First Contingent of Black Women's Army Corps (WAC), 1945

First Contingent of Black American WAC's from left to right are: kneeling: Pvt. Rose Stone; Pvt. Virginia Blake; and Pfc. Marie B. Gillisspie. Second row: Pvt. Genevieve Marshall; T/5 Fanny L. Talbert; and Cpl. Callie K. Smith. Third row; Pvt. Gladys Schuster Carter; T/4 Evelyn C. Martin; and Pfc. Theodora Palmer.

The Journey Begins ...

It sure was cold out there that day in Camp Shanks, New York but we were so excited to be taking that journey and becoming a part of American history the cold weather never even phased us. Even though being the first group of  what would eventually become 800 African American Women to go overseas and dedicate our services to the war was a major accomplishment, it was a very scary one. However, we were brave women and refused to be intimidated by our fears of what was to come and choose to dwell in the honor of this great magnitude of respect and opportunity to represent women, African Americans and our fellow soldiers here in the United States and overseas in World War II.

WAC's outside Camp Shanks New York shortly before being shipped out to Europe. 

We remember how proud we felt before leaving from New York Port of Embarkation. Adrenaline and nerves were running high. We tried to loosen up by even having a snowball fight before we boarded our flight! Yes! We were the first Black WAC Contingent Corps. We were leaders and at the forefront of influencing a change in American traditions by showing our country that not only women but black women were capable of doing things unheard of before, No longer were we limited and burden down with racial stereotypes of house cleaning, lack of intelligence and knowledge. Being a black woman in military uniform proved we were strong, brave and most importantly equal Americans- just like our white counterparts. This empowering movement was so important to us all, and we couldn't wait to embark on this adventure!

From WAAC to WAC

Pallas Athene
Official insignia of U.S. Women's
Army Corps

The conversion of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC)  to the Women's Army Corps WAC occurred as a result of the signed bill by Congress on  on July 3, 1943. This occurrence allowed us to actually be a part of the army corps and not servants of it. We were assigned as the 6888th Central Postal Battalion stationed in Birmingham, England then to Rouen, France and eventually settled in Paris. Our job was simple but tedious: appropriately redirect all mail to it's over 7 million U.S, personnel in European Theater of Operations which included the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, civilians and even Red Cross workers. To many whites in America, sorting and separating mail seemed as an irrelevant task to World War II but our heavy task contributed to this historical event by helping to maintain a high morale to the soldiers on the frontline.We
worked close to three, eight hour shifts alone just sorting through Christmas mail averaging 65,000 pieces of mail per shift.

We joined several other black participants of the war like truck drivers who carried supplies and materials in and out of combat zones, black engineers who helped design roads and docks needed by military personnel, black pilots and stevedores. We can even say we served in the same era as Seaman Doris Miller, the nation's first  black American World War II hero at Pearl Harbor http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/usmchist/defense.txt.

Just a Sign of the Times...

Our inclusion in this war was major and we had worked very hard to get here. Unfortunately, due to racial tensions of the times the full inclusion of blacks in the military was limited. Our assessments were done unjustly compared to our white military associates  and our standards of performance were criticized much more than than the whites. Not only as women but as blacks were we faced with overcoming segregational policies and maintaining our character, dignity and respect. Our dark skin color not only threatened white soldiers and but our sexuality intimidated their masculine image. Rumors such as lesbianinism and prostitution arised when learned women would be part of the World War II experience. None of this was true of course. We just wanted to be part of the movement. We just wanted to dedicate our service to the American government. It was hard though-very tough to fight a battle of racism, sexism and political policies and unrest. This is why we took such pride in our work and showed up in Europe ready to do whatever it was we had to do to prove our self-worth to our country, family and fellow military soldiers.

Charity E. Adams and Cpt. Abbie E. Campbell inspect the first contingent of the Negro members of the WAC.

The Movement Begins-and Continues

New USAF Privates (left to right) Geraldean Moore, Bettyjean Kinniebrue, Eleanor Jackson and Corinne Gogue-Cook are issued their service uniforms for basic and extended training, Lackland AFB, TX, February 1949.US Air Force Photo.

It wasn't until the Women's Armed Services Integration Act of 1948 was an attempt made to integrate women into other non-civilian type positions of the military. Under this act the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force were permitted to enlist placement for women in the military.  These changes all occurred three or more years after we had ended our services for World War II. The implementation of this act still suppressed women since we were not able to oversee men, be in combat or supercede a 2% limit of positions in service. It was a slow process to desegregate and integrate blacks and women into military forces. The signing of President Truman's Executive Order 9981 mandated integration but it was still an unwelcomed and unevenly enforced rule throughout the military. Changes did began to occur. By 1949, the first enrollment of black women into the Marines and in 1950 black women enlisted into the Navy.  As members of the WAC during World War II we had minimal expectations to see any changes  as far as segregation and inclusion. I mean we had become accustomed to the discrimination and prejudices of American society. See, the opportunity alone to serve in World War II, go overseas, in uniform, alongside other military personnel was something to reckon with. It wasn't until the 1960's during the Vietnam War did change began to occur and eventually Congress lifted the stipulations and limitations that hindered women in the military. At this point less emphasis were put on gender and race and more efforts were made to find the best qualified soldiers.

WAC Director COL Elizabeth Hoisington meets cadre members of the WAC Detachment, 

What is comforting to know is that our service and establishment as the First Contingent Black Women's Army Corps was not in vain. Not only did we assist in the historical World War II but we helped combat racial diversity and sexism by becoming forefront leaders of black women and the black race.

ALL HAIL TO AMERICA!-Pvt. Rose Stone

Annotated Bibliography

Judith A. Bellafaire. The Women’s Army Corps: A Commemoration of World War II Service. 2007.  http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/WAC/WAC.HTM

             This link is an image of Pallas Athene, the official insignia of the U.S. Women's Army Corps.

https://www.wodumedia.com/world-war-ii-women-at-war/members-of-the-womens-army-corps-wac-pose-at-camp-shanks-new-york-before-leaving-from-new-york-port-of-embarkation-on-feb-2-1945-the-women-are-with-the-first-contingent-of-black-american-wacs/

            This link provides a picture of all the members, their names and titles of the First Black Women’s Army Corps in 1945.

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/contingent-of-the-womens-army-corps-from-america-who-were-news-photo/3315051

           This link shows an image in 1945 of more members of the first black contingent Women’s Army Corps.

http://butdiversityisunrealistic.tumblr.com/post/95978202166/kellysue-demons-wacs-at-camp-shanks-new

           This link provides an image of the women of the first contingent WAC playing in the snow before their departure to Europe.

Black Americans in Defense of our Nation. A Pictorial Documentary of the Black the Black American Male and Female. Participation and Involvement in the Military Affairs of the United States of America.  http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/usmchist/defense.txt

           This article provides a full fledge account and depiction of black men and women military figures and members involved in the various wars of American culture.

http://www.womensmemorial.org/H&C/History/afamvet.html

           This article gives a timeline description of the beginnings of integration of women and the desegregation of blacks in the military.