In January 1943 when the government announced that Japanese could join the military, women were able to volunteer for the Army Nurse Corps or the Women Army Corps. Originally the WAC was the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps though in 1943, Congress allowed hearings to convert the WAAC to the WAC. WAACs were urgently needed overseas but the Army could not protect them if they were captured or could not give them benefits if they were wounded like the regular Army soldiers were given. On June 3, 1943, the WAC bill became a law. All members of the WAAC were given the opportunity to join the Army as a WAC or return to their homes.
In July 1943, the first group of WACs arrived at the European Theatre of Operations located in London. These 557 women and 19 officers were appointed with the Eighth Air Force. The second group of women arrived September 20-October 18. Women worked as clerks, telephone switch board operators, typists, motor pool drivers and secretaries. In July 1944, WACs arrived in Normandy, France for the first time. Working in the Communications Zone, they quickly started working in tents, prefabricated huts, cellars, and switchboard trailers with switchboards that the German's had currently used and given up. |
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In February 1945, a group of black WACs were assigned with the 6888th Central Postal Battalion that was commanded by Maj. Charity Adams. The women settled in Paris after a great deal of moving and were responsible for redirecting mail for the U.S. Army in the European Theatre of Operations. The WACs worked hard for three eight hour shifts per week and during each shift there was an average of 65,000 mail that needed to be redirected. In the Southwest Pacific Area Command WACs needed winter uniforms with ski pants and earmuffs due to the harsh winter. Though, there were a few number of skilled workers because of Southwest was that last region that requested WACs services. There were over 150,000 women who served in the Army during WWII. Although many believed that a woman didn't belong in uniform, they were proved wrong.