- 1 DA GO 38, 26 May 54, established WAC Center as a Class I Activity under HQ, Third US Army, Fort McPherson, under TD 63-3460-3-the TD number changed to 63-3465 on 25 Jun 57, to 63-3176 on 1 Jan 59, and to 3A-3176 in Jun 67. WAC School came under operational control of CONARC in Jun 64. The words "United States" were added to the organization titles by Ltr, TAG(AGAO-O) (M) 322 (19 Oct 56) to all armies, 13 Dee 56, sub: Redesignation of Table of Distribution Units. In 1973, HQ, Third Army, was deactivated, and control of WAC Center and WAC School was assumed by HQ, Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, formerly CONARC, ODWAC Ref File, WAC C&S TDA & Reorganization, CMH.
2 Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1967, and 1972, Historical Collection, WAC Museum.
3 Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1954 and 1956, Historical Collection, WAC Museum. The WAC Triangle was designed by Charles Clemmons, Alabama State Landscape Architect, in 1955. In 1968, Col Rasmuson donated a Grecian Sun Dial and decorative cement benches to the area (Memo, HQ Training Brigade, 13 Mar 78, sub: Inventory of Buildings, Land Markings and Items Within Areas 10 and 20, ODWAC Ref File, Memorialization, CMH).
4 Historical Report, WAC C&S, FY 1962-1964, Historical Collection, WAC Museum.
5 Annual History, Military Police School/Training Ctr & Fort McClellan, 1978, CMH Ref Br.
6 Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1958, and 1960-61, Historical Collection, WAC Museum.
7 Historical Report, WA'C C&S, FY 1962-1964. Mrs. Faith gave the general's dress blue uniform to the WAC Museum.
8 Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1957, FY 1962-1964, 1965, Historical Collection, WAC Museum.
9 "WAC Officers Association," Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1954-1971, and "WAC Association," Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1971-1976, Historical Collection, WAC Museum. The association raised most of its funds at an annual white elephant auction at which a few items were returned to be sold year after year. Most famous of these items was a large oil painting called "Julie," whose sales accumulated over $2,500 for the association. "Julie" now resides in the WAC Museum.
10 "History of the National WAC Veterans Association," ODWAC Ref File, WAC VETS, CMH.
11 Ibid.
12 "History of the WAC Foundation," ODWAC Ref File, WAC Foundation, CMH.
13 Historical Reports, WAC C&S, FY 1962-1964, 1973, and 1974.
14 Lt Col Irene O. Galloway has not been included as she held the position of WAC Center cdr for only one month before being selected as DWAC in 1952.
15 Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1954, 1955. Col Sullivan was reassigned to Germany in mid1955 and retired in February 1957.
16 Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1963, and 1973. Col Clark resigned in 1956 to return to civilian life.
17 Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1972. Women from the following countries (number trained) attended the WAC Officer Basic Course: Burma (16), Canada (1), Republic of China (Taiwan) (4), Indonesia (6), Japan (4), Korea (29), Paraguay (1), Philippines (1), Republic of Vietnam (50). Col Lathrope retired in 1958.
18 Historical Report, WAC C&S, 1959, p. 18.
19 Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1958, 1959.
20 Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1960-61 and 1971. Also see ltrs in ODWAC Ref File, Drill Sergeants, CMH. Col Odbert became deputy DWAC upon leaving WAC Center in 1961.
21 AR 350-170, 23 Jun 55, The WAC School, rev 14 Dec 56 and 11 Apr 60; Index of Training Films, DA Pam 109-1; Index of Training Publications, DA Pam 310-3; Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1961-62, 1962-64. Charlotte Sait was WAC School Librarian, Nov 63-Jul 65; Sybil Parker, Jul 65-Dec 76.
22 Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1965, 1966. The WAC Drill Team, organized by SgtlstCl Mildred C. Kelly, performed at march-outs, sports events, and parades between 1964 and 1971.
23 Historical Report, WAC C&S, 1967, p. 67.
24 Historical Report, WAC C&S, 1968; AR 635-212, 15 Jul 66, Enlisted Discharge for Unfitness and Unsuitability, rev Oct 68, CMH Library.
25 Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1967, 1968. SgtlstCl Gwendolyn Gibson and SSgt Audrey I. Allen were the WAC Training Bn mess stewards during the Vietnam expansion; SgtlstCl Eileen Shaw was mess steward at HQ and HQ Co.
26 Historical Report, WAC C&S, 1967, p. 12.
27 Ibid., p. 47.
28 Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1968, pp. 40, 94, and 1969, p. 44. Upon completion of her WAC Center tour, Col Branch was assigned to the Office of the JCS.
