Second Lieutenant Betty Jane Ault, N-760588, was a World War II casualty from the District of Columbia, who died as the result of a non-battle related injury on November 11, 1943.

Betty was born in Clinton, Anderson County, Tennessee in 1914, actual birth date unknown. From census records and other public records, it appeared that her biological parents were Dave and Charlotte Jeffries. In the 1920 census, the Jeffries family rented a home in Clinton, Tennessee, where Dave was employed at a hosiery mill. Betty, or “Betsy J.” was six years old and had four older brothers, Jack, Ben, Jerry, and Frank.

The family mourned the loss of their mother, Charlotte, who died in 1922. Dave, who was born in 1854, died in 1935.

By the 1930 census, Betty was living in Baltimore with her adoptive parents, William and Alice Ault. William was a veteran of World War I and was employed as a conductor on the railroad. The family lived comfortably, owning their own home, and even enjoying the small luxury of having a radio in the home. The couple also had a foster child, Clara.

Betty attended Southern High School No. 70 in Baltimore. According to her yearbook profile in her Senior year, Betty was smart and was actively involved in her academics. She served as the President of the Latin Club, among other activities, and planned on pursuing a nursing career. A news article from the Evening Sun from 1932 profiled a pretty, smiling brunette who was visiting the Women's Hospital with some of her classmates and shared her desire to enter nursing school after commencement.

Betty followed her dreams to become a nurse and graduated from the Women's Hospital Nursing School in 1937. She enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps in April 1942.

Second Lieutenant Ault had been assigned to Ft. Bliss, Texas for eight months in November 1943, when she planned a furlough home before going overseas.

Driving near Sierra Blanca, Texas, Betty was involved in a car accident and was tragically killed. Two passengers, including her mother, had minor injuries. Her brother, Frank Jeffries, was also in the car and was hospitalized for serious injuries. Betty was 29 years old. She was survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Ault, a sister, Mary, and her four brothers.

Second Lieutenant's remains were sent back to Baltimore for burial. Second Lieutenant Elva M. Miller served as escort for the young Army nurse.

A funeral service for Second Lieutenant Ault was held on November 17, 1943, and she received a military burial at Loudon Park Cemetery in Baltimore.

A memorial service to pay tribute to the memory of the 196 Army nurses who died in World War II was held at Arlington Cemetery Amphitheater on October 20, 1946. Betty's name was one of the 196 nurses memorialized.

Thank you for your service and sacrifice, Second Lieutenant Ault. You will not be forgotten.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org**). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.

If you noticed anything I missed in this profile, please go to the end of this story and see “Added by” to find my contact information.

SBTSProject/District of Columbia

References:

1920 United States Federal Census
1930 United States Federal Census
1940 United States Federal Census
U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1999
U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current
Newspapers.com - El Paso Herald-Post - 1943-11-13 - Page 8
Newspapers.com - El Paso Times - 1943-11-11 - Page 1
Newspapers.com - Evening star - 1946-10-20 - Page 20
Newspapers.com - The Baltimore Sun - 1943-11-16 - Page 12
Newspapers.com - The Evening Sun - 11 Feb 1932 - Page 22
Newspapers.com - The Evening Sun - 1943-11-12 - Page 21
Newspapers.com - The Knoxville News-Sentinel - 1935-04-29 - Page 11

Betty J Ault