Specialist 3^rd Class, US Navy, Eleanor Ester Lucero Pray

Born: November 3, 1922, Guadalupita, New Mexico  

Died: December 7, 2014, Albuquerque, New Mexico  

Petty Officer, Specialist 3rd Class Eleanor Ester Lucero Pray served in the US Navy as one of the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES). It is not known precisely when Lucero Pray joined the WAVES, but she was old enough when they were founded in July of 1942. She may have joined the following year, however, since those under twenty-one had to have parental permission.¹ Due to her naval rating as a Specialist, Lucero Pray would have taken tests in basic training, and based on those scores, been sent for additional training in one of the specialist fields. These comprised a number of very important duties from aviation trainer to weather forecaster, including teachers, naval inspectors, air traffic controllers, and accountants.² It appears likely that Specialist 3^rd Class Lucero was a specialist in communications, photography and videography, or even pigeon training, as she had ties to the US Army Signal Corps, and these three jobs the naval specialty rating had in common with the Signal Corps.^3,4

Today, it might seem a little odd that the Army and Navy were interested in photography and videography, but these were vital to the war effort. Photographers “documented combat, provided military intelligence and topographic data, and helped in mapping terrain.”⁵ Videography is “paramount in aiding military training and keeping the public, key personnel, government officials, and advisers up to date”.⁵  Another thing that may strike an odd note in 21^st-century ears is pigeon training.  Pigeons were used to carry messages in times of radio silence, and in the jungles of the Pacific where communication was difficult at best. ⁶ Their homing instincts made them determined to get their messages through, often despite serious injuries.⁷ But most likely of all, Lucero Pray would have been a communications specialist.  This included jobs as a cryptologist, cryptanalyst, radio intelligence technician, and registered publications clerk.⁸

Specialist Lucero became Specialist Pray in 1944, though when she left the WAVES is unclear.  The marriage would not have made a difference to her service, so it is possible she served until 1946.⁹

Abelino and Rosabel Lucero, of Guadalupita, New Mexico,   welcomed their third daughter, Eleanor Ester, on November 3, 1922.¹⁰ She grew up in Guadalupita with her large family of four sisters and six half brothers.^11,12

While serving in the Navy, she met Corporal Walter Pray, and they were married in New York in 1944.¹³ Sometime in 1950 or 51 they moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.^14,15 The Prays took advantage of the booming housing market and started at least two construction companies in the early 1960s.^16,17,18 Sadly, the construction bubble burst and bankruptcy followed.¹⁹ But the family bounced back, becoming involved in the idea of expanding the Albuquerque city limits with the building of clubs and other entertainments.²⁰

While living in Albuquerque, they produced and raised two daughters and a son.²¹ They were also very active in their church.^22,23 Unfortunately, in 1978, Lucero Pray lost her beloved husband.²⁴  She continued to be active in her church and with her extended family.  Eleanor Ester Lucero Pray passed away on December 7, 2014, on the 73^rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Images & Documents

Notes:

1. How to Serve Your Country in the WAVES. Found at Naval History and Heritage Command. 16 October 2019. p. 13.
2. Broderick, Justin, T. “U.S. Navy: World War II Enlisted Rates: Specialists” Uniform Reference .Net. Copyright 2013. See chart.
3. “Lucero, Eleanor E Bride Record #16096” &. “Pray, Walter T. Groom Record #16096” New York City Municipal Archives; New York, New York; Borough: Manhattan; Volume Number: 23. 1944. Corporal Pray was in the Army Signal Corps, so it’s likely they met during the war since he was from New York and she was from New Mexico.
4. Thompson, Susan. “Signal Corps in World War II.” US Army. 26 June 2020.
5. “Photographers and Videographers.” Careers in the Military: Powered by ASVAB CEP. Last updated: 9 December 2022.
6. Thompson, Susan. “Signal Corps in World War II.” US Army. 26 June 2020.
7. Heidenrich, Christine. “Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service: The WAVES Program in World War II.” National Air and Space Museum. 14 September 2020. This is from the caption on the first picture.
8. Broderick, Justin, T. “U.S. Navy: World War II Enlisted Rates: Specialists” Uniform Reference .Net. Copyright 2013. See chart.
9. “Walter Pray World War II Enlistment Records.” National Archives: US Veterans Gravesites. Last updated: 13 July 2022. Corp. Pray was honorably discharged in January of 1946, so it is likely that his wife was honorably discharged at the same time if she had not been earlier. 
10. “Lucero, Abelino.” Year: 1930; Census Place: Precinct 3, Mora, New Mexico.
11. “Lucero, Abelino.” Year: 1940; Census Place: Guadalupita, Mora, New Mexico;
12. “Eleanor Ester Lucero Pray.” Find a Grave, memorial page for Eleanor Ester Lucero Pray (3 Nov 1922–7 Dec 2014).
13. “Lucero, Eleanor E Bride Record #16096” &. “Pray, Walter T. Groom Record #16096” New York City Municipal Archives; New York, New York; Borough: Manhattan; Volume Number: 23. 1944.
14. “Pray, Walter T.” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 9 April 1978. sec. A p. 12. The years of residence mentioned point to 1950.
15. “Real Estate Transfers.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 9 November 1951. p. 13.
16. “Quality Built with Insulite.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 15 September 1963. sec D. p. 13.
17. “Walter Pray Construction Co.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 25 August 1963. sec. D p. 14.
18. “$1.2-Million Area Planned.” Albuquerque Tribune. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 8 March 1963. sec. C p. 6.
19. “Petitions Filed for Bankruptcy in Federal Court.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 29 September 1967. sec. B p. 5.
20. “Liquor Hearings Ordered.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 27 December 1974. p. 1. There are other articles on this dispute, not used here.
21. “Eleanor Ester Lucero Pray.” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 12 December 2014. sec. C p. 3.
22. “Harrington.” Albuquerque Tribune. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 18 January 1957. p. 17. This is one of several times Walter Pray served as a pallbearer for his church.
23. “Rosary Altar Society Meets this Evening.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 11 August 1960. p. 11.
24. “Pray, Walter T.” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 9 April 1978. sec. A p. 12.

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

Featured Image:

“Eleanor Ester Lucero Pray – in uniform.” Eleanor Ester Lucero Pray: Ancestry.com Gallery. Courtesy of Anne Cassidy. ttmm16 originally shared this on 09 Mar 2018.  Retrieved: 21 July 2023. https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/191237148/person/102477552801/media/9aaf4335-0d6b-48d1-a7c8-93d05f333359?_phsrc=GiD322&usePUBJs=true&galleryindex=3&albums=pg&showGalleryAlbums=true&tab=0&pid=102477552801&sort=-created&sort=-created