Private First Class, Women’s Army Corps Iradell Marie Weidhos Andrews 

Born: May 8, 1896, Marwood, Pennsylvania
Died: December 18, 1996, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Private First Class Iradell Marie Weidhos Andrews joined the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) in November of 1943.¹ This amazing woman was one of the first grandmothers to join the WAC, not many grandmothers could join as women had to be less than fifty years of age.² Weidhos Andrews joined because she had two sons in the Army Air Force.³ She did her training at the WAC training center in Des Moines, Iowa.⁴ It is not clear where she served after her training, likely in her home state of Pennsylvania, quite likely as a medic in some way.⁵  She left the WAC from Fort Sheridan, Indiana in February of 1946.⁶

Iradell Marie was born to Lewis and Annie Weidhos on May 8, 1896, in Marwood, Pennsylvania. Tragically, she lost her father at barely a year old, but he did leave the family well provided for.^7,8 While in school, she often gave speeches and readings.⁹ After completing high school, Weidhos Andrews enrolled in Western Women’s College in the 1914/15 school year.  While there, she played basketball.¹⁰ In 1917, she was a teacher in Butler, Pennsylvania, and still participated in speeches and debates.¹¹

Not long after this, she met and married George Dewey Andrews. Their first son was born in 1919.^12,13 Their second son was born in 1923.^14,15 The marriage was not a happy one, and it ended in 1934.¹⁶ Resolutely, Weidhos Andrews raised her sons and worked as a teacher. By 1943, she was the social service worker at the Gumbert Industrial School for Girls as well as its first aid instructor. This was the job she resigned from to join the WAC.¹⁷

When she left the WAC, Weidhos Andrews became the treasurer of the local WAC Veterans group.¹⁸ In 1951, she was still in Pennsylvania, but by 1958 she had moved west to become the principal of the Parker School on the Rocky Boy Reservation.^19,20  By 1961 she’d moved to New Mexico as the principal of the Tesuque Day School where she earned a certificate from the US School of Music at Port Washington, New York.²¹ For her efforts in education, and continuation of her own educational growth, she was invited to join the American Association of University Women.²²

Weidhos Andrews was one of the first women to not only run for Chaplin of her American Legion Department but to be elected.^23,24 The following year, she became principal of the San Ildefonso Day School where she hosted a French exchange student.²⁵ She was active in the Girl’s State program for the American Legion where selected young women are exposed to responsible citizenship, leadership, and love of God and Country, and Weidhos Andrews was often the chair of the event.²⁶

Sometime in the early 1970s she retired, but by 1974 Weidhos Andrews was the president of the local branch of the American Association of Retired Persons.²⁷ However, 1976 was a difficult year for her as she lost not only her eldest son’s wife but six months later she lost her younger son.^28,29 Wiedhos Andrews bounced back a little in 1978, being specially invited to a luncheon for the Pilot’s Club, who announced, “A special guest will be Iradell Andrews, a World War II veteran with the American Legion who is also associated with the auxiliary. For the past 12 years, she has directed participants going to Girl’s State.”³⁰

Eventually, even Weidhos Andrews had to slow down, as she moved into her 80s and 90s, she took life easy at her home in Santa Fe.³¹  Iradell Marie Weidhos Andrews died December 18, 1996, at 100 years and seven months old.

Images & Documents

Notes:

1. “Application for World War II Compensation: Andrews, Iradell M.” Pennsylvania (State). World War II Veterans Compensation Applications, circa 1950s.

2. “We Remember by Ancestry: Iradell Andrews.” Accessed: 6 August 2023. https://www.weremember.com/iradell-andrews/5y7c/memories

3 & 4. “Mother of Two Air Force Men is WAC Recruit.” Pittsburgh Press.  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 18 November 1943. p. 11.

