The following article appeared on pg 8 of the Zanesville Signal on 28 Oct 1944:
CALDWELL WAC FLOWN TO PARIS TO SERVE IN
ARMY COMMUNICATIONS HEADQUARTERS
Among the more than 100 WACs who are
handling the telephone communications service for
the Army's nerve center in Paris is Cpl. Wilma Heppner,
of Caldwell. She is on duty at the headquarters of Lt.
Gen. John C. H. Lee, Commanding General of the
Communications Zone of the European Theater of
Operations.
Flown overseas for her special mission, the
Caldwell WAV has moved along with the advancing
Allied forces. Cpl. Heppner started in London where
she adapted her Signal Corps training to the British
telephone system. Then she hopped to Normandy
where she worked with a combination of French and
American Army instruments.
Now in Paris, Cpl. Heppner's outfit is routing
calls with German instruments which were superim-
posed by the Signal Corps on the French switchboards.
Wherever they appeared, the operators pitched into the
job of handling telephonic communications with the
result that the huge arteries of food, ammunition, and
supplies are running smoothly from the rear to the
front areas.
Commenting on the excellent work being
done by WAC operators, Capt. Elkins Wetherill, 9010
Crefeld St., Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pa, assistant
to the Paris Post Signal Officer admitted:
"The WACs are better operators than the
men. They can handle a board full of calls faster and
smoother and never get fussed. Only when something
goes wrong mechanically and there's a jam, they
have to call in the installation and repair men."
In Paris, Cpl. Heppner is attached to the Sig-
nal Service Battalion which is charged with the task of
installing, maintaining and operating telephone com-
munications in the area of the French capital.
Upon their arrival in Paris, Cpl. Heppner'e
group was warned to be on the lookout for any booby
traps the Germans might have left for them. All they
found were the fancy red and blue telephones with
which the Gestapo carried on its sinister business.
While in Normandy, she lived under field con-
ditions and worked at switchboards installed in the
wine cellar and stables of an old chateau. During
the rainy spell, six inches of water accumulated on
the ancient stone floors, but the WAC’s continued to
plug in their calls without a halt.
They were glad to swap their life in tents
with steel helmets as wash basins and hard cots to
Neon for Paris with its real bath tubs and beds.Wilma Heppner Fitzhugh's obituary appeared in the Canton Repository on 6 Jun 2005:
Wilma Elizabeth Fitzhugh, age 84, of Canton,
passed away Friday, June 3, 2005 in Aultman
Hospital. Born in Caldwell, she was the daughter
of the late John and Elizabeth Heppner; and was
a graduate of Caldwell High School. A U.S. Army
WAC having served during World War II. She was
a member of Little Flower Catholic Parish, a life-
member of VFW 3747 and Cootie Club.
Preceded in death by three brothers and three
sisters. She is survived by her husband, John, to
whom she was married 59 years on July 13, 1945;
three sons and daughters-in-law, John and Connie
of Washington; Marc and Judy of Niceville, FL,
Patrick and Kim of Washington; four daughters and
sons-and-law, Janet Brinson of Canton, Monica and
Ted Begue of Louisville, Mary Beth and Richard
Roush of Canton; Carol Fitzhugh of the home; 16
grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; sister, Vir-
ginia Wells.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday
at 11 a.m. in Little Flower Catholic Church with Rev.
Fr. Kevin Fete as celebrant. Burial in Sunset Hills
Memory Gardens. Friends may call Tuesday 6-8 p.m.
in the Earl B. Jack funeral Home or one hour prior to
services in the church.
Obituary:
Charles G. Ambrose, age 80, formerly of Massillon and more recently a resident of Indialantic, FL, passed away Sunday, November 21, 1999, in the residence. Born in Manhattan, NY, February 15, 1919 to his parents the late James and Anna (Adams) Ambrose, he lived most of his life in the Massillon area moving to Florida in 1989. He was a retired employee of the Timken Co. retiring after 30 years of service and a Veteran of the U.S. Army. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Cecilia Ellen Ambrose, October 23, 1985; brother, Vincent Ambrose; and sister, Anna Schulze. Survivors include his half-brother, Albert Lazarto of East Canton, OH; his half-sister, Gloria Orban of New Jersey; several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday 11 a.m. in the Reed Funeral Home with Rev. Thomas Schulze and Pastor Mike Schulze officiating. Entombment will be in the Mausoleum of Sunset Hills Burial Park. Calling hours at the funeral home one hour prior to services on Saturday form 10-11 a.m.