Madelyn LaCanne Post 539 Support

All- Women's American Legion Post 539 Supports Veterans 1st of NEW, Inc.

The Madelyn LaCanne all-female Post 539 was very generous in giving Veterans 1^st of NEW funds from their Inaugural Golf Outing at their monthly meeting last night. Madelyn LaCanne Post 539 was named and dedicated to the first service woman from the Green Bay area, to die in the service of her country. Madelyn enlisted in the US Army's, Women's Army Corps (WACs) on 5 April 1943 out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Basic training was accomplished at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Upon completion of Basic training, she was transferred to Ellington Filed, Texas and assigned to the 788th Headquarters of the Women's Army Corps.

It was at Ellington Field, during a hurricane, that she was hurled against a building while seeking shelter from the storm. Madelyn sustained a brain hemorrhage and died 8 August 1943. The WACs worked in noncombat Army jobs in order to free men for combat duty. By taking over an Army job behind the lines, she frees a fighting man to join his fellow soldiers on the road to Victory. She received full military honors; members of Company H, Wisconsin State Guard served as pallbearers. Madelyn is interred at Allouez Catholic Cemetery in Green Bay.

We salute Madelyn and all the women who served in any capacity to support our country during WWII. They are many, and they served as trailblazers for all of us who came after. We are forever in your debt.

Among the many events and causes the Post 539 supports are Operation Christmas Angel, SWAG ( Southwest Area Green Bay Girl’s Softball), Camp American Legion, Dogs to Dog Tags, Patriot K9s, The Highgrounds Memorial, Patriot Guard, Center for Veterans Issues, Hope Center Pantry, and Veterans 1^st Tiny Homes Village.