Salute to the Women in Uniform
American women played important roles during World War II, both at home and in uniform. Not only did they give their sons, husbands, fathers, and brothers to the war effort, they gave their time, energy, and some even gave their lives.
The utilization of women in an organization such as the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) offered a “golden opportunity” to solve manpower shortages. So recognizable was the opportunity that Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall himself told the War Department in November 1941, “I want a women’s corps right away, and I don’t want any excuses!” Urgent wartime demands necessitated the use of all able, willing citizens, regardless of gender. In recruiting women, the Army assured them that they would be doing “unusual and exciting work” and that their service “in making available technically trained men for combat service will be of great value in winning the war.”
Congresswoman Edith Nourse Rogers (R-MA) introduced a bill to establish the WAAC on 28 May 1941. She cited two rationales for such an organization: to ease the shortage of able-bodied men and “to answer an undeniable demand from American women that they be permitted to serve their country, together with the men of America, to protect and defend their cherished freedoms and democratic principles and ideals.” WAAC/WAC veterans later recalled this strong desire to be of service. Mary Robinson, for example, said, “I just thought it was the sensible thing to do. The British had done it in two wars.”
The 77th Congress eventually did establish the WAAC with Public Law (PL) 77-554 on 14 May 1942, after much heated debate.
Nearly 350,000 American women served in uniform, both at home and abroad, volunteering for the newly formed Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAACs, later renamed the Women’s Army Corps), the Navy Women’s Reserve (WAVES), the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve, the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve (SPARS), the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPS), the Army Nurses Corps, and the Navy Nurse Corps. General Eisenhower felt that he could not win the war without the aid of the women in uniform. “The contribution of the women of America, whether on the farm or in the factory or in uniform, to D-Day was a sine qua non of the invasion effort.”
Women in uniform took office and clerical jobs in the armed forces in order to free men to fight. They also drove trucks, repaired airplanes, worked as laboratory technicians, rigged parachutes, served as radio operators, analyzed photographs, flew military aircraft across the country, test-flew newly repaired planes, and even trained anti-aircraft artillery gunners by acting as flying targets. Some women served near the front lines in the Army Nurse Corps, where 16 were killed as a result of direct enemy fire. Sixty-eight American service women were captured as POWs in the Philippines. More than 1,600 nurses were decorated for bravery under fire and meritorious service, and 565 WACs in the Pacific Theater won combat decorations. Nurses were in Normandy on D-plus-four.
At the war’s end, even though a majority of women surveyed reported wanted to keep their jobs, many were forced out by men returning home and by the downturn in demand for war materials. Women veterans encountered roadblocks when they tried to take advantage of benefit programs for veterans, like the G.I. Bill. The nation that needed their help in a time of crisis, it seems, was not yet ready for the greater social equality that would slowly come in the decades to follow.
Women today still proudly wear a uniform, as demonstrated by our very own fellow blogger, Cindy Bruchman, seen here after she graduated boot camp!!
Click on images to enlarge.
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Current – 14 August – National Code Talkers Day
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Military Humor –
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Farewell Salutes –
Jessie Adams (100) – Riverdale, UT; US Army WAC, WWII, PTO, nurse
Vera Bernard – Ridgewood, CAN; RC Womens Army, WWII
Linda Dietsche – Elmira, NY; US Army, Vietnam, Captain (Ret. 20 y.), nurse
Valerie Ferguson – Waikato, NZ; QSM WAAC # 809924, WWII, Northern Signals, 9th Regiment
Eileen “Kelly” Finch – Brighton, IL; US Navy, SeaBee
Barbara Graham – Philadelphia, PA; US Navy, Korea, nurse
Patricia Hamlin – Seattle, WA; US Navy WAVE, WWII, machinist
Lottie Manley – Hughesville, PA; US Coast Guard
Winifred Pickering – Lebanon, ME; US Navy, WWII
Judy Terry – Brookhaven, MS; US Army, nurse
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Posted on August 13, 2018, in WWII and tagged 1940's, family history, History, Home Front, Military, Military History, veterans, Women of WWII, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 173 Comments.
Ah…another really good one! Very nice of you to spend some time highlighting the important contributions of women to the military–especially during wartime.
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“Just the facts, maam.” 🙂 It is a fact that we couldn’t have pulled it off without the female support!!
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Thank you for honoring these women, GP!
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I had been quite remiss in getting back to the women’s contributions. It all couldn’t have been done without them, that’s is for certain!!
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I loved reading this. One of my favorite part of my time in the Navy was when I got to interview a veteran of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service). Even at 92 years old, she said she would join the Navy again if she could, because of all the great things they are doing today. She was pretty awesome, and still fit into her uniform. 🙂
https://womenandthemilitary.home.blog/
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Thank you for stopping by to read my article and for helping to contribute to the post with your story.
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Thank you for writing this. I am a vet myself
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Thank you very much for your service. I hope I did the women proud here?
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You definitely did
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Thanks for sharing the information, unfortunately, it has always been a man’s world. The gap may be closing a little, but way too slowly. God bless all our men AND women who serve,
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Very true, Toni. Old ways change slowly I’m afraid.
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I love your blog. Thanks for search informative article.
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I’m glad you found it interesting.
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Thank you, GP, for the informative post. I had no idea of the breadth of their service in WWII. They certainly performed above and beyond the call of duty – in whatever capacity chosen or ordered!
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That’s right. Not knowing exactly what would be required of them, they signed up anyway!!
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Vrouwen hebben inderdaad heel veel hulp geboden en sommige hebben die ook betaald met hun leven maar vind toch dat die ,na de oorlog niet de eer kregen die ze verdienden.Fijn dat jij ze eens in het zonnetje zet.
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So true, Mary Lou!! We have been lax about giving credit.
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Wonderful spotlight, GP! I’ll share over on Twitter 🙂
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I thank you for helping to share this history, Christy.
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It is amazing to discover how much actual combat women were involved in on land, sea and air, although it was completely hushed up, of course. It is a pity that stories about it are not now correlated and released. Male egos are more conditioned, now!
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Where would we be without the support of the entire country? Oh yeah, in the shape we’re in today!!
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Thanks for following my blog, and for your like of my post, “The Aaronic Blessing 2;” you are very kind.
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Don’t mention it, it’s my pleasure.
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There should be more people like you.
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They didn’t all have Smitty for a father!!
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Amen!
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Mom had her character references was ready to sign up for the WAACS but Dad talked her out of it: https://joynealkidney.com/2017/08/10/the-waitress-becomes-an-officers-wife/
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I’m sure she did great on the home front!
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Excellent salute to all Woman who worked in support of their Menfolk during the war, rather disappointing that it took so long with the GI Bill to recognise their contribution after the war.
Great historical post mate.
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Isn’t that the truth! They did a great job – in all the allied countries, I think.
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I recently caught the 1956 version of “A Town Like Alice” again. Like “Paradise Road”, the film movingly depicts the suffering of women taken captive by the Japanese during WWII. I recommend it to you.
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Thank you for thinking of me.
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hello gp cox its dennis the vizsla dog hay this spring my mama and dada and mimmier and grandpa and auntie went to the faymus landmark the cabrillo on a day wen the bunkers wer open and their wuz a lady their dressd up in a wac yooniform giving toors and eksplayning things!!! sumhow tho nobuddy got a pikcher of her i wunder if she wuz reely a ghost or sumthing!!! ok bye
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That generation I beginning to think is capable of anything, Dennis – including haunting!!
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This was a major step in America to permit women to do jobs outside the home. Their involvement was a big step toward the place women have in the workforce today.
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I believe you are quite right, Bev.
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This post proved to be very popular. The women win!!
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