Sioux County

Ensign Arlene Brunsting

 

 

 

Mrs. Arlene Brunsting Accepted For Officers Training In WAVES
(photo)
MRS. ARLENE BRUNSTING
Mrs. Arlene Brunsting is the first young woman from Sioux Center to join the U.S. Navy.  She has been accepted for Officer's Training and sworn in at Kansas City last week Tuesday, March 23rd.  Mrs. Brunsting arrived here Wednesday morning to stay at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit De Mots while awaiting her call which she anticipates within two to six weeks.  Her preliminary training will be given at either of the two WAVE Officer Training Schools which are located at Mt. Holyoke, or Smith College, both in Massachusetts.  After a two or three month course, she will be given a commission and assigned to regular duty with the women's branch of the U. S. Navy.
Of the 15 young women who applied for officer training in the WAVES at Kansas City, only two passed the tests given, Arlene being one of the two.  She graduated from Iowa City last May and was married to Lieut. Albert Brunsting last summer in Arizona.  Albert went across shortly after and was reported "missing in action somewhere in southeastern Europe" since Jan. 3rd.  No word has been received concerning him since that time.  Mrs. Brunsting says she feels that she should go into the women's branch of the service because she knows it is what her husband would want her to do.  She has been working at the Cessna plant in Wichita, Kansas since last October.  The Cessna plant makes planes and plane parts.

Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 1, 1943 p 1

Receives Call To Officers Training School
Mrs. Arlene Brunsting received her call this week from the WAVES Officer Training School.  Her instructions are to report for duty on May 8th, 1943, at smith College, Northampton, Mass.  she will have classes five hours a day, and two hours of daily drill.  Clothing will be issued after she arrives as uniforms are fitted for each individual.  For the present her mailing address will be the U.S. Naval Reserve Midshipmen's School (W.R.) Smith College, Northampton, Mass.

Source: Sioux Center News Apr. 29, 1943 p 1

Mrs. Arlene Brunsting was guest of honor at a handkerchief shower given for her by a group of ladies at the home of Mrs. Arthur Vander Ploeg on Tuesday afternoon.  Mrs. Gary Boeyink was assistant hostess.  Mrs. Brunsting will leave from Maurice on Friday afternoon and will meet the rest of the WAVES at Chicago and from there on they will travel together to Smith College at Northampton, Mass.

Source: Sioux Center News May 6, 1943 p 9

Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit De Mots received a telegram from their daughter Mrs. Arlene Brunsting on Saturday afternoon that she had arrived in Springfield, which is about 25 miles from Smiths College, and they were waiting to be taken to the college by bus.  She had met the other WAVES at Chicago and they had travelled together the rest of the way.

Source: Sioux Center News May 13, 1943 p 4

Arlene Brunsting ASV-9
U.S.N.R. Midshipmen's School
Mt. Holyoke College,
South Hadley, Mass N. 405
Arlene reported for active duty with the WAVES on May 8th.

Source: Sioux Center News May 13, 1943 p 8

Arlene Brunsting was sworn in as midshipman last Wednesday and will graduate from officers training school the 29th of June.  She is attending Mt. Holyoke College at South Hadley, Mass.

Source: Sioux Center News June 17, 1943 p 10

Arlene Brunsting, recently commissioned as Ensign in the WAVES, has this new address: Ensign Arlene Brunsting, U.S.N.R., 329 S. 16th St., Philadelphia, Penn.

Source: Sioux Center News Aug. 5, 1943 p 2

Wave Officer
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ENSIGN ARLENE BRUNSTING
Ensign Arlene Brunsting, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit De Mots, arrived here last Friday on leave from her duties at the Navy Air Materials Center in Philadelphia. 
Arlene is Sioux Center's only representative in the women's branch of the U. S. Navy.  She entered the service May 8th and graduated on June 29th from Officer's Training School at Holyoke, Mass., receiving her commission as Ensign.  She was then stationed at Philadelphia at the Navy Yard, where she is assistant to the office manager and is officer in charge of the registered publications on Radar.
she very much enjoys her work and says it is splendid experience and training.  She left here Wednesday on her return to Philadelphia. 
It is nearly a year ago now that Mrs. Brunsting received the report that her husband Al Brunsting, pilot of a B-17 Bomber, was missing in action since Jan. 3rd, 1943.  Subsequent correspondence with members of his squadron seem to prove conclusively that Al went down with his ship somewhere in the English Channel.

Source: Sioux Center News Dec. 30, 1943 p 1

Ensign Arlene Brunsting left for Philadelphia Wednesday, after spending since Friday at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit De Mots. 

Source: The Alton Democrat Jan. 6, 1944 p 4

Ensign Arlene Brunsting has a change of street address.  Her complete address is: U.S.N.R., 2223 Louise St., Philadelphia, Penn.

Source: Sioux Center News Jan. 27, 1944 p 8