29 Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1968, p. 15, and 1970, pp. 7, 49.
30 Historical Report, WAC C&S, 1968, p. 15.
31 Ibid, 1969, p. 55.
32 Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1970, p. 27, and 1972, p. 2; Msgs, CONARC to DCSPER 1921122 Oct 71, sub: WAC Drill Sergeants in Basic Training, and DA (ODCSPER) 3021152 Nov 71, same sub, ODWAC Ref File, Drill Sgts-WAC, CMH. On 6 Apr 72, six women graduated from Class #9, Drill Sergeants School, Fort Jackson, SC; SgtlstCl Sylvia M. Dobson and SSgt Ladina L. Moore, distinguished graduates, remained at the school to help train more WACs. On 26 May 1972, six more graduated; SSgt Diane Oppedal, the honor graduate, later donated her silver-plated saber to the WAC Museum.
33 Historical Report, WAC C&S, 1971, p. 26.
34 Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1971, p. 27, and 1972, p. 61. LtCol Elizabeth P. Wilde, S-4, WAC Center, participated in the contracting process.
35 Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1972, pp. 2-3, and 1973, p. 8.
36 Historical Report, WAC C&S, 1972, pp. 63, 66.
37 Address, MajGen Hunt, "Address to the Last WAC Officer Advanced Class on 7 July
1972,"WAC Journal 4(1973):6-8. Two WAC officers attended the Infantry Officers Advanced Course (Capt Patricia Hickerson, Capt Theresa H. Netherton); another attended the Field Artillery Advanced Course (Capt Roberta Jordan). All were married, all graduated in June 1973. None experienced any academic or physical problems; however, their attendance was experimental, and because women could not be assigned to these branches, no others attended these advanced courses.
38 AR 614-200, 4 Jun 70, Selection and Assignment of Enlisted Soldiers for Training and Assignment, with changes, CMH Library; "History of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy 1 July 1972-31 December 1974," CMH Ref Br.
39 Historical Report, WAC C&S, 1972, pp. 197-98.
40 Ibid., p. 65.
41 A complete record of the incident-reports, documents, clippings, etc.-is in ODWAC Ref File, Racial Incident, CMH. Unless otherwise noted, all information in this section is from this file.
42 Rpt, HQ, US Army School/Training Center, Fort McClellan, AL, to Cot's of the Army, through CG, Third Army, 28 Jan 72, sub: Case Study Racial Incident, Fort McClellan, AL, 13-15 Nov 71, with 1st Ind, CofS, Third Army, Fort McPherson, GA, to CG, CONARC, 8 Feb 72, and 2d Ind, HQ CONARC to DA, 25 Feb 72, ODWAC Ref File, Racial Incident, CMH. Post information officer, LtCol Ruby R. Stauber, kept the press informed. On 14 Nov 71, the DCSPER, Gen Kerwin, ordered Gen Bailey to WAC Center. The DWAC flew to Alabama, but she left the same day she arrived after deciding that her presence might inflame the situation rather than show her concern.
43 "WAC Center Lament," WAC Journal 4(1973):29.
44 Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1972, 1973.
45 DA GOs 16 (18 May 73), 29 (7 Sep 73), and 33 (1 Oct 73), CMH Library; HQ Third Army GO 241 (18 May 73), Historical Report, WAC C&S, 1973.
46 DA Msg (CofS) 1716002 Apr 73, to Maj Corns, sub: Base Realignment Actions, and CONARC Msg 3115092 May 73 to Cdr, Fort McClellan, and other post cdrs, sub: Relocation of Military Police Community to Fort McClellan, ODWAC Ref File, McClellan Closure, CMH.
47 DF, DWAC to CofS, 30 Nov 73, sub: Initial Evaluation of CONCISE Proposals, Action #3, Military Police School, ODWAC Ref File, McClellan Closure, CMH.
48 Ltr, Cdr, WAC C&S, to Dep Cdr, TRADOC, 12 Nov 73, no sub, ODWAC Ref File, McClellan Closure, CMH.
49 DA Historical Summary, 1974, p. 32, ODWAC Ref File, McClellan Closure, CMH.
50 WAC Center TDA 3AW2GYAA, changes 9 and 10, ODWAC Ref File, WAC C&S, TDA & Reorganizations, CMH.
51 TD TC2GAA and HQ Third Army GO 82, 16 Feb 73, ODWAC Ref File, WAC C&S, TDA & Reorganizations, CMH.
52 Historical Report, WAC C&S, 1973, p. 45. In Jan 74, CASP became the responsibility of 3d WAC Tng Bn, and, in Dec 74, when 3d Bn closed, CASP went to HQ Bn; in 1976, CASP moved to 2d Bn (BT) where it remained until discontinued in 1981.
