By Deborah Larsen
Gail Louise Carpenter
Gail Louise Carpenter was born in Sand Lake, Michigan, on April 22, 1919, the daughter of Wayne and Louise Halladay Carpenter. Her family moved to Rochester when Gail was a small child, and lived on Romeo Street. Gail attended Rochester High School, graduating in the class of 1937. After high school, she continued her education at Michigan State College (now Michigan State University).
In February 1943, Gail enlisted in the U.S. Army Women’s Army Corps (WACs). Local newspapers reported that she was the first woman from the village of Rochester to do so. After training at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, Gail was assigned to the 85th Post Headquarters at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. She was released from military service in 1944 and resumed her studies at Michigan State, graduating in 1945.
In 1948, Gail enlisted in the U.S. Navy. She met and married George Clutch, a fellow military service member, in 1949. The couple made their home in California, where they were stationed. Gail was released from military service in 1951 and then worked as a civilian accountant at Camp Pendleton, California, until her retirement in 1973. She and her husband moved to Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1982.
Gail Louise Carpenter Clutch died at age 68 on August 17, 1987, and was laid to rest at Fort Custer National Cemetery.