The Clifton Record (Clifton, Tex.), Vol. 108, No. 64, Ed. 1 Friday, August 8, 2003 Page: 3 of 14
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Friday, Aug. 8, 2003
PtKm*: (254) 675-3335 • F*x: (254) 575-4090
E-mail: nawa@cimonracord.com • ada@cllftonracord.com
The Clifton Record
Tha Clifton Racord ONLINE:
http://dlftonracord.com
Bekkelund Served In
Coast Guard During WWII
CLIFTON — S/lc Vemice Bekkelund, the daugh-
ter of Mr. and Mrs. Simon Bekkelund of Clifton, left
the family farm in 1942 and went to Houston. She
worked for Brown Shipyards, a company that built
Navy Escorts (destroyers). These ships were used
to guard convoys carrying troops and supplies to
Europe and the Pacific.
On Dec. 2, 1943, Bekkelund celebrated her eigh-
teenth birthday by going down to the old Houston
Post Office and enlisting in the U.S. Coast Guard.
She went to New Orleans, La., where she met other
recruits and was sent to Palm Beach, Fla.
Boot camp for Bekkelund lasted seven weeks. Dur-
ing this time, she exercised, studied, and pulled
guard duty. She was assigned to Co. 131, Platoon 4, a
small company with 75 to 100 women. Their training
station was the luxurious Biltmore Hotel located on
Palm Beach Island.
In July 1943, Bekkelund, a SPAR, went by train to
New York City. She was stationed at the U.S. Coast
Guard Supply Depot in Manhattan* She worked in
the Gun Repair Department, repairing small arms
and “test firing” weapons. In the 1940s, there were
no safety devices to protect hearing and Bekkelund
had an eardrum burst. She was sent to the U.S. Navy
Hospital in Philadelphia for hearing rehabilitation
and discharged from military service in 1946.
Bekkelund returned to Reagan High School in
Houston, and completed her public school education.
Sh£ married Clyde Waldrep, a survivor of the
Corregidor Death March and a Japanese Prisoner
of War for 42 months.
Their family includes a son, Bruce, deceased; a
daughter, Modina; and grandchildren. Bekkelund at-
tended Baylor University on the G.I. Bill. In 1951, she
• CRITICAL NEED
Continued From Page One
drop.
All types of blood are needed, and
the inventory of O-negative and 0-
positive blood is currently at a 12-
hour level. The O-type blood supply
has remained at critical levels for
more than a month. During an
emergency, anyone can receive
type 0 blood.
All other blood types have re-
mained at a 24- to 36-hour supplies.
In order to meet the daily needs of
hospitals, the Red Cross must
maintain a minimum three-day in-
ventory of processed blood prod-
ucts. The Red Cross is the primary
supplier of blood to 15 Central
Texas hospitals and more than 100
in the region, and supplies approxi-
mately 50 percent of the blood in
the country.
ON'x
President George W. Bush, who
traditionally spends the hot August
‘dog days’ of summer in Crawford,
ONCE SERVING IN THE COAST GUARD DURING
WWII, Vemice Waldrep Baker now lives in Waco, and
is an active volunteer In her church, area nursing
homes, and the VA Medical Center.
was employed by Owens Illinois Glass Company in
Waco, and completed 32 years of service before retir-
ing in 1983.
udct/i
par*
Buildings
■Mr''
w
2825IH 35 South
at tha Valley Mills Drive exit
Waco * 254-756-6677 BIdgs Spas m
Morgan
Financing Available
90 Days Same as Cash
Major Credit Cards Accepted
M-F 8-8 • Sat 9-6 • Sun 11-6
www.morganusa.com
serves as the unofficial head of the
American Red Cross,” said Ameri-
can Red Cross Senior Texas Terri-
tory Manager Diane Jenkins.
“When the ‘dog days’ of August
have most people in a slump, the
need for blood isn’t in a slump — in
fact it is boosted. That’s why the
American Red Cross is looking for
some ‘heat wave heroes,”’ Jenkins
continued.
To donate blood, a person must
be at least 17 years old and weigh
110 pounds or more. Most medical
conditions and medications no
longer prevent donation.
The drive is open to all members
of the community, and walk-ins are
welcome. All participants at the
drive will receive the new August
T-shirt plus the opportunity to save
three fives. For more information
or appointment, call toll-free 1-800-
< GIVE-LIFE.
AARP Meeting
Slated Aug. 12
CLIFTON — On Tuesday, Aug.
12, Bosque County Chapter 2917 of
the American Association of Re-
tired Persons will meet at the Clif-
ton Civic Center in Clifton with a
covered-dish luncheon beginning
at 12 p.m.
The program will be a speaker
from Robertson, Robertson, and
Silas on “Directives, Power of At-
torney, and Wills.”
Visitors are welcome to attend
the luncheon and program. For
more information, contact
Frances Slagle at (254) 675-1008.
AUG. 28 -31
I AUG. 29
AUG. 30
AUG. 31 I
11:30 AM'
3:30 PM'
1 00 PM'
| 7:30 PM
7.30 PM
5:00 PM |
tl/WI Tribune-] Imild
Courtesy of
Thu. AUG. 28 * 7:30 PM
OPENING NIGHT
SAVE $5 ON TICKETS!
(Excluding VIP Scats. No double discounts )
Courtesy of KCEN TV NBC 6 -kids under 12 save won tickets;
(Excludes VIP seats No double discounts.)
Courtesy of KRZJ / KLRK-FM
Buy tickets at www.disneyonice.com
tkketmaster Ticket Centers including Fiesta, Arena Box Office
or call (254) 752-8822
For Information * Groups call (254) 776-1660
TICKET PRICES: $25.50 vtp - $20.50 - $15-50
(Service charge* and handling fees may apply.)
_ ..
Bi^er Is Not Always Better...Especially In Banking
A
recent survey by the Federal
Reserve showed that big banks
usually have higher service
charges. In fact, some of the
bigger banks charged their
HOMETOWN
BANKING
as a small bank, for the same service.
We’re an Independent Community
Bank. We give you dependable,
“hometown” sendee from people you
know and trust.
customers nearly twice as much
FIRST NATIONAL BANK
BOSQUE COUNTY
1203N.HWY.6 675-6570
LiNOCR
• ‘ %r‘-
'-■"R
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Member FDIC
©VJ
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Smith, W. Leon. The Clifton Record (Clifton, Tex.), Vol. 108, No. 64, Ed. 1 Friday, August 8, 2003, newspaper, August 8, 2003; Clifton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth789452/m1/3/: accessed June 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Nellie Pederson Civic Library.