From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)
Haskin, Vera Anne Harrison
(born: June 1, 1919 - died: May, 27, 2005) Vera Harrison [Haskin] was an officer in charge of the African American WACs unit at Fort Knox, KY in 1945. She had been a member of the first WAACs Officer Cadet School at Ft. Des Moines, IA in 1942 and a member of the advance group of WAACs at Fort Huachuca, AZ. She was executive officer of the old 33rd Post Headquarters Company.At Fort Knox, Vera Harrison was Company Commander; in England and France, she was Commanding Officer of Company C as well as the Company's Central Postal Director. In England, the WACs who had been at Fort Knox became part of the 6888 Postal Unit, the only African American women's military unit to go overseas during World War II. In 1944, Harrison was promoted to captain.
Vera Harrison was born in 1919 in Sadieville, KY, the daughter of Anna M. Gano and Bradley M. Harrison. In 1930, the family of six lived in Hamilton, OH on Wallace Street [source: U.S. Federal Census]. Bradley Harrison supported his family as a foundry laborer.
Vera Harrison enlisted at Fort Hayes on July 18, 1942, according to her enlistment record. She was a graduate of a four-year college and employed as a secretary.
Photos and additional information on Vera Harrison Haskin are available at the National Association of Black Military Women website (next-to-last entry). She died in San Bruno, CA, and is buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery (source: Vera Harrison Haskin at Find A Grave). She was the wife of John J. Haskin.
For more see Vera Harrison in "Dayton flyer promoted at Illinois base," Dayton Journal, 5/5/1944, p. 14; "WAC overseas postal unit does good job in handling mail," New York Amsterdam News, 5/5/1945, p. 8A; and "Obituaries: Vera Harrison-Haskin," The Journal News, 6/15/2005/p. 18.
For information on earlier WAC units in Kentucky, see Myrtle D. Anderson and Margaret E. B. Jones entries in the NKAA Database.
