Beautician and WW II veteran.
By Hector Gutierrez, Rocky Mountain News
February 7, 2007
Dorothy Amato was one of "Ike's girls."
Mrs. Amato served under former commanding Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 149th Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, or WAAC, Post Headquarters Company in Algiers, Algeria.
She was 85 when she died Jan. 12 at the Arvada Health Center nursing home after having struggled with congestive heart and respiratory problems, said her daughter, Pam Bailey.
Mrs. Amato spent the last year at the nursing home after having run her salon, Dot's Beauty Shop, for more than 40 years from her home. Her husband, Mike, had constructed the salon addition for his wife.
"She was beautician from 1963 to the day of her death. Well, almost," her daughter said.
Over the years, Mrs. Amato participated in 149th WAAC reunions held all over the United States, her family said.
While serving at the 149th WAAC post, Mrs. Amato and the other Army women's responsibilities were in the postal department, and her unit was in charge of tracking soldiers who were missing or killed in action, her daughter said.
"They were known as Ike's girls," said Bailey, who added, however, that they rarely saw the general.
Mrs. Amato told her family the story of when she met Eisenhower for the first and only time, outside the department's headquarters. For Mrs. Amato, it was more like she "bumped" into Eisenhower.
"She came charging out the door when Gen. Eisenhower was walking in," Bailey said. "She said, 'I almost knocked Eisenhower down.' "
The general managed to gain his balance and steady Mrs. Amato as well.
Bailey's mother rarely discussed World War II with her children.
"She talked about how they would climb and sneak off to the roof and see what was going on," Bailey said. "She talked about the night raids and watching the bombs go off."
Mrs. Amato was born in Buhl, Idaho, and her family moved to Denver when she was 2. Her education went as far as the eighth grade.
"She didn't like school," Bailey said. "She just quit going. Granny didn't try to get her into high school, and I think she ditched more than she went to school in elementary."
On Dec. 7, 1940, Dorothy Schooley married Mike Amato, who was serving in the Navy.
She was working at Ideal Laundry downtown when her sister-in-law, Angeline Ecker, saw a news reel at the theater with the Army recruiting message: "The Army Wants You." At the time the Army was the only service that accepted women.
"She told my mom, 'Let's go join the Army,'" Bailey said. "And my mom said, 'When do you want to go?' and she said, 'Tonight when we get off work.' That night they went and saw a recruiter."
Mrs. Amato enlisted in the WAAC in June 1942.
She did her basic training in Des Moines, Iowa, before being transferred on Nov. 9, 1942, to Daytona Beach, Fla. Mrs. Amato ultimately departed to Algiers from Camp Kilmer, N.J., on Jan. 2, 1943, on board the troop transport ship SS Paula. She arrived in Africa on Jan. 27, 1943.
On Sept. 1, 1943, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps became the Women's Army Corps when Gen. Eisenhower praised the female troops for their service and swore them into the new corps.
In Algiers, she and the other women stayed in a convent because they didn't have barracks, Bailey said.
Mrs. Amato was discharged from the WAAC in 1945 after she became pregnant.
Mrs. Amato also traveled, visiting many U.S. cities, Europe and Asia, her family said.
A funeral for the World War II veteran was Jan. 17 at Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorials be sent to the Arvada Health Center, 6121 W. 60th Ave., Arvada, CO 80003.
In addition to her daughter, Mrs. Amato is survived by her son, Bob; granddaughter, Julie; grandson, Matt; and great- grandsons, Conner and Kyle. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mike; sisters, Winnie and Flo; brothers, Ben and Franny; and a great-grandson, Cameron.
By Hector Gutierrez, Rocky Mountain News
February 7, 2007
Dorothy Amato was one of "Ike's girls."
Mrs. Amato served under former commanding Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 149th Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, or WAAC, Post Headquarters Company in Algiers, Algeria.
She was 85 when she died Jan. 12 at the Arvada Health Center nursing home after having struggled with congestive heart and respiratory problems, said her daughter, Pam Bailey.
Mrs. Amato spent the last year at the nursing home after having run her salon, Dot's Beauty Shop, for more than 40 years from her home. Her husband, Mike, had constructed the salon addition for his wife.
"She was beautician from 1963 to the day of her death. Well, almost," her daughter said.
Over the years, Mrs. Amato participated in 149th WAAC reunions held all over the United States, her family said.
While serving at the 149th WAAC post, Mrs. Amato and the other Army women's responsibilities were in the postal department, and her unit was in charge of tracking soldiers who were missing or killed in action, her daughter said.
"They were known as Ike's girls," said Bailey, who added, however, that they rarely saw the general.
Mrs. Amato told her family the story of when she met Eisenhower for the first and only time, outside the department's headquarters. For Mrs. Amato, it was more like she "bumped" into Eisenhower.