5. “Andrews, Iradell.” Butler, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1944. This is the only mention of Weidhos Andrews that can be found for those years, though she may have simply remained listed in the local phone book, not actually lived there. In the article in note 3, she was a first aid instructor, so that knowledge would have been valuable to the WAC.
6. “Application for World War II Compensation: Andrews, Iradell M..” Pennsylvania (State). World War II Veterans Compensation Applications, circa 1950s.
7. “Lewis Weidhos.” Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64233688/lewis-weidhos: accessed 08 August 2023), memorial page for Lewis Weidhos (2 Feb 1859–22 Apr 1897).
8. “Lewis Weidhos Last Will and Testament.” Probate Files, 1803-1918; Author: Butler County (Pennsylvania). Register of Wills. Ten thousand dollars in 1897, is roughly $370,000 today.
9. “A Pleasing Entertainment.” Altoona Tribune. Altoona, Pennsylvania. 3 March 1909. p. 3. This is one example of several that were noted in the local paper.
10. “Basket Ball.” “U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012”; School Name: Western College for Women; Year: 1915. P. 121.
11. “School Meeting.” Butler Citizen. Butler, Pennsylvania. 20 February 1917. p. 3.
12. “Andrews.” Year: 1920; Census Place: Oakmont, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: T625_1516; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 294.
13. “Thomas Lewis Andrews.” National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Draft Registration Cards For Ohio, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 27.
14. “Andrews.” Year: 1930; Census Place: Coraopolis, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 0557; FHL microfilm: 2341696.
15. “Scott Andrews Sr.” Newark Advocate. Newark, New Jersey. 19 October 1976. p. 19.
16. “Vital Statistics: Divorces Granted.” Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. 14 April 1934. p. 13. Interestingly, Weidhos Andrews is listed as a widow in the Butler phonebook in 1944. Divorce was not a socially acceptable thing in this era.
17. “Mother of Two Air Force Men is WAC Recruit.” Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 18 November 1943. p. 11.
18. “WAC Vets Elect Officers.” Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 21 July 1946. p. 13.
19. “Andrews, Iradell.” Butler, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1951.
20. “Exercises for Reservation Eighth Graders Held.” Havre Daily News. Havre, Montana. 30 May 1958. p. 3.
21. “Iradell Andrews Earns Certificate.” Santa Fe New Mexican. Santa Fe, New Mexico. 3 March 1961. p. 5.
22. “More Than Thirty Prospects Attend AAUW Luncheon.” Santa Fe New Mexican. Santa Fe, New Mexico. 19 September 1961. p. 5
23. “Woman is Candidate for Chaplin Post.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 21 April 1963 p. 10
24. “Legion Holds Spring Confab.” Santa Fe New Mexican. Santa Fe, New Mexico. 28 May 1963. p. 12.
25. “Chain of Circumstances Makes Visit of French Girl A Heartwarming Success.” Santa Fe New Mexican. Santa Fe, New Mexico. 13 January 1964. p. 8.
26. “Girls State Delegates Announced.” Santa Fe New Mexican. Santa Fe, New Mexico. 8 May 1968. p. 6.
27. “Retired Persons’ Luncheon.” Santa Fe New Mexican. Santa Fe, New Mexico. 8 December 1974. Retrieved: 6 August 2023. https://www.newspapers.com/image/581461140 sec C. p. 10.
28. “Andrews, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth.” Santa Fe New Mexican. Santa Fe, New Mexico. 8 April 1976. p. 8.
29. “Scott Andrews Sr.” Newark Advocate. Newark, New Jersey. 19 October 1976. p. 19.
30. “Pilot Club.” Santa Fe New Mexican. Santa Fe, New Mexico. 19 September 1961. sec C. p. 8.
31. “Iradell Andrews.” Voter Registration Lists, Public Record Filings, Historical Residential Records, and Other Household Database Listings.
32. “Application for World War II Compensation: Andrews, Iradell M.” Pennsylvania (State). World War II Veterans Compensation Applications, circa 1950s.

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

Featured Image:

“Mrs. Andrews: Mother of Two Air Force Men is WAC Recruit.” Pittsburgh Press.  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 18 November 1943. Retrieved: 6 August 2023. https://www.newspapers.com/image/147910494