Of particular interest to Mrs. Shirley Miller Clevenger when she enlisted in the WAVES at the naval procurement office, old federal building here, was this captured Japanese life preserver, which she tried on. Shirley, whose husband, Doyle Clevenger, is an apprentice seaman at Williamsburg, Va., is the first wife of an Iowa navy man to enlist in the same service as her husband. Both are of Mason City, Ia.
Source: Des Moines Tribune, November 24, 1943
1st Sailor's Wife Sworn Into WAVES
Up until two weeks ago, any girl who was married to a sailor couldn't joint he WAVES. Then they changed the rules and one of the 1st to go in under the new plan is Shirley Miller Clevenger, 118 Rhode Island S.R.
Mrs. Clevenger was sworn into the WAVES on Nov.24 at Des Moines and will leave for New York to take her basic training at Hunter college on Jan. 4. She is at home with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leo E. Miller, 118 Rhode Island S.E.
Both Mrs. Clevenger and her husband, Doyle, had been employed by Douglas Aircraft in California for 6 months before he enlisted in the navy on Nov. 8. He is an apprentice seaman, stationed at Williamsburg, Va.
Mrs. Clevenger has a brother, Bill Miller, who is a 1st class private in the marines, stationed at San Diego.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, November 29, 1943