53 Historical Report, WAC C&S, 1974, p. 8-5.
54 Ltrs, Cdr, WAC C&S to MajGen Hunt, DepCofS for Individual Training, 27 Dec 72, MajGen Hunt to Col Clarke, 11 Jan 73, ODWAC Ref File, Expansion 1971-1972, CMH.
55 Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1972, 1973, 1974. WAC recruiting objectives versus recruits received: 1973-8,500 vs 8,701; 1974-14,400 vs 15,411; 1975-17,200 vs 19,271
(Strength of the Army Report [DCSPER 46], Part I, Gains and Losses, 30 Jun of years cited).
56 SS, ODCSPER to CofS, 24 Sep 74, sub: Plan for Expansion of the Women's Army Corps, Approved 6 Oct 73 by CofS, ODWAC Ref File, Expansion WAC 1972-3, CMH.
57 Annual Histories, Fort Jackson, SC, 1973, 1974, 1975, CMH Ref Br. Col Marilyn J. Russell commanded 5th Bde (1975-1977); LtCol Gwen Gibson replaced Colonel Bizzelle as Cdr, 17th BT Bn (WAC) (1975-1977), and LtCol Lenore G. Roberts replaced Colonel Caldwell as Cdr, 18th BT Bn (WAC) (1975-1977). They trained 40,000 WAC recruits.
58 HQ, USASTC, Fort McClellan, GO 28, 18 Apr 74; Historical Report, WAC C&S, 1974; Ltr, Cdr, USASTC, Fort McClellan, to Cdr, WAC C&S, 26 Nov 74, sub: USASTC and USWACCS Realignment/Reorganization, ODWAC Ref File, WAC C&S TDA & Reorganization, CMH.
59 In Jan 44, HQ, ASF, formally activated the five WAC bands organized and operating in 1943 at the WAAC, later WAC, training ctrs. They were the 400th ASF Band (VVAC), First WAC Training Center, Fort Des Moines; the 401st ASF Band (WAC), Second WAC Training Center, Daytona Beach, FL; the 402d ASF Band (WAC), Third WAC Training Center, South Post, Fort Oglethorpe; the 403d ASF Band (WAC) at the Third WAC Training Center, North Post, Fort Oglethorpe (originally at the Fifth WAC Training Center, Camp Ruston, LA); and the 404th ASF Band (Cld)*, at the First WAC Training Center, Fort Des Moines. The abbreviation "Cld" stood for "colored," the asterisk for WAC; both were part of the band's title. All these bands were deactivated between 1945 and 1947. The two other women's bands were the Women Marines Band at Camp Lejeune (1943-45), led by MSgt Charlotte Plummer, and the 534th USAF Band (WAF) at Lackland Air Force Base (1951-59), led by Capt Mary Belle Nissly, who had served with the 400th ASF Band (WAC) in World War II. Copies of unit histories of the ASF bands are in CMH Organizational History Br. Also see WAC Training Center histories for 1948 and 1949. Unless otherwise noted, information in this section is from WAC Band chapters of the Historical Reports, WAC C&S, for the years discussed.
60 L,tr, ACSFOR DA to TRADOC, 12 Jun 73, sub: Special Band Request, ODWAC Ref File, Band, CMH.
61 DF, TAG to General Officer Steering Committee, Equal Opportunity, 12 Aug 75, sub: Followup Actions on TAG Subcommittee Recommendations GOSCEO Report, ODWAC Ref File, Band, CMH.
62 Ibid., Incl 3, Cdr, USAMPS/TC, Fort McClellan.
63 Ibid., Incl 4, DWAC.
64 2d Ind, TAG to Cdr TRADOC, 22 Oct 75, to Ltr, TAG to TRADOC, 27 May 75, sub: Maintenance of All-Female Band, and HQ TRADOC GO 82, 18 Feb 76, ODWAC Ref File, Band, CMH.
65 MSgt Meltz was replaced by MSgt Bernice R. Goldstein, who retired 31 Jan 75 and was replaced by SgtlstCl Barbara L. Graham, who, in turn, was replaced by MSgt Otis W. Whittington in July 1976. CW4 Victor F. Owens became bandmaster on 10 September 1976.
66 WAC vocalists assigned to the US Army Field Band in 1971 were SP4 Mildred L. Christian and Pfc Johnnie B. Riser. The first enlisted woman assigned to the US Army Band, Fort Myer, VA, was Pfc Elizabeth Holstius.
