Velma J. "DeGee" De Geronimo

Sergeant First Class Velma J. "DeGee" De Geronimo, 79, passed away Wednesday, November 7, 2012, at the Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center in Anniston, Alabama. Funeral services with full military honors will be at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, November 13, 2012, at Anniston Memorial Funeral Home. The family will receive friends on Tuesday one hour prior to the service. SFC De Geronimo was born in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania on May 22, 1933 and lived there until after she was graduated from high school. She became a telephone operator in civilian life and then enlisted in the Women's Army Corps in Newark, New Jersey. She received her basic training at Fort McClellan and although she was a trained telephone operator, the Women's Army Corps Training Center personnel office recognized her talent for teaching in physical training and assigned her as an instructor for basic trainees. At the end of her first enlistment she reenlisted for Japan and was assigned to the WAC Detachment and 6th Logistics Command in Japan as a switchboard operator. Her next assignment was back to Fort McClellan to teach physical training and swimming. She volunteered to go to Germany and was stationed at Stuttgart as the First Sergeant of the Stuttgart Military Hospital. Velma had been promoted rather steadily and in her new grade as Sergeant First Class she was assigned to Co B, WAC Training Battalion at Fort McClellan as a platoon sergeant. She was a graduate of a non-commissioned officers' academy. As a platoon sergeant, she worked many long hard hours training new recruits to be soldiers and she did this in an outstanding manner. Her last overseas tour was in Korea and her last Women's Army Corps Center assignment was as the First Sergeant of Co B, 2nd WAC Basic Training Battalion at Fort McClellan. As First Sergeant, her responsibilities increased and she accomplished her duties in a very professional way. She retired March 1, 1980. Sergeant First Class De Geronimo's awards and decorations include: the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal (6th Award). She was a charter member of the Women's Army Corps Veterans' Association, Heritage Chapter 62 which started in 1976. Her enthusiasm did not stop at work; she was a number one female athlete and participated and excelled in all sports programs available to women in the military. She was preceded in death by her parents, mother, Minnie Benamati, and father, Harry Carnahan who was a recipient of the Silver Star in World War II. Velma is survived by her special friend and caregiver for fifty years, Joan Pekulik; a sister, Judith Getto; two nephews, Michael Getto and family, Mark Getto and family; a niece, Michelle Gilbert and her husband Donnie; one aunt, Mae Busnardo and family and several cousins in Pennsylvania. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Women's Army Corps Veterans' Association, (WACVA) Heritage Chapter 62, P.O. Box 5038, Fort McClellan, AL 36205. Anniston Memorial Funeral Home 3865 US Hwy 431 North Anniston, AL 36206 256-820-0024