In 1941, with the looming threat of war, Congress authorized the creation of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC). The bill became law in 1942, but since the WAAC was an auxiliary unit and not governed by United States Army regulations, enlisted women were not eligible for overseas pay or government life insurance. In 1943, a new bill created the Women’s Army Corps (WAC). The WAC would be part of the US Army, giving women the rank and benefits of enlisted men. About this same time, the 907th Post Headquarters Company was activated at Hill Field in Ogden, Utah. We’ve recently added new records to our Hill Air Force Base collection, including a history of the 907th Post Headquarters Company.
The primary purpose for the 907th’s activation was to release men for overseas duty. Female officers were brought in from WAC Training Centers in Florida and Iowa to command the new unit. When they first arrived, the barracks for women in the 907th, expected to number 135, were not yet completed. They got busy requisitioning beds, equipment, a mess hall, and all necessary supplies needed to train and house the new arrivals.
As the recruits arrived, they began specialized training. Women were taught to become radio mechanics, radio operators, supply officers, and other jobs held by male personnel. Pvt. Norene Sparks became the first WAC to replace an enlisted man at Hill Field in August 1943. Soon, WACs replaced dozens of positions held by men. The history for the 907th shows an exemplary disciplinary record with no punishments or court-martials. The WACs wanted to show military officials that they were serious about serving and could manage any job assigned. According to the history, their one complaint was not having enough to do. With the US deeply embroiled in WWII, the WACs made immeasurable contributions both at home and abroad.
During their downtime, WACs at Hill Field enjoyed different forms of recreation. The Red Cross established a day room where the women could gather and entertain friends. There was a piano, radio, games, and cards. Occasionally the WACs hosted dances or holiday parties. The WACs also developed a basketball team and played civilian opponents. They participated in service projects such as planning programs for patients at a local hospital.
As the military transitioned from WAAC to WAC, the designation of the 907th also changed. They became part of the 482nd Base Headquarters, and later, part of the 4135th AAF, Section C. Before WWII ended, more than 150,000 women served in the WAC. Other branches of the military also had similar women’s units, including the Navy WAVES, the Coast Guard SPARS, the United States Marine Corps Women’s Reserve, and Women Airforce Service Pilots.
To read the history of the 907th Post Headquarters Company and see more records from our Hill Air Force Base Collection, search Fold3® today.
Local WASP bomber pilot, Doris Brinker Tanner, 1944, Union City, TN./Users/sharoncunningham/Desktop/DORIS BRINKER TