HomeMy WebLinkAboutVictoria E. (Klenk) Schaeller, Brazos Valley Heroes
~, ;
' `` One in a series of tributes to members of "The Greatest
;Generation" who served our country during World War II
Vctoria E. (Klenk) Schaeler, now of Bryan, grew up in the
picturesque town of Peoria, Illinois, in the 1930's. Whenever she
goes back to visit, the only familiar structure left now is the old
courthouse. In December 1941, Schaeler worked as a secretary
for Standard Oil in Illinois.
"When I arrived at work on the Monday after Pearl Harbor was
attacked, everyone was standing around the radio listening to Mr.
Roosevelt give his `Day of Infamy' speech. At that moment, I felt
an overwhelming sense of patriotism. I told all my friends that I
was going to enlist in the Navy. Well, after months of saying I was
going to enlist and not doing so, I finally did. My friends went to
the recruiting offices with me to make sure I actually enlisted.
"I was accepted into WAVES, Women Accepted for Volunteer
Emergency Service. In the Spring of 1942, I was sent to New York
for boot camp. One of the first things we had to do was go for
a dental exam. Two friends and I went together. We waited and
waited and finally, when the guy in the long white coat called my
name I gave him a good chewing out for making us wait for so
long. My friends told me later I could have been court-marshaled
because he was a lieutenant j.g.
"Our housing was located in the Bronx and it was cold and
snowy. On Easter that year we walked to a church on Fifth
Avenue in our blue unrforms and long coats. We were sad looking
sacks. I used my liberties at that time for sightseeing. I got to visit
the Statue of Liberty and Washington; D.C.
`Sometimes on our way to or from lessons we would sing
songs together. One in particular was - 'ff you're nervous in the
service and you wanna get out of the Navy, have a baby.' At
that time you weren't allowed to stay if you were pregnant. Near
the end of boot camp you had to pick where you wanted to go.
Washington, D.C., was too congested, so I chose California."
Schaeler was shipped to Shoemaker Naval Hospital near San
Francisco, where she spent the remainder of the war and met her
first husband in 1945.
"Shoemaker was in the middle of the desert. The men joked
that Eleanor must have picked the place. The neat thing about
being at Shoemaker was the location. We would hitchhike to San
Francisco when we received liberties and go shopping in the
beautiful stores and eat in the wonderful restaurants. One of the
girls bought her future wedding dress at a boutique there. We had
such fun trying on the civilian clothes. William Randolph Hearst
had a ranch nearby that housed a pool and tennis courts and he
would open it up to men and women in the Navy to enjoy. It was
a nice break from the desert.
"I was assigned tothe x-ray division and my rank was hospital
apprentice. We were responsible for diagnosis and further treat-
ment for a lot of G.I.s. We treated many who received purple
hearts later After time I took various exams and made pharma-
cist third class. I saw some gruesome injuries and some Crary
people. One man had sewed buttons on his ankles and made
holes in his socks so he could button them up. I think he just
wanted to get discharged.
"On Victory Japan or V J day, San Francisco hosted a parade.
All of us were bused in so we could march down Market Street
for three hours. When the parade was over, everybody danced in
the street and had a good time."
In the fall of 1945, Schaeler was discharged from the Navy.
She went back to Peoria, Illinois, and returned to her job at
Standard Oil, but not for long. Schaeler married in March of 1946
and relocated to Southern Cal'rfomia to work and have children.
She moved to Bryan a few years ago to be with her oldest son.
"Even today I have strong feelings of patriotism. When I hear
the Star Spangled Banner I choke up every time. If I had to do
it all over, I would. We all felt like a big family and it was a great
experience."
Victoria E. (Klenk) Schaeler's name can be found on the
Brazos Valley Veteran's Memorial. For more information, to make
a contribution, or 'rf you know a World War II Veteran whose story
needs to be told, contact the BWM at www.veteransmernorial.
org or Bill Youngkin at (979) 260-7030.
The Eagle
Here when you need us.
theeagle. corn
_ _ __ _ _
_ __ __ __