67 Msg, TRADOC 1414322 Feb 75 to DCSPER DA, sub: Weapons Training for Women; Msg, DCSPER 1719302 Mar 75 to TRADOC, same sub; DA Msg 2618322 Mar 75 to Maj Corns, sub: Public Affairs Guidance Defense Weapons Training for Enlisted Women; DA Msg 0919022 Jan 76 to Maj Coms, sub: Weapons Training for Female Soldiers, Active Army, Army National Guard and Reserve. Copies in ODWAC Ref File, Weapons Training, CMH.
68 DA Msg 3015452 Jun 76 (DAPE-MPT) to Maj Coms, sub: Weapons Training for Female Soldiers, Active Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve, ODWAC Ref File, Weapons Training, CMH.
69 Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1975, 1976.
70 "He [CoFS] is prepared to approve same POI for basic training for WACs as for males. Gen DePuy states he is prepared to go along with this but needs
DA Staff Guidance. " Tasking Memo, Maj Elliott G. Fishburne (Aide to the CofS) to DCSPER, 19 Sep 75, sub: WAC Training, CSA Comments, ODWAC Ref File, WAC Basic Training-BIET, CMH.
71 MFR, Col Sidney Davis, Chief, Special Actions Team, to DCSPER (DAPS-PBP), 24 Sep 74, sub: Telcon with Maj Gen Kingston, Commander, Fort McClellan, ODWAC Ref File, WAC Basic Training-BIET, CMH. The project officer to coordinate development of ATP 21-114, Test Edition, Basic Training of Male and Female Personnel without Prior Service (Six Weeks), December 1975, was Col Kitt M. MacMichael, Dir, Training and Education, US WAC School (1974-1976). In an interv with the author on 16 Jul 81 she stated: "General Kingston was strongly influenced by Colonels Shirley Heinze, Lorraine Rossi and myself in this matter [common basic training] . . . but he spearheaded the action totally. We just helped make him a believer in the woman soldier."
72 Ltr, DCSPER to Cdr, TRADOC, 6 Apr 76, sub: Women in the Army Study, ODWAC Ref File, WAC Basic Training-BIET, CMH.
73 Msg, TRADOC 0102242 May 76 to Cdr, Fort McClellan, Fort Jackson, and others, sub: Basic Initial Entry Training Test, and Rpt, Basic Initial Entry Training (BIET), BIET Test Directorate, US Army Military Police School/Training Center, Fort McClellan, AL, 30 Dec 1976, ODWAC Ref File, Basic Training-BIET TEST, CMH.
74 Memo, DCSPER to CofS, 16 Feb 77, sub: Basic Initial Entry Training (BIET) for Male and Female Soldiers, approved VCofS 17 Feb 77, ODWAC Ref File, WAC Basic Training-BIET, CMH.
75 Annual Rpt, SecArmy, 1977, p. 23, CMH Ref Br.
76 Ltr, Cdr, USASTC, Fort McClellan, to Cdr, WAC C&S, 26 Nov 74, sub: USASTC and USWACCS Realignment/Reorganization, and HQ TRADOC Permanent Order 34-1, 14 Oct 76, ODWAC Ref File, WACC&S TDA & Reorganization, CMH; Annual Historical Summary, US Army Military Police/Training Center and Fort McClellan, 1976, CMH Ref Br; Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1975, 1976. Col Heinze was reassigned as chief of staff of the Army Recruiting Command, Fort Sheridan, IL. Col Rossi served in Vietnam (1968-1969) and was a 1974 graduate of Army War College.
77 OPLAN CONSOLIDATE, USASTC & Fort McClellan, 1 Jul 76, with Change 1, 1 Sep 76, ODWAC Ref File, WACC&S TDA & Reorganization, CMH; HQ TRADOC Permanent Order 341, 1 Apr 77, and HQ USAMPS/TC&FM Permanent Orders 72-8, 72-9, 72-20, and 72-21, in Annual History, USAMPS/TC&FM, Fort McClellan, 1976, CMH Ref Br. Col Rossi remained on post as asst dep cdr until 30 Jun 77 when she was reassigned as dir of the Army Equal Opportunity Programs, ODCSPER, DA.
78 PL 94-106, Military Authorization Act of 1976, 8 Oct 75; Historical Reports, WAC C&S, 1975, 1976. South Dakota State Univ, on 1 May 76, was the first to graduate women in the ROTC program. Of 14,296 women in ROTC in Dec 77, 738 held ROTC scholarships.