel, Vera - Putnam

Now third officers, two more Miami girls will be assuming executive positions in the WAAC. They are Dorothy Lunsford and Vera L. Haspel (born 23 March 1909 in Putnam County daughter of Charles & Edith Smalley Haspel) and with their new rank, equivalent to the army’s second lt, they will be releasing two men to active duty. Starting out as WAAC auxiliaries, Officers Lunsford and Haspel were selected for officer candidate school on the basis of their fine records and were commissioned at Ft. Des Moines, Iowa.

Source: Lexington Herald 30 May 1944 p 2

Organization of a drill team for civilian women which will meet from 7-8 p.m. on Monday and Thursday nights is being undertaken by the Lexington Wac recruiting office, Lt. Vera Haspel, Wac recruiting officer reported yesterday. Women desiring to participate in the drill work should notify the Army recruiting office in the Federal building by Wednesday she said.

Source: Same – Enlistment of Miss Jean B. Benjamin, 123 Lafayette Avenue in the Women’s Army Corps was announced yesterday by Lt. Vera Haspel, Wac officer in charge of the Army recruiting office in the Federal Building.

Source: Terre Haute Tribune Star Sun 29 Sept 1957 p 67

Terre Haute 30 years ago today – “Miss Terre Haute” – Miss Vera Haspel, chosen as Miss Terre Haute to represent this city at the Atlantic City bathing beauty tournamenet took time out today to chat with Tribune reporter Anna Bowles Wiley. “Linday had nothing on me for thrills when he landed on the shores of Paris when the judges announce that Vera Haspel was chosen Miss Terre Haute.  If I had been called upon to say whom I thought would be chosen five minutes before I would have declared the choice would lay between Pauline Meirowitz and Dorothy Tuttle, although the other two girls were lovely enough to have won  the “Golden Apple of Paris.”  Miss Haspel has almost Venus measurements and is possessed of red-gold hair of a lovely texture. Her eyes are gray-blue and her skin is fair. She is vivacious and full of life. Her arm’s length measures 21 1/2 “ her wrist 6 ¼”, her neck 13” her waist 27” her bust 34” hip 37” left thigh 21 ¾”; right thigh 22”, calf 13 ½ and ankle 8 ¼”.  She is 5’ 6 7/8” in height and weighs 127#.  Miss Haspel is 18 years old.

Source: Lexington Herald 7 Sept 1944 p 2 – The Culver Press Club trophy presented monthly to the Army recruiting sub station in the Cincinnati district obtaining the largest % of Wac enlistments over its quota was awarded yesterday to lt. Vera L. Haspel, Wac officer in charge of the Lexington Army recruiting station. Fred B. Wachs, representing the Cuvier Club of Cincinnati made the presentation at the luncheon-meeting of the Lexington Lions Club at the Lafayette Hotel. The Lexington station which obtained 140% of its quota in August won the award in competition with 10 other stations in Ohio and Kentucky – (Note: she won it more than once)

Source: The Advocate-Messenger 15 March 1945 p 2

Frankfort, Ky – March 15 – Wac Lt. Vera L. Haspel stationed at Lexington was made a Kentucky Colonel by Governor Willis today in recognition of her work in the drive for Army nurses.

Note: In 1936, Vera was a model for the Wm H Block Company.  

Name Vera L Haspel

Race White

Marital Status Single, without dependents (Single)

Rank Aviation Cadet

Birth Year 1909

Nativity State or Country Indiana

Citizenship Citizen

Residence Dade, Florida

Education 3 years of high school

Civil Occupation Clerks, general office

Enlistment Date 22 Dec 1942

Enlistment Place Camp Blanding, Florida

Service Number A-400952

Branch Inactive Reserve

Component Womens Army Corps

Source Civil Life

Height 67

Weight 147