Cohoes in Albany County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Cpl. Jeannette E. Blair (Brooks)
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, August 3, 2025
1. Cpl. Jeannette E. Blair (Brooks) Marker
Women Army Air Corp Service: 08/07/43-10/4/45
Dec, 17, 1921-Jan. 25, 1999
Thank for making me understand
God, Country and Family
Your Grateful Son
Michael
Donated by Bob & Nancy VanBuskirk
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is December 17, 1999.
Location. 42° 47.021′ N, 73° 42.566′ W. Memorial is in Cohoes, New York, in Albany County. It is at the intersection of North Mohawk Street and Devlin Street, on the right on North Mohawk Street. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Cohoes NY 12047, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in Upstate New York, in the Capital District, and in the Albany Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within
this page online
Additional commentary.
1.
Jeannette E. Blair Brooks served during World War II from August 7, 1943, until October 4, 1945, attaining the rank of corporal. Her service began only weeks after the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps was converted into the Women's Army Corps (WAC), giving its members full military status in the United States Army. During the war, women of the WAC filled more than 200 military specialties, including numerous assignments supporting the Army Air Forces. Veterans Affairs burial records identify Brooks as a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, August 3, 2025
2. Cpl. Jeannette E. Blair (Brooks) Marker
Jeannette married fellow World War II veteran Michael John Brooks, also known by the family name Cegielski. Their son, Michael J. Brooks, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1947. After the elder Michael Brooks died in 1959, Jeannette and her twelve-year-old son moved to Van Schaick Island in Cohoes. Her son spent much of his life in the city and became active in numerous Cohoes civic organizations. Jeannette died in 1999 and is buried in Baltimore National Cemetery, Section M, Site 1552, beside her husband in Site 1551.
Sources
Brooks, Michael J. Obituary. Dufresne Funeral Home, Inc., 2025. Obituary via Tribute Archive
Treadwell, Mattie E. The Women’s Army Corps. United States Army in World War II, Special Studies. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army, 1954. U.S. Army Center of Military History edition
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Nationwide Gravesite Locator. Entries for Jeannette E. Brooks and Michael John Brooks, Baltimore National Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland.
— Submitted September 3, 2026, by Trudi Jacobson of Slingerlands, New York.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 4, 2025, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. This page has been viewed 122 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 4, 2025, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.
