Dorothy Dannies was born on December 15, 1912 in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin and graduated from Wauwatosa High School in 1930. She attended the University of Wisconsin and Marquette University before graduating with a degree in Elementary Education and English from Milwaukee State Teachers College in 1939. She taught school at Fisher Elementary School in Wauwatosa from 1939 to 1942. Dannies joined the Women's Army Corps (WAC) in 1942 and graduated from the first WAC officer training class at Fort Des Moines, Iowa as a 2nd Lieutenant. She then became an instructor at Fort Des Moines and later a supply officer, at which time she was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. In March 1943, she was named company commander of the 46th WAC Post, Headquarters Company, Camp Grant, Illinois. While at Camp Grant she married Eugene Alexander, whom she knew from the Fisher School. In July 1943, Alexander became the adjutant commander of the 4621st Service Unit at Fort Custer, Michigan and in November was named the company commander of that unit. In early 1944 she was named company commander of the 4620th Service Unit at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin and was promoted to Captain. In July 1944, Alexander left the service because of the impending birth of her first child.
After the war, Alexander was instrumental in organizing the Milwaukee area chapter of the WAC Veterans Association and she served for a time as president of the Milwaukee Chapter. She was active in the national WAC Veterans Association activities, she attended many of the WAC Veterans Association conventions, and in 1965 was the chairman of the national convention, which was held in Milwaukee. Alexander remained active in the WAC Veterans Association for many years, and maintained contact with many of her former comrades. She died in May 1983.
