Sergeant Alice “Ginger” Morrison Bloetscher

Early Life

Alice “Ginger” Morrison was born on December 29, 1931, in Detroit, Michigan, to William and Mary Morrison. As children, she and her siblings, Bill and Florence,  attended Munger Elementary and Middle School, a neighborhood school, before moving on to Chadsey High School. At Chadsey, Morrison, who loved the water, was a member of the school’s swim team and was particularly good at the backstroke. She graduated in 1950.

A self-described wanderer, Morrison had no set plans after graduation. Due to the post-war recession, she was unable to find a job. Seeking direction, she enlisted in the Women’s Army Corp (WAC). By the summer of 1950, she was at Camp Lee, where most WACs went for training, and completed an eight-week basic training program.

Homefront

Detroit, Michigan, Private Morrison’s hometown, was a growing, blue-collar city with a population of nearly two million. While many residents moved to Detroit in the 1930s for jobs in the city’s automotive factories, even more arrived in the 1940s, as Detroit transformed itself into the “Arsenal of Democracy.” During World War II, the Detroit Arsenal ramped up tank production while companies, like GMC, Buick, and Oldsmobile, produced other essential resources, such as guns and aircraft engines.

Although production slowed after the war, Detroit experienced a post-war boom. Between 1940 and 1950, the city’s workforce expanded across various industries, and its population grew by 33%.

During the Korean War, Detroit automakers, like Ford and Buick, quickly negotiated contracts with the Department of Defense to produce engines for B-36 Convair bombers, Boeing B-50 bombers, and other aircraft. Other automakers contributed by manufacturing 2 ½ ton trucks (GM), ambulances (Dodge), trailers (Fruehauf), and small engines (Packard). The Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant, run by Chrysler in nearby Warren, Michigan, produced the M46 Patton and the M47 Patton II tanks. Between 1952 and 1954, over 3,400 tanks were made there.  However, this output did not match World War II production levels, as the war effort was more distributed around the country at that point, rather than centered in Detroit. Additionally, after 1950, the industry faced restrictions on the use of steel and copper.

As Detroiters spread out into the surrounding suburbs, there was a growing desire for quick routes connecting the city and suburbs. To accommodate this need, the City of Detroit began a controversial plan to construct multiple freeways. The John C. Lodge Freeway (M-10) and the Edsel Ford Freeway (I-94) were the first to open. The construction of both freeways significantly disrupted predominantly Black neighborhoods, which hinted at growing racial tension in the city.

As the Korean War progressed, the need for labor lessened. Strikes, layoffs, and unemployment were common. By 1952, signs of an economic slowdown were present, especially in Detroit, as 10% of U.S. unemployment was due to job losses in Detroit. By 1953, the U.S. fell into a recession. White workers blamed Black workers for limited job opportunities. This tension propelled more white Detroiters into the suburbs, while black Detroiters found their neighborhoods razed for freeways.

Military Experience

After Alice Morrison completed basic training at Fort Lee in Virginia, she was assigned to work at the Pentagon. While her exact job is unknown, given the opportunities for women in the military at the time, it is likely she did administrative work.

After the outbreak of the Korean War, the purpose of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was changing. Each member increased its defense efforts and started working to create an integrated military command structure. On December 19, 1950, General Dwight D. Eisenhower was appointed as the first Supreme Allied Commander. In this role, Eisenhower assembled a team to take to Rocquencourt, France, to assist him in setting up the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). Private Morrison was one of those hand-selected by General Eisenhower.

The SHAPE planning group met at the Hotel Astoria, which served as a temporary headquarters. Later in life, Morrison looked back fondly on her time in France, recalling memories of short trips around Europe with friends.

Private Morrison’s military service ended on March 25, 1953, when she was honorably discharged. 

Veteran Experience

Shortly after leaving the U.S. Army, Alice Morrison returned to civilian life, and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she found a job working for Blue Cross. After a few years, she moved back to Michigan, and worked at General Motors in the suburbs of Detroit. It was during this time, that she met her future husband, Wendell Bloetscher, at a party. After their marriage, the couple moved to Dearborn Heights and, in the mid-1960s, welcomed two children. After her children grew up and settled into their own lives, Bloetscher moved to Canton, Michigan, where she held jobs at the Washtenaw County Courts and Gorman’s Furniture doing administrative work.

When she was young, Bloetscher described herself as “a wanderer,” and in her senior years, that remained true. Not one to sit still, after her retirement, Bloetscher was always on the move. She cleaned houses, occasionally volunteered for local animal shelters, delivered Meals on Wheels for seniors in her community, and throughout the 1990s, volunteered as a Family Support member for a local Army Reserve Unit. As someone who cared deeply about military families, she brought a sense of fulfillment as she enjoyed being around the troops and their families. 

As an avid lover of the arts, Bloetscher enjoyed going to live productions of her favorite shows (especially Phantom of the Opera), attending as many Barry Manilow concerts as she could, and working as an usher at the local theatre where she met fellow theatre lovers. During this period of her life, Bloetscher also spent a great deal of time with her loved ones, caring for her beloved dogs, traveling whenever she could with family, and helping raise her grandchildren, who she loved with all her heart.

In her golden years, Mrs. Bloetscher moved to Dearborn, Michigan, where her son provided care for her during her final years. To keep her mind sharp, Mrs. Bloetscher read mystery novels and frequently completed crossword puzzles on paper with pencil (sometimes, she even completed them in pen). She also enjoyed spending time watching her favorite classic movies and attending live local theater productions. 

Commemoration

On January 9, 2024, Alice Bloetscher passed away. Her life was spent in service to her country, community, and loved ones, and her legacy can be seen in her family’s request that in lieu of flowers at her funeral, donations be made to the local organizations in which she volunteered. Those who knew her best remember her fun-loving personality and quirky sense of humor. Instead of saying goodbye, Mrs. Bloetscher would likely use one of her favorite phrases and say, “See ya later, alligator!”

Alice Bloetscher is buried in Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan.

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This profile was funded by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.