Recap: 7-7-7 Week Three - Juanita Goold
Many thanks to museum registrar Kris Zickuhr for putting together the first 7-7-7 presentation on a woman soldier. Juanita Goodl served as a WAC Intelligence Officer with the Army Air Corps during World War II. In fact, Goold was one of the very first WACs in the European theater and worked on the planning of the D-Day invasion.
1) Footlocker. Manufactured in 1940 by American Hardware Company. Retains address labels and stamps from shipment to and from Captain Goold’s home in Madison, Wisconsin.
2) Cosmetic or pill case. Picked up by Captain Goold as a souvenir in England. Hallmarks show it was made in 1900 in Birmingham, England, possibly by H. Matthews, made of Sterling Silver.
3) Socks. Handknit, probably by the Red Cross. Red Cross volunteers were active in knitting for the troops, a tradition which dates to at least the Civil War and continues today. These socks are somewhat unusual because their size shows they were clearly knit for a female soldier, most knitting was done for male troops. Knitting for the troops continues today, with balaclavas (similar to ski masks) being made for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
4) Uniform, “greens and pinks”. WAC Officers were required to purchase their own uniforms after an initial clothing allowance. As a result many officer uniforms are tailor made and each is slightly different. “Greens and pinks” were a semi-dress winter uniform, only worn by officers.
a. Jacket, dark olive drab, tailor made by Simpson and Son in London, England in 1942. SHAEF shoulder sleeve insignia (Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force), Signal Corps collar insignia, ribbons representing American Campaign Medal; European, African, Middle Eastern Medal (commonly called the ETO or European Theater of Operations ribbon) with stars for Southern France, Central Europe and Rhineland campaigns; World War II Victory Medal. Captain’s rank insignia on shoulders.
b. Skirt is light olive drab, with a pinkish cast, commonly known as “pinks”. Tailor made in France in 1942, wool twill.
5) Scrapbook. Newspaper clippings, photographs and momentos of Captain Goold’s experiences in Europe during World War II. The scrapbook includes a sketch of when she was dropped off in a field in France as well as a receipt for the tailor made uniform jacket referenced above.
6) Cap, United Women Veterans. Pins for U.S. Army, World War II service and the 50th anniversary of World War II.
7) Portrait, Captain Juanita Goold, artist Kari Barth. This was probably painted in later years from a photograph. The uniform shown is the summer khakis.
The series will reach its halfway point today, so please stop by for the remaining events. We have some more great objects and stories to share with you.
Also, stop into the museum gallery and see the national colors of the 12th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. It is a great flag!
