Emma R. McCoy (nee Rogers)

Born: 04 Feb 1923 Santa Rita, New Mexico
Enlistment date: 21 June 1943
Deployments: America
Units: 807th Army Air Forces base Unit
Rank: Private First Class
Specializations: Clerk
Qualifications:
Decorations: WWII Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal
Discharge Date: 11 December 1945

Other Information: Born in New Mexico, Emma met her husband to be in Texas while traveling with her sister, and following a whirlwind romance of 3 days, married Gunner William McCoy in 1943. Willie was at home on leave from the US Navy where he served for the entirety of the war on the USS Tennessee. On his return to duty in the Pacific, Emma enlisted to serve her country at Fort Sam, Houston, Texas.

Emma began her basic induction in Georgia before being transferred for further training to Camp Atterbury, Indiana and from their on to duties in Texas. She was based at Bergstrom Air Base, the home of the 1st Troop Carrier Command, where both C47 and C46 aircraft were tested prior to their deployments. This was great for Emma as she loved to fly and often shuttled with the aircraft between Austin and Chicago.

After the end of the war Emma was discharged on 11th December 1945, at a time that coincided with her husband’s discharge from the navy, so they returned to married life and settled in New Mexico, where she and Willie raised 6 children and ranched. Initially both Emma and Willie’s parents thought that the short engagement plus the separation of the war would mean that the marriage was likely to fail. However, despite this pessimism, they remained happily married for 56 years until Willie passed away.