Elizabeth L. Hoch
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
Elizabeth L. Hoch served during World War II in the U.S. Navy, in which she enlisted on September 4, 1944. Mrs. Hoch was put on active duty on November 17 that same year.
Mrs. Koch attended basic training at Hunter College, New York City. She attended Yeoman School at a naval training at Oklahoma A&M College in Stillwater, Oklahoma. After completing her training, Mrs. Koch was assigned to the Office of Underwater Detection, which was attached to the office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
She was discharged on July 24, 1946. Her rank was Yeoman 1st Class.
She was born in 1924 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the daughter of Ernest Wicht and Ella C. Samuelson. Mrs. Koch graduated from high school in 1941.
Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall veteran history form; veteran’s account (below)
“There were three different areas in which I served during WWII.
“After graduating from junior college in 1943, I was employed as a secretary for the Marine Iron and Shipbuilding Company.
“At that time, the research division of Wright Field Aircraft Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio, was actively recruiting in Duluth for young women over eighteen years old to work as engineering aides. I decided to enroll in that program, which involved a twenty-six-week training course at the University of Minnesota. I was processed on 11 October 1943 and began the rigorous coursework of forty hours a week. Quite a few of the girls washed out. Those of us who completed the program finished about the end of March 1944 and left for Wright Field.
“I was employed at the Aircraft Radio Laboratory as an Engineering Aide, Radio, for eleven months. Part of my work there involved installing radio equipment in planes.
“Since the Navy was rigorously recruiting women, a friend of mine from Wright Field and I decided to enlist. We signed up in Dayton on September 4, 1944. When I wrote my family to give them the news, they were thrilled. My mother wrote to say my dad, who had served in a Navy band during WWI, had a grin from ear to ear. (I also had an uncle who received the Navy Cross in WWI.)
“The first full-time recruit indoctrination school (boot camp) opened at Naval Training Station, Iowa State Teachers College, Cedar Falls, on 14 December 1942. It became apparent that the Cedar Falls boot campus was not large enough to handle 6,000-7,000 women at a time. Hunter College’s thirty-six-acre non-residential Bronx Campus was recommended, and Hunter College was willing to lease it to the Navy.
“Hunter was officially commissioned as a Naval Training Station on 8 February 1943. The first class was scheduled to begin training on 17 February 1943.
“I entered into active duty on 17 November 1944 at Hunter College Naval Training Station. Upon completion of boot camp, I was assigned to Yeoman School, Naval Training Station, Oklahoma A&M, Stillwater, Oklahoma. After I finished the twelve-week course at Yeoman School, my duty assignment was Naval Barracks, Washington, D.C., where I was placed in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations. My particular office was in Underwater Detection, where I worked with two Navy Captains, one Marine Corps Colonel, two WAVE Lieutenants, and a WAVE Chief Petty Officer, and myself, a Yeoman 1st Class. My Captain, Edward C. Stephan, was a submariner.
“At this time, Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz was Chief of Naval Operations. I encountered him one day on the stairs of the Navy Department Building. My military training deserted me as I just stood there with my mouth open.
“In January 1946, a call came out from the Secretary of the Navy, requesting essential enlisted WAVEs* to volunteer to stay in until 1 September 1946. As an inducement, we were offered a one pay grade raise. I think that is when I became a Yeoman 1st Class. However, I was separated on 24 July 1946.
“My husband was also a veteran. We met after the war on a blind date for a New Year’s dance at the National Guard Armory. After his active duty, Bob joined the National Guard, where he was the Executive Officer when I
met him. He later became the Commanding Officer and retired as a Colonel."
* WAVEs: Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service
