In partnership with the Veterans Coordination Commission, we are pleased to present the August 2007 Veteran of the Month Recognition to Velda Brandt.

Velda and her twin sister Verlan graduated from Chester High School. Velda attended Eastern Normal School at Madison and taught for a year at Flandreau where she met her husband Edward Brandt.

The next summer World War II began and she and Verlan went to Ft. Snelling in St. Paul in 1943 for physicals and induction into the WAAC. They then went to Ft. Des Moines for basic training. From there Velda went to Norfolk, Virginia with an Aircraft Identification Squadron. The coast line was blacked out at night, spotters would call in any planes int he area and they would be identified or they would send up a fighter plane to identify it. Velda worked part-time with the medical staff at Virginia Beach. About this time the WAAC - Women's Army Auxiliary Corps become the WAC - a part of the regular Army.

Velda was then sent to Pawling, New York to a rehabilitation unit for soldiers who had been injured. The place had been an exclusive boys school before the war. Velda worked in the word of the hospital unit. Velda was privileged to attend President Franklin Roosevelt's funeral while stationed there. She was there until the next summer when she and her sister were sent to Camp Davis in North Carolina. Velda worked in the hospital unit often caring for German Prisoners of War.

Velda served her country for over 3 years. When she was discharged she went to General Beadle College on the GI Bill. Velda stayed in touch with her husband to be, Edward and married him in 1953. He remained active duty Navy and she traveled with him, they had 4 sons. Velda became a teacher and taught her last twenty years at Douglas High School.

Velda lives in rapid City and is a member of the American Legion Post 22 and the American Legion Auxiliary #22. She is also a member of the #8 and #40.

I