Pfc Blanche Laura Rawley Busey

Familial History

Pfc Blanche Laura Rawley Busey was born 1 September 1915 in New Mexico to Thelma Della Johnson and Fred William Rawley. The US WWII Hospital Admission Card indicted she died on 22 April 1944 in Hope Villa, Ascension Parish, Louisiana (or East of Baton Rouge County, Louisiana, via the Louisiana US Statewide Death Index). The cause of death was an automobile accident about four miles from Hope Villa. She was a WAC recruiter assigned to the Louisiana Recruiting and Induction District, and 28 years of age. The NARA indicated she resided in Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona prior to the war.

She married Jim Eras Busey. He was born on 14 August 1904 in Joplin, Missouri. The Standard Roofing Supply Company was his employer. Jim died during December 1982 in Scottsdale.

Thelma Della Johnson was born on 18 March 1880 in St. Louis County, Missouri. She passed away on 2 January 1958 in Cochise County, Arizona and was laid to rest in the Evergreen Cemetery, Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona. Her Memorial # was 80831600.

Fred William Rawley was born on 9 February 1880. He died on 9 August 1928 and was interred in the Greenwood Memorial Park, San Diego, San Diego County, California. His Plot was American Legion, and his Memorial # was 1169192048.

The Rawley union produced four children composed of three daughters and one son. Their names are listed in chronological order with corresponding birth and death dates: Joyce Isabel Rawley Calhoun (30 May 1903-Unknown); Robert K. Rawley (6 May 1910-22 April 1936); Gladys Rawley Anderson (1920-Unknown); and Pfc Blanche Laura Rawley Busey.

Service History:

Pfc Blanche Laura Rawley Busey enlisted in the US Army Women’s Army Corps on 2 August 1943 in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona. Blanche was residing in Maricopa County, Arizona at the time of enlistment. She had completed four years of high school, was working as a stenographer, and married.

She was assigned to the US Army Women’s Corps, WAC Recruiting. Her Service Number was A-918267.

Pfc Blanche Laura Rawley Busey was interred in the Evergreen Cemetery, Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona on 26 April 1944. Her Memorial # was 80931077. Her husband, Jim Busey signed the US Headstone Application on 20 November 1944 and her headstone was delivered on 23 December 1944.

Stories Behind the Stars:

Thank you, Pfc Blanche Laura Rawley Busey of the US Army, Women’s Corps for your sacrifice and service to our country.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars Project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII Fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen’ s name and read his/her story.

If you noticed anything missing in this profile, you can contact the author. Click on the author’s name located at the bottom of the story page next to the words “added by”.

The author is Dr. Jack W. Chisum, and the email is jchisum@q.com.

Resources:

Blanche Laura Rawley Busey (1915-1944) - Find a Grave Memorial

Blanche L Busey