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The American Red Cross Clubmobile Service was created during WW2 to provide servicemen with food, entertainment, and "a connection home"
The original Clubmobiles operated from 1942 - 46, travelling throughout Britain & Europe.
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The original Clubmobiles operated from 1942 - 46, travelling throughout Britain & Europe.
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Each was fitted with a kitchen consisting of a doughnut machine & a stove. One side opened out for serving food & drinks, while the rear of the vehicle consisted of a lounge area w built in benches. The lounge contained a record player with loudspeakers, books, candy, & cigs
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For the invasion of Normandy around 100 GMC trucks were converted into Clubmobiles. Each was driven & staffed by 2 - 3 women.
Pictures show Clubmobiles en route to the continent. The Daniel Boone was the first to land in Normandy in July, 1944
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Pictures show Clubmobiles en route to the continent. The Daniel Boone was the first to land in Normandy in July, 1944
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The Clubmobiles would travel with the rear of the unit they were attached to, & be stationed in a town near the Army's installations, while travelling to a different base each day.
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The Clubmobile ladies for the 506th PIR were Virginia "Jini" Arends and Polly Baker (seen on the right in pic with Kay Jensen, 502nd PIR).
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In Dec 1941, Jini was happily married to Clyde Russell. Then Pearl Harbour occured & Clyde was immediately drafted. He volunteered for the Airborne & became an officer with the 82nd Airborne.
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Jini learned of the newly created Clubmobile teams that were to be assigned to each unit in the Army & she went to Washington to volunteer for the ARC, in order to join the unit attached to her husband's regiment. But she was told only single women were being accepted....
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Determined to be close to her man, Jini headed back to Des Moines & filed for divorce. Once the divorce was approved, she travelled back to Washington only to be told all the positions with the 82nd had been taken. Undeterred, she applied for the 101st Airborne & was accepted
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She became one of the first women in uniform to be assigned to the 101st AB. Jini & Polly travelled with the 101st & 506th PIR throughout Europe, from England to France & on to war's end in Austria.
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Jini and Clyde remarried as planned during the war after Clyde had been wounded in The Netherlands, and Jini rushed to be by his side. They named their first daughter Polly, after Jini's Clubmobile comrade.
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