Technician 4 (Sgt), Women’s Army Corps

Leora Rebecca Mortensen Rose Weaver

Born: March 25, 1915, Cache County, Utah

Died: June 24, 1983, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Technician 4^th grade, a rank addressed as Sergeant, Leora (Mortensen) Rose Weaver joined the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) on September 14, 1943. She went from her home in Los Angels for six weeks of basic training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa.¹ Private Rose was sent to Fort Stevens, Oregon, and became a telephone operator as a member of the Army Service Forces (ASF). Part of the ASF was the Signal Corps, which provided women to work as telephone, radio, and teletype operators, cryptographers, cryptanalysts, and photographic experts.^2,3 Fort Stevens was a dynamic place during the war because it was attacked by a Japanese submarine in 1942, becoming the only place in the continental United States attacked in World War II, in fact, the only place in the continental US attacked by a foreign power since 1812.⁴ The next attack was continually on the minds of those who served there. Rose Weaver served Fort Stevens well, and sometime between March and July 1944 received a promotion to corporal.^5,6

 Corporal Rose wrote to her mother in August of 1944 telling her how much the men needed women to win the war; specifically Wacs. She mentioned that some men overseas hadn’t been paid since there weren’t enough clerks to process the pay. Rose Weaver said there was no reason for women not to join as, “I am receiving a wonderful education in the services. The opportunities offered surpass any I have ever received in civilian life. I can honestly say that I’m prouder of belonging to this wonderful organization than of anything else in my life.”⁷ After this ringing praise in support of joining the WAC, it is not at all surprising that in September of 1944, Corporal Rose was moved to recruitment and restationed in Medford, Oregon as assistant to the main WAC recruiter there.⁸

Rose Weaver was an excellent recruiter; by January 1945 she had received promotion to sergeant. Also in January, Sergeant Rose became Sergeant Weaver.⁹ Sergeant Weaver was to continue her exemplary work for the WAC until her honorable discharge in December 1945.

Leora Rebecca Mortensen was born in Cache County, Utah, on March 25, 1915, to George and Rebecca Mortensen. She grew up around Logan, Utah.^10,11 Her parents divorced in 1932, and both remarried.^12,13 She married Paul Rose in 1934 in Idaho.¹⁴ The new Mr. and Mrs. Rose lived in Logan for a time, but moved to Los Angeles, California in 1941.^15,16 It was from California that Rose Weaver joined the WAC. In June of 1944, she divorced Rose.¹⁷

In January of 1945, Sergeant Rose married Corporal Otto Karl Weaver and both were discharged by December of that year.¹⁸ Rose Weaver attended Utah State Agricultural College with the GI Bill and studied Commerce.¹⁹ She was also active in the American Legion, holding offices before becoming a district commander in 1949.^20,21 She was active as a veteran and participated in the Business Professional Women’s Club.^22,23 Meanwhile, her husband worked for the BIA in various areas throughout the western US such as Utah, Arizona, Montana, and New Mexico.²⁴ While the couple lived in the Uintah Basin in the Fort Duchesne area, Rose Weaver became a correspondent for the local paper.²⁵ She worked alongside her husband and was even honored for her work by the Federal Club of Billings, Montana, for her work.²⁶

The Weavers never had any children of their own but adopted and raised three sons.²⁷ Tragically, they lost one son to a car accident in 1969.²⁸ The Weavers retired to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1979, and Rose Weaver continued her work in various clubs for women and children.^29,30

Leora Rebecca Mortensen Rose Weaver passed away on June 24, 1983.

Images & Documents

Notes:

1 & 2. “Transferred.” Medford Mail Tribune. Medford, Oregon. 20 September 1944. p. 7.

3. “Women in the Army: A History.” US Army. 2023. Retrieved: 30 June 2023. para. 16.
4. Nelson, Kurt. “Fort Stevens.” Oregon Encyclopedia. 7 December 2022. para. 5.
5. “Leora R. Rose is Entertained on Birthday.” Herald Journal. Logan, Utah. 28 March 1944. p.5.
6. “About Town: Emory L. Mortensen.” Herald-Journal. Logan, Utah. 5 July 1944. p. 8.
7. “Wacs Need Help to Bring Final Victory.” Herald-Journal. Logan, Utah. 5 August 1944. p.4 Rose Weaver’s mother sent the letter to this local paper. Most of this paragraph comes from the letter.
8. “Transferred.” Medford Mail Tribune. Medford, Oregon. 20 September 1944. p. 7.
9. “Leora R. Rose.” Deseret News. Salt Lake City, Utah. 20 January 1945. p. 3.
10. “Mortensen.” Year: 1920; Census Place: Logan, Cache, Utah.
11. “Mortensen.” Year: 1930; Census Place: Providence, Cache, Utah.
12. “Mortensen, George. Herald-Journal: Obituaries. Logan, Utah. 31 May 1949. p. 4.
13. “Wacs Need Help to Bring Final Victory.” Herald-Journal. Logan, Utah. 5 August 1944. p.4
14. “Rose/Mortensen Marriage.” Upper Snake River Family History Center and Ricks College; Rexburg, Idaho; Idaho Marriages, 1842-1996.
15. “Rose.” Year: 1940; Census Place: Logan, Cache, Utah.
16. “Cache Corner: Hyrum.” Herald-Journal. Logan, Utah. 26 July 1941. p. 8
17. “About Town: A Divorce Decree.” Herald-Journal. Logan, Utah. 12 June 1944. p. 5.
18. “Leora R. Rose.” Deseret News. Salt Lake City, Utah. 20 January 1945. p. 3.
19. “College Makes Annual Awards to Outstanding Students.” Herald-Journal. Logan, Utah. 8 May 1950. p. 6 & p. 12.
20. “Mount Logan Legion Post Elects Officers.” Herald-Journal. Logan, Utah. 14 July 1947. p. 4.
21. “Legion Outlines District Convention.” Herald-Journal. Logan, Utah. 31 May 1949. p. 1.
22. “Veterans Meeting.” Herald-Journal. Logan, Utah. 19 May 1949. p. 1
23. “Officers Named to Direct Business Professional Women’s Club Next Year.” Uintah Basin Standard. Roosevelt, Utah. 1 May 1958. p. 3.
24. “Weaver, Leora Rebecca.” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 26 June 1983. sec. F p. 12. Also, see D 7,8,9 & 19.
25. “Reservation News and Fort Duchesne Items.” Unitah Basin Standard. Roosevelt, Utah. 23 October 1958. p. 12
26. “Government Gals.” Billings Gazette. Billings, Montana. 19 May 1966. p. 21.
27. “Weaver, Leora Rebecca.” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 26 June 1983. sec. F p. 12.
28. “Jerry Weaver.” Billings Gazette. Billings, Montana. 14 July 1969. p. 8
29. “DOES Host North District Meeting.” Gallup Independent. Gallup, New Mexico. 30 March 1976. p. 3. The Benevolent Patriotic Order of DOES is similar to the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks. https://www.bpodoes.org/does/
30. “Weaver, Leora Rebecca.” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 26 June 1983. sec. F p. 12.

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

Featured Image:

“Leora Rebecca Mortensen Weaver.” Ancestry.com Gallery. USAC Buzzer Yearbook 1948- Sophomore Class, Leora Weaver. Logan, Cache, Utah, USA. Retrieved: 23 July 2023. karlam60 originally shared this on 16 Apr 2019.