First Lieutenant Women’s Army Corps, Elizabeth Bernier Gilbert

Born: April 13, 1921
Died: September 11, 2013

First Lieutenant Elizabeth Bernier (Gilbert) joined the 4^th Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) in January of 1943.^1&2 The WAAC was officially renamed the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) in July of 1943. Bernier Gilbert was stationed at Fort Devens starting in February of that same year before being transferred to Daytona Beach, Florida for further training.³  By January of 1944 she was stationed at the WAC Recruiting Office in Bangor, Maine, where she spent her time traveling around Maine giving speeches about the need for joining the WAC. ^4,5,6&7 She must have been a great speaker to be trusted with recruiting at a time when there was such a strong need for women to join the WAC. Sometime later, Bernier Gilbert was apparently transferred to New Jersey, she was certainly there to be bridesmaid to her sister in November of 1945.⁸ She was honorably discharged sometime after the end of the war.  

Elizabeth Bernier Gilbert was born on April 13, 1921, in Norwood, Massachusetts to Paul and Mary Bernier.⁹ She grew up in the Norwood area before attending Suffolk University Law School.^10,11&12 Bernier Gilbert was musical and had a good soprano voice.^13&14. It appears that she met her husband, Richard Gilbert, in New Jersey as they were married there in 1946.¹⁵ By 1950, the Gilberts were in his home of Belen, New Mexico where they already had a son and a daughter. Soon she would have another daughter and two more sons.^16&17 Bernier Gilbert was very active in Our Lady of Belen Parish. She also spoke French and contributed to the Journal de Society de Bernier.¹⁸ During her life in Belen with her family, she was a teacher, a bank teller, and an editor.¹⁹ 

Elizabeth Bernier Gilbert died on September 11, 2013.

Images & Documents

Bangor Daily News Article – “Post, Auxilliary Hold Meeting at Old Town” (D11)

Notes:
1. “Elizabeth Bernier: enlistment.” National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, USA; Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946; NAID: 1263923; Record Group Title: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789-ca. 2007; Record Group: 64; Box Number: 00011; Reel: 1
2. “History of Fort Devens.” Fort Devens Reserve Force Training Center. Copyright: 2023. para. 4.
3. “Largest Detachment of WAACs Storms Fort Devens Today.” Boston Globe. 9 February 1943. page 27.
4. “Old Town Grange.” Bangor Daily News. 25 February 1944. page 8.
5. “Post, Auxiliary Hold Meeting at Old Town.” Bangor Daily News. 23 February 1944. page 6.
6. “Rotarians Meet Today.” Waterville Morning Sentinel. Waterville, Maine. 25 January 1944. page 8.
7. “WAC Program Outlined by Lt. Bernier.” Waterville Morning Sentinel. Waterville, Maine. 26 January 1944. page 8.
8. “Bernier/Matera” Daily Register. Red Bank, New Jersey. 22 November 1945. page 2.
9. “Bernier.” Year: 1930; Census Place: Norwood, Norfolk, Massachusetts; Page: 18A; Enumeration District: 0077; FHL microfilm: 2340670.
10. “Bernier.” Year: 1940; Census Place: Norwood, Norfolk, Massachusetts; Roll: m-t0627-01629; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 11-167.
11. “Suffolk University Law School Class Day Exercises Held.” Boston Globe. 12 June 1941. page 25.
12. “Elizabeth Bernier: enlistment.” National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, USA; Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946; NAID: 1263923; Record Group Title: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789-ca. 2007; Record Group: 64; Box Number: 00011; Reel: 1
13. “Suffolk University Law School Class Day Exercises Held.” Boston Globe. 12 June 1941. page 25.
14. “Elizabeth Bernier Gilbert.” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries 15 September 2013. section B page 4.
15. “Bernier/Gilbert Marriage.” New Jersey State Archives; Trenton, New Jersey; Marriage Indexes; Index Type: Bride; Year Range: 1946; Surname Range: A – K.
16. “Gilbert.” United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: Belen, Valencia, New Mexico; Roll: 2570; Sheet Number: 2; Enumeration District: 32-12.
17. “Elizabeth Bernier Gilbert.” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries 15 September 2013. section B page 4.
18. “Elizabeth Bernier Gilbert.” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries 15 September 2013. section B page 4.
19. “Elizabeth Bernier Gilbert.” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries 15 September 2013. section B page 4.

Documents Citations:

D8:
“History of Fort Devens.” Fort Devens Reserve Force Training Center. Copyright: 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023. https://home.army.mil/devens/index.php/Misson%20and%20Vision/history

D9:
“Largest Detachment of WAACs Storms Fort Devens Today.” Boston Globe. 9 February 1943. Retrieved: 30 June 2023. https://www.newspapers.com/image/432278097  page 27.

D10:
“Old Town Grange.” Bangor Daily News. 25 February 1944. Retrieved 30 June 2023. https://www.newspapers.com/image/664642783  page 8.

D11:
“Post, Auxiliary Hold Meeting at Old Town.” Bangor Daily News. 23 February 1944. Retrieved 30 June 2023. https://www.newspapers.com/image/664642307   page 6.

D12:
“Rotarians Meet Today.” Waterville Morning Sentinel. Waterville, Maine. 25 January 1944. Retrieved: 30 June 2023. https://www.newspapers.com/image/854777634  page 8.

D13:
“Suffolk University Law School Class Day Exercises Held.” Boston Globe. 12 June 1941. Retrieved: 30 June 2023. https://www.newspapers.com/image/431770366 page 25.

D14:
“WAC Program Outlined by Lt. Bernier.” Waterville Morning Sentinel. Waterville, Maine. 26 January 1944. Retrieved: 30 June 2023. https://www.newspapers.com/image/854777778  page 8.

Featured Image:
“Lt. Elizabeth Bernier from the article: WAC Program Outlined by Lt. Bernier.” Waterville Morning Sentinel. Waterville, Maine. 26 January 1944. Retrieved: 30 June 2023. https://www.newspapers.com/image/854777778  page 8.

Compiled by: A. D. McLean, MA, MLIS. Central New Mexico Community College, retired 2022.