A Wac in Paris
May 14, 2008 – 6:00 amSylvia Goldstein Croll was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After war broke out in 1941, Sylvia approached her father about wanting to join the WAAC – Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps – later changed to WAC – Women’s Army Corps. She had no brothers who could enlist, a factor in her decision to want to join the service. She was a patriotic young woman who felt it her duty to serve our country. Her father agreed and she was off to Daytona Beach, Florida for her basic training.Sylvia went on to Camp Atterbury, Indiana, where she served as a clerk/typist. She, along with three other women, became very good friends – for life. The four of them volunteered for overseas duty and went off to London on the Queen Mary. Here she served with the Area Petroleum Office (APO) for most of a year.
When word came out that stenographers were greatly needed in Paris, the four of them volunteered once again. They were ready to meet that need and also they were tired of buzz bombs landing on London with great regularity. The four of them landed on Utah Beach and went on to Cologne, where they set up tents until they could move on to Paris. Here Sylvia served as a stenographer in the Engineering Department.
When I asked Sylvia if anything interesting happened in Paris, I learned that something indeed did happen. Sylvia met Monte on March 8, 1945 near the Arc de Triomphe. She was running to catch her truck and Monte had just gotten off his truck. Sylvia was a T4 Sgt. and Monte was a Master Sgt. Everything clicked and on their third date, July 26, they were married by a rabbi Sylvia had known back in the States.
Sylvia was discharged in October of 1945. Although she is the only one remaining of her close Army friends, through the years the four of them continued to see one another regularly and to remain close friends.
For more on World War II, go to www.peggeorge.com.
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