Pharmacist’s Mate, 2^nd Class, US Navy Blanche Virginia Grimmenga Griscom

Born: August 26, 1918, Chicago, Illinois
Died: October 23, 2007, Albuquerque, New Mexico

PHM 2nd Class Blanche Virginia Grimmenga Griscom joined the US Navy as one of the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES), though precisely when isn’t clear. Pharmacist’s Mate was often only a very small part of what the WAVES with this rating did for the Navy. A few PHMs worked in an actual pharmacy, but they also worked as X-ray technicians, physical therapists, dental and optician’s assistants, and physician’s assistants or general hospital corps.¹ If she joined after December of 1943, she would likely have trained close to home as after that time, the Great Lakes Naval Air Station outside Chicago became one of only two places the Navy trained PHMs.² Grimmenga Griscom might have been training in Chicago or stationed there in 1944 as that is where she met her husband.^3,4,5 At some point, she was promoted from PHM 3^rd class to 2^nd class. Grimmenga Griscom was honorably discharged sometime before January of 1946 when her husband, also released from service, registered for the peace-time draft giving their address as Salem, New Jersey.⁶

Blanche Virginia was born on August 26, 1918, to Edward and Exilda Grimmenga of Chicago, Illinois. She grew up in the Chicago area with three brothers and two sisters.^7,8,9 She joined the WAVES from her home in Chicago, met James L. Griscom, and married him in November of 1944.¹⁰ After their service in the Navy, the couple lived in his home state of New Jersey, until they, with their baby daughter in tow, set out for Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1949.¹¹

When they had settled permanently in Albuquerque Grimmenga Griscom attended the University of New Mexico (UNM), likely with her GI Bill benefits. She was an excellent student and was even invited to join the Phi Kappa Phi honorary scholastic fraternity her senior year.^12,13,14 She graduated in 1952 with a degree in Education, and worked teaching math at Sandia High School.¹⁵ She often participated in the Math and Science Institute held at UNM, once even winning a federal grant for the event.^16,17

While in Albuquerque, Grimmenga Griscom and her husband welcomed two more daughters.¹⁸ Grimmenga Griscom joined her church altar society, even giving lectures for them on advent customs.^19,20 She also joined the Albuquerque Roadrunner WAVES Unit.²¹ Surprisingly, at some point Grimmenga Griscom learned how to fly and participated in the Albuquerque Branch of the 99s, even becoming their treasurer from 1970 to 1971.^22,23 Her dedication to this group through the years was obvious as she was eventually successful at instituting a beginning aviation course at Sandia High that ran for many years.²⁴ Her attempt at an advanced course does not appear to have done as well, since the school needed to find a place to house the plane she wanted her students to rebuild for the course.²⁵

Grimmenga Griscom retired in 1978 to spend time with her husband and family.²⁶ In retirement, the Griscoms participated in local elections as the precinct board members for their local polling station.²⁷ Blanche Virginia Grimmenga Griscom passed away on October 23, 2007, followed only seven months later by her beloved husband, James.^28,29

Images & Documents

Notes:

1 & 2. “Specialty Training.” Homefront Heroines: The WAVES of World War II. Copyright 2023. Retrieved: 14 July 2023. ‘Pharmacist’s Mate’ paragraph.

3. “11 S. Jersey Youths Pass Physical Test as Naval Air Cadets.” Morning Post. Camden, New Jersey. 8 April 1943. p. 5.
4. “Griscom/Grimmenga Marriage.” Cook County Clerk; Chicago, Il; Cook County Genealogy Records (Marriages).
5. “Griscom, James Logan.” National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, United States; Muster Rolls of U.S. Navy Ships, Stations, and Other Naval Activities, 01/01/1939 – 01/01/1949. Griscom joined right after graduation from high school, and he was also likely trained in Chicago before being sent to the Recruiting Station in New York and shipped out on the Davidson in Feb. 45. The couple were married in Nov. 1944 in Chicago, so it’s not likely they went to Chicago from NY to get married.
6. “James Logan Griscom.” National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For New Jersey, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 261.
7. “Grimmenga.” Year: 1920; Census Place: Chicago Ward 13, Cook (Chicago), Illinois; Roll: T625_322; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 795
8. “Grimmenga.” Year: 1930; Census Place: Brookfield, Cook, Illinois; Page: 52B; Enumeration District: 2166; FHL microfilm: 2340237.
9. “Grimmenga.” Year: 1940; Census Place: Brookfield, Cook, Illinois; Roll: m-t0627-00781; Page: 17A; Enumeration District: 16-251.
10. “Griscom/Grimmenga Marriage.” Cook County Clerk; Chicago, Il; Cook County Genealogy Records (Marriages).
11. “Mr. and Mrs. James Griscom.” Courier-Post. Camden, New Jersey. 20 August 1949. p. 18.
12. “Education College Honor Roll Lists 51 for Semester.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 28 June 1950. p. 8.
13. “Local Students on Two Honor Rolls.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 23 June 1952. p. 16.
14. “Phi Kappa Phi to Initiate 15 Seniors, Four on UNM Faculty Thursday Night.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 9 December 1951. p. 14.
15. “Mrs. Blanche Griscom, Sandia High School, Algebra II, Trigonometry, Aviation.” U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012; School Name: Sandia High School; Year: 1971.
16. “Institute Held.” Albuquerque Tribune. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 20 February 1960. sec. B p 5.
17. “Math Institute to Attract 14 N.M. Teachers.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 17 April 1964. sec E p. 11.
18. “Griscom, Blanche V Griscom.” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 26 October 2007. sec. B p. 7.
19. “First Officers.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 20 February 1960. p. 12.
20. “Advent Customs Explained.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 10 November 1960. sec. B p. 2.
21. “Military Briefs.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 23 June 1952. sec. B p. 5.
22. Alexander, Betty. “Chatterbox: The Albuquerque 99s.” Albuquerque Tribune. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 20 February 1960. sec B. p. 2.
23. “Pins Given Women Pilots Promoting Safety in Air.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 8 December 1971. sec B p. 1.
24. “Sandia High Course to Keep Students Heads in Clouds.” Albuquerque Tribune. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 29 August 1968. sec. C p. 6. In the following article it is noted the course has gone every year from 1968 and was still going strong in 1973.
25. “99 News.” Official Publication of International Women Pilots. Vol. 15 no. 6, July 1973. pp. 17-18.
26. “City Teachers Elect President.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 13 May 1978. p. 6.
27. “Legals.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 25 May 1996. sec D. p. 9
28. “Griscom, Blanche V Griscom.” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 26 October 2007. sec. B p. 7.
29. “Griscom, James Logan Griscom.” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 30 May 2008. sec. E p. 4.

Compiled by: A. D. McLean, MA, MLIS. Central New Mexico Community College, retired 2022.

Featured Image:

“Blanche Virginia Grimmenga Griscom.” Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39604068/blanche-virginia-griscom: accessed 01 August 2023), memorial page for Blanche Virginia Grimmenga Griscom (26 Aug 1918–23 Oct 2007), Find a Grave Memorial ID 39604068, citing Santa Fe National Cemetery, Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, New Mexico, USA; Maintained by Lynn DeHart Kelley (contributor 46782144).