Danish WW2 Pilots

Helen Helga Moe (m. Vyff)

(1899 - 1993)

Helen Helga Moe enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) in 1943. She was one of twenty-nine Danish born WACs during the Second World War.

Helen Helga Moe (married Vyff) was born on 28 February 1899 in Skjern, Denmark, the daughter of pastor Otto Fritz Moe and Benny Martine Moe (née Rasmussen).[1] She was the youngest living child of Otto Moe from his second marriage. The family later moves to the town of Sønder Bjert.[2] She finisted lover secondary education (realeksamen) in 1916.[3]

Moe emigrated to the United States in 1927 arriving in New York from Copenhagen on 17 October 1927 on SS Frederik III. Her final destination was her cousin Niels Frode Holch in Forrest Hills, Queens, New York.[4] She was naturalised as a citizen on 11 October 1933.[5]

Moe lived and worked with her older brother Fritz Julius Moe for many years, who was the owner of the Viking Health System, Inc. in the McKnight Building in Minneapolis. According to the census registration of the time, her occupation was masseur in 1930,[6] partner-proprietor in 1940,[7] and clerical worker at a health studio in 1950.[8]

Moe enlisted as a Private (A-704676) in the Women’s Army Corps in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 3 Feb 1943. Her occupation at the time was categorized as managers and officials.[8]

She served for 4 1/2 years with the WAC during the war during which she served overseas. The nature of this service is not known.[10] The sources do not indicate if she served as a Army Air Force WAC.

After the war she was an active member of the Women’s Overseas Service League.[11] She married Poul Christian Vyff in 1955,[12] and died in Osceola, Florida on 30 January 1993.[13]

Endnotes

[1] DNA: Parish register, Skjern sogn.

[2] DNA: 1906 Census of Denmark.

[3] Kolding Stadsarkiv: AA7184.

[4] Ancestry: New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957.

[5] Ancestry: Minnesota, Federal Naturalization Records, 1880-1920.

[6] Ancestry: 1930 United States Federal Census.

[7] Ancestry: 1940 United States Federal Census.

[8] Ancestry: 1950 United States Federal Census.

[9] Ancestry: U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946.

[10] Independence Day Has Special Meaning for Women Veterans, Fort Lauderdale News, 4 Jul 1957, p. 14.

[11] Ibid.

[12] Ancestry: Florida, Marriage Indexes, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001.

[13] Ancestry: U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014.