I have always remembered Alma Jeschien. I was a 19 year old sales clerk working at Fresno Camera Exchange which at that time was down at the Downtown Fulton Mall. I remember she brought in some black and white photos, about 8x10 in size, for us to make copies for her. The young woman in the photos was stunning and all the photos were aviation oriented, meaning there were airplanes all around her. I asked her who it was and she said it was her as a young lady and that she was a WASP. Being an avid reader of WWII history, I knew what that was. My strongest recollection of one particular photo was of Alma standing in front of a single engine fighter, perhaps a P-40 or a P-51...I can't recall...she was dressed in a flight suit that she had made, light in color with piping down the sleeves and down the trouser which were tucked into Western boots. She wore a Western holster with a revolver tucked inside of it. Under a cowboy hat was a large amount of beautiful brown or black hair, curly or wavy, and the most beautiful smile....she was gorgeous!! We worked on her order and within a week she picked it up and was happy with the results as I recall. That was the only time I met her, but the memory will stay with me all of my days. Over the years, my appreciation and gratitude for her service has only grown. I understand she was a French teacher at Fresno High School and I wonder if any of her students realize what her contributions to our Nation. Later on in my life, I bought a home North of Shaw and East of Fruit. A friend who lives in the neighborhood West of Fruit said that she also lived in that neighborhood. Is that true? Thank you for taking the time to read this...I saw a story on CBS Morning News about the WASP float at this years Rose Parade and I Google'd her and here I am. I do have a special request, if there are any family members out there who read this and are in possession of the photo I described or any other of Alma in Aviation motif, I would love to have a copy. It would mean more than words could describe. I was raised and educated my entire life in Fresno, travelled the world as a professional photographer, returned to Fresno to own and operate a very successful studio for over 25 yrs and now retired on the Central Coast of California. I remember Alma. I always will.
sincerely,
Jose Garza
Professional Photographer, ret
Nipomo, Ca
805 703 3018
[contact link]
sincerely,
Jose Garza
Professional Photographer, ret
Nipomo, Ca
805 703 3018
[contact link]
