Woman's World War II service in WAVES honored

  • Lorraine Bennett • Clay County Progress Dorinda Sorangelo stands with photographs of her grandmother, Anna Emond Wojtalik.
    Lorraine Bennett • Clay County Progress Dorinda Sorangelo stands with photographs of her grandmother, Anna Emond Wojtalik.
  • Above, Anna Wojtalik on duty. She died at the age of 102. Wojtalik received Congressional Recognition for her military service in WWII by Congressman Edwards’ office on March 19.
    Above, Anna Wojtalik on duty. She died at the age of 102. Wojtalik received Congressional Recognition for her military service in WWII by Congressman Edwards’ office on March 19.

    By Lorraine Bennett

    Staff Writer

     

    During World War II, the United States Navy created a branch of the Naval Reserve to enlist women, known as the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service. Approximately 100,000 women served in the WAVES over the course of that war.

    Anna Emond Wojtalik was one of them.

    "My grandmother was a remarkable woman," said Dorinda Sorangelo, of Hayesville, one of three generations of Wojtalik's family meeting at the Beal Center/Historic Clay County Courthouse Wednesday, March 19 to honor Wojtalik's life and recognize her service.

    "She helped pave the way for women, including her granddaughters who have enlisted," Sorangelo said. "She cherished her time in the Navy."

    Wojtalik died on Nov. 19, 2023 at age 102. Among about 30 people who gathered on the courthouse steps for a special presentation to Wojtalik's family were Joe Slaton, Hayesville mayor; Robert Seibert, American Legion district commander and Post 532 commander; Bob Bond, past local VFW commander; Betty Bradley, Clerk to the Clay County Board of Commissioners; and Lake Silver and Chris Burns from 11th District U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards' office. Silver is Edwards' field representative and Burns is district director for Edwards' office.

    Wojtalik was born in Woonsocket, R.I. She enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943 and was stationed at the Bureau of Ordinance in Washington, D.C. She served three years as Yeoman Third Class, building rocket boosters and ammunition for the war.

    That same year she married Army Staff Sgt. Theodore J. Wojtalik in Delhart, Texas. He served in the Army Air Forces. Her granddaughter said they loved the western N.C. mountains and spent many years in the Maggie Valley area. They were wedded 66 years until his passing.

    Sorangelo remembers how her grandmother loved the outdoors, music, motorcycles, her dogs, the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team and, above all, her family. 

    She leaves behind two daughters, six grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren. A granddaughter, great-granddaughter and great-great-granddaughter were at the Wednesday ceremony.

    "We're happy to be here today," said Burns. He and Silver presented Wojtalik's family with a plaque honoring her service and a flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol on Veterans Day in 2024. Silver said the details of her service have been entered into the Congressional Record.

    It seemed a fitting time to honor Wojtalik's legacy. Seibert said March is the month when the American Legion's focus is on women in the military.