"She came charging out the door when Gen. Eisenhower was walking in," Bailey said. "She said, 'I almost knocked Eisenhower down.' "
The general managed to gain his balance and steady Mrs. Amato as well.
Bailey's mother rarely discussed World War II with her children.
"She talked about how they would climb and sneak off to the roof and see what was going on," Bailey said. "She talked about the night raids and watching the bombs go off."
Mrs. Amato was born in Buhl, Idaho, and her family moved to Denver when she was 2. Her education went as far as the eighth grade.
"She didn't like school," Bailey said. "She just quit going. Granny didn't try to get her into high school, and I think she ditched more than she went to school in elementary."
On Dec. 7, 1940, Dorothy Schooley married Mike Amato, who was serving in the Navy.
She was working at Ideal Laundry downtown when her sister-in-law, Angeline Ecker, saw a news reel at the theater with the Army recruiting message: "The Army Wants You." At the time the Army was the only service that accepted women.
"She told my mom, 'Let's go join the Army,'" Bailey said. "And my mom said, 'When do you want to go?' and she said, 'Tonight when we get off work.' That night they went and saw a recruiter."
Mrs. Amato enlisted in the WAAC in June 1942.
She did her basic training in Des Moines, Iowa, before being transferred on Nov. 9, 1942, to Daytona Beach, Fla. Mrs. Amato ultimately departed to Algiers from Camp Kilmer, N.J., on Jan. 2, 1943, on board the troop transport ship SS Paula. She arrived in Africa on Jan. 27, 1943.
On Sept. 1, 1943, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps became the Women's Army Corps when Gen. Eisenhower praised the female troops for their service and swore them into the new corps.
In Algiers, she and the other women stayed in a convent because they didn't have barracks, Bailey said.
Mrs. Amato was discharged from the WAAC in 1945 after she became pregnant.
Mrs. Amato also traveled, visiting many U.S. cities, Europe and Asia, her family said.
A funeral for the World War II veteran was Jan. 17 at Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorials be sent to the Arvada Health Center, 6121 W. 60th Ave., Arvada, CO 80003.
In addition to her daughter, Mrs. Amato is survived by her son, Bob; granddaughter, Julie; grandson, Matt; and great- grandsons, Conner and Kyle. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mike; sisters, Winnie and Flo; brothers, Ben and Franny; and a great-grandson, Cameron.
Beautician and WW II veteran.
By Hector Gutierrez, Rocky Mountain News
February 7, 2007
Dorothy Amato was one of "Ike's girls."
Mrs. Amato served under former commanding Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 149th Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, or WAAC, Post Headquarters Company in Algiers, Algeria.
She was 85 when she died Jan. 12 at the Arvada Health Center nursing home after having struggled with congestive heart and respiratory problems, said her daughter, Pam Bailey.
Mrs. Amato spent the last year at the nursing home after having run her salon, Dot's Beauty Shop, for more than 40 years from her home. Her husband, Mike, had constructed the salon addition for his wife.
"She was beautician from 1963 to the day of her death. Well, almost," her daughter said.
Over the years, Mrs. Amato participated in 149th WAAC reunions held all over the United States, her family said.
While serving at the 149th WAAC post, Mrs. Amato and the other Army women's responsibilities were in the postal department, and her unit was in charge of tracking soldiers who were missing or killed in action, her daughter said.
"They were known as Ike's girls," said Bailey, who added, however, that they rarely saw the general.
Mrs. Amato told her family the story of when she met Eisenhower for the first and only time, outside the department's headquarters. For Mrs. Amato, it was more like she "bumped" into Eisenhower.
"She came charging out the door when Gen. Eisenhower was walking in," Bailey said. "She said, 'I almost knocked Eisenhower down.' "
The general managed to gain his balance and steady Mrs. Amato as well.
Bailey's mother rarely discussed World War II with her children.
"She talked about how they would climb and sneak off to the roof and see what was going on," Bailey said. "She talked about the night raids and watching the bombs go off."
Mrs. Amato was born in Buhl, Idaho, and her family moved to Denver when she was 2. Her education went as far as the eighth grade.
"She didn't like school," Bailey said. "She just quit going. Granny didn't try to get her into high school, and I think she ditched more than she went to school in elementary."
On Dec. 7, 1940, Dorothy Schooley married Mike Amato, who was serving in the Navy.
She was working at Ideal Laundry downtown when her sister-in-law, Angeline Ecker, saw a news reel at the theater with the Army recruiting message: "The Army Wants You." At the time the Army was the only service that accepted women.
"She told my mom, 'Let's go join the Army,'" Bailey said. "And my mom said, 'When do you want to go?' and she said, 'Tonight when we get off work.' That night they went and saw a recruiter."
Mrs. Amato enlisted in the WAAC in June 1942.
She did her basic training in Des Moines, Iowa, before being transferred on Nov. 9, 1942, to Daytona Beach, Fla. Mrs. Amato ultimately departed to Algiers from Camp Kilmer, N.J., on Jan. 2, 1943, on board the troop transport ship SS Paula. She arrived in Africa on Jan. 27, 1943.
On Sept. 1, 1943, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps became the Women's Army Corps when Gen. Eisenhower praised the female troops for their service and swore them into the new corps.
In Algiers, she and the other women stayed in a convent because they didn't have barracks, Bailey said.
Mrs. Amato was discharged from the WAAC in 1945 after she became pregnant.
Mrs. Amato also traveled, visiting many U.S. cities, Europe and Asia, her family said.
A funeral for the World War II veteran was Jan. 17 at Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorials be sent to the Arvada Health Center, 6121 W. 60th Ave., Arvada, CO 80003.
In addition to her daughter, Mrs. Amato is survived by her son, Bob; granddaughter, Julie; grandson, Matt; and great- grandsons, Conner and Kyle. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mike; sisters, Winnie and Flo; brothers, Ben and Franny; and a great-grandson, Cameron.
By Hector Gutierrez, Rocky Mountain News
February 7, 2007
Dorothy Amato was one of "Ike's girls."
Mrs. Amato served under former commanding Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 149th Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, or WAAC, Post Headquarters Company in Algiers, Algeria.
She was 85 when she died Jan. 12 at the Arvada Health Center nursing home after having struggled with congestive heart and respiratory problems, said her daughter, Pam Bailey.
Mrs. Amato spent the last year at the nursing home after having run her salon, Dot's Beauty Shop, for more than 40 years from her home. Her husband, Mike, had constructed the salon addition for his wife.
"She was beautician from 1963 to the day of her death. Well, almost," her daughter said.
Over the years, Mrs. Amato participated in 149th WAAC reunions held all over the United States, her family said.
While serving at the 149th WAAC post, Mrs. Amato and the other Army women's responsibilities were in the postal department, and her unit was in charge of tracking soldiers who were missing or killed in action, her daughter said.
"They were known as Ike's girls," said Bailey, who added, however, that they rarely saw the general.
Mrs. Amato told her family the story of when she met Eisenhower for the first and only time, outside the department's headquarters. For Mrs. Amato, it was more like she "bumped" into Eisenhower.
"She came charging out the door when Gen. Eisenhower was walking in," Bailey said. "She said, 'I almost knocked Eisenhower down.' "
The general managed to gain his balance and steady Mrs. Amato as well.
Bailey's mother rarely discussed World War II with her children.
"She talked about how they would climb and sneak off to the roof and see what was going on," Bailey said. "She talked about the night raids and watching the bombs go off."
Mrs. Amato was born in Buhl, Idaho, and her family moved to Denver when she was 2. Her education went as far as the eighth grade.
"She didn't like school," Bailey said. "She just quit going. Granny didn't try to get her into high school, and I think she ditched more than she went to school in elementary."
On Dec. 7, 1940, Dorothy Schooley married Mike Amato, who was serving in the Navy.
She was working at Ideal Laundry downtown when her sister-in-law, Angeline Ecker, saw a news reel at the theater with the Army recruiting message: "The Army Wants You." At the time the Army was the only service that accepted women.
"She told my mom, 'Let's go join the Army,'" Bailey said. "And my mom said, 'When do you want to go?' and she said, 'Tonight when we get off work.' That night they went and saw a recruiter."
Mrs. Amato enlisted in the WAAC in June 1942.
She did her basic training in Des Moines, Iowa, before being transferred on Nov. 9, 1942, to Daytona Beach, Fla. Mrs. Amato ultimately departed to Algiers from Camp Kilmer, N.J., on Jan. 2, 1943, on board the troop transport ship SS Paula. She arrived in Africa on Jan. 27, 1943.
On Sept. 1, 1943, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps became the Women's Army Corps when Gen. Eisenhower praised the female troops for their service and swore them into the new corps.
In Algiers, she and the other women stayed in a convent because they didn't have barracks, Bailey said.
Mrs. Amato was discharged from the WAAC in 1945 after she became pregnant.
Mrs. Amato also traveled, visiting many U.S. cities, Europe and Asia, her family said.
A funeral for the World War II veteran was Jan. 17 at Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorials be sent to the Arvada Health Center, 6121 W. 60th Ave., Arvada, CO 80003.
In addition to her daughter, Mrs. Amato is survived by her son, Bob; granddaughter, Julie; grandson, Matt; and great- grandsons, Conner and Kyle. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mike; sisters, Winnie and Flo; brothers, Ben and Franny; and a great-grandson, Cameron.
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