Today in Herstory: America’s Women in Uniform Are Making Everyone Proud (3 feb 1944)

Today in Herstory: America’s Women in Uniform Are Making Everyone Proud

February 3, 1944: Women serving their country through military service got a well-deserved salute from the Women’s Army Corps commander today upon her return from a 26-day inspection tour overseas.



Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby had nothing but praise for the ability and dedication of the troops she visited in England, Italy and North Africa. They have been performing every task given them extremely well, and are determined to stay until total victory is achieved. According to Col. Hobby: “I didn’t see a one who wanted to come home until it was over, not a one!”



Though it’s not known when and where the expected Allied invasion of Europe will occur, the performance of our women soldiers has earned them a role in that operation. According to Hobby: “The W.A.C. will go in as soon as lines are established and field establishments set up.” Seven WACs are already serving with the Supreme Allied Commander, General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Though the vast majority serve in the U.S., there are now about 3,000 WACs overseas, two-thirds in North Africa, 350 in Italy and the rest stationed in England. More are needed, and are on the way. Recruiting has been brisk, with 816 women enlisting in an average week. Like their civilian counterparts in defense work, military women are now doing a wide variety of jobs, as described by Hobby when she discussed their work by region:

England: WACs in England are scattered quite broadly. In London they are working in hospitals, in the Office of Strategic Services, in the Military Intelligence Service. In field installations with the various air commands they are plotting and briefing missions, doing photo interpretations of bombings, handling communications. We have not enough WACs in England yet; there are still British women serving with our American troops.

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http://feminist.org/blog/index.php/2015/02/03/today-in-herstory-americas-women-in-uniform-are-making-everyone-proud/