From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (African American Women Veterans in and from Kentucky)
Military Branch
Women's Army Corps
Women's Army Auxiliary Corps
Active Duty Entered
March 3, 1943
Active Duty Exit
1945
Notes
Her name was recorded as Alice G. Washington when she enlisted in the Army in Cincinnati, OH, according to her record in the National Archives, Access to Archival Databases and in Ancestry. Born in Alabama, she was the daughter of Robert and Arena Flagg Holmes. The family is enumerated in the 1910, 1920, and 1930 U.S. Census records when they were living in Birmingham, AL. Alice's mother was noted as a widow in the 1920 census, and she had remarried and was again noted as a widow in the 1930 census.
By 1935, Alice was married to Henry Washington. The couple lived in Lexington, KY, where Alice was employed as a maid, according to the 1940 U.S. Census. Alice's brother James Holmes came from Birmingham to Lexington to visit her in April 1940. Her mother, Mrs. Arena Holmes, came to visit in July 1940. Alice was seriously ill in April 1941. The following year, Mrs. Arena Holmes [Martin] was critically ill; Alice left Lexington to be with her mother in Birmingham.
Alice returned to Lexington, and in February 1943, she was one of the seven African American women auxiliaries ordered to active duty by March 3, 1943 at the First WAAC Training Center at Fort Des Moines, IA. Alice left Lexington on the last day of February. In 1944, she was listed among the 153 women serving in the Women's Army Corps.
After her military service, Alice filed for divorce from Henry Washington, the divorce become final in January of 1946. Alice G. Washington had gone home to Alabama. In April 1945, she married Frank Dargin in Birmingham. Her name on the marriage certificate was written as "Robert Alice Washington." Her birth year is given as 1909, her occupation was said to be that of a practical nurse, and it was noted on the marriage certificate that she was a widow.
Sources: "Seven Negro auxiliaries...," The Courier-Journal, 2/19/1934, p. 4; "Colored Notes: James F. Holmes of Birmingham...," Sunday Herald-Leader, 2/4/1940, p. 13; "Colored Notes: Mrs. Arena Holmes of Birmingham...," The Lexington Herald, 7/10/1940, p. 15; "Mrs. Alice Washington...," The Lexington Herald, 4/24/1941, p. 20; "Mrs. Alice Washington," The Lexington Leader, 2/2/1942, p. 7; "Wac anniversary finds 153 central Kentuckians serving," Sunday Herald-Leader, 5/14/1944, p. 10; "Mrs. Alice G. Washington..." Lexington Leader, 3/2/1943, p. 6; Alabama, Jefferson County, Marriage Records, April 1, 1945, p. 215 (Ancestry); "New suits filed," The Lexington Leader, 7/26/1945, p. 14; and "Nine divorces granted," The Lexington Herald, 6/31/1946, p. 11.
By 1935, Alice was married to Henry Washington. The couple lived in Lexington, KY, where Alice was employed as a maid, according to the 1940 U.S. Census. Alice's brother James Holmes came from Birmingham to Lexington to visit her in April 1940. Her mother, Mrs. Arena Holmes, came to visit in July 1940. Alice was seriously ill in April 1941. The following year, Mrs. Arena Holmes [Martin] was critically ill; Alice left Lexington to be with her mother in Birmingham.
Alice returned to Lexington, and in February 1943, she was one of the seven African American women auxiliaries ordered to active duty by March 3, 1943 at the First WAAC Training Center at Fort Des Moines, IA. Alice left Lexington on the last day of February. In 1944, she was listed among the 153 women serving in the Women's Army Corps.
After her military service, Alice filed for divorce from Henry Washington, the divorce become final in January of 1946. Alice G. Washington had gone home to Alabama. In April 1945, she married Frank Dargin in Birmingham. Her name on the marriage certificate was written as "Robert Alice Washington." Her birth year is given as 1909, her occupation was said to be that of a practical nurse, and it was noted on the marriage certificate that she was a widow.
Sources: "Seven Negro auxiliaries...," The Courier-Journal, 2/19/1934, p. 4; "Colored Notes: James F. Holmes of Birmingham...," Sunday Herald-Leader, 2/4/1940, p. 13; "Colored Notes: Mrs. Arena Holmes of Birmingham...," The Lexington Herald, 7/10/1940, p. 15; "Mrs. Alice Washington...," The Lexington Herald, 4/24/1941, p. 20; "Mrs. Alice Washington," The Lexington Leader, 2/2/1942, p. 7; "Wac anniversary finds 153 central Kentuckians serving," Sunday Herald-Leader, 5/14/1944, p. 10; "Mrs. Alice G. Washington..." Lexington Leader, 3/2/1943, p. 6; Alabama, Jefferson County, Marriage Records, April 1, 1945, p. 215 (Ancestry); "New suits filed," The Lexington Leader, 7/26/1945, p. 14; and "Nine divorces granted," The Lexington Herald, 6/31/1946, p. 11.
Kentucky County & Region
Read about Fayette County, Kentucky in Wikipedia.
Kentucky Place (Town or City)
Read about Lexington, Kentucky in Wikipedia.
Item Relations
Cited in this Entry
| NKAA Source: National Archives, Access to Archival Databases (online) |
| NKAA Source: Ancestry (online) |
| NKAA Source: Courier-Journal [Louisville] (newspaper) |
| NKAA Source: Sunday herald-leader (newspaper) |
| NKAA Source: The Lexington herald (newspaper) |
| NKAA Source: Lexington leader (newspaper) |
Related Entries Citing this Entry
| none |
Cite This NKAA Entry:
“Dargin, Alice G. Holmes Washington,” Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, accessed July 26, 2024, https://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/index.php/items/show/300004548.
Last modified: 2023-11-08 20:57:50