Helma Caroline (Anderson) Evans

Submitted by: Douglas Evans {Grandson}

Helma Caroline Anderson Evans Helma Caroline (Anderson) Evans was born around 1894. Helma (Anderson) Evans served in World War 1 with the United States Navy . The enlistment was in 1918 and the service was completed in 1919.

Story of Service

Helma Caroline (Anderson) Evans was born on September, 2, 1894. Always fiercely independent, and against her parents' wishes, she enlisted in the US Navy in September of 1918. Helma was assigned as a bookkeeper and assistant to a Navy Commander known as the "Chief Bookkeeper" at the Washington Navy Yard.

She achieved the rank of Petty Office 3rd Class (E-4), and her rating was Yeoman 3rd Class (YN3). During WWI, female Yeoman were known as "Yeomanettes," and she proudly wore that moniker. Helma was honorably discharged in July of 1919. She was awarded the WWI Victory medal.

While in the service and after the war ended, she participated in a number of parades and ceremonies in support of her fellow Sailors, Marines, and Army troops. Helma also marched in parades in New York City, Providence RI, and Boston, MA, in uniform, in celebration of Armistice Day.

After WWI ended, Helma married George David Evans, Sr., a reporter and typographer for the Providence Journal-Bulletin and Boston Globe newspapers. At the time of her passing in 1973, Helen was survived by three daughters, two sons, and 20 grandchildren. Following her example of service and duty to our country,

Helma's legacy is that no fewer than 15 members (and counting!) of the succeeding generations of her family have served ably and honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Helma Caroline Anderson and other Yeomanettes gathering at the Hotel Brevoort in New York City in 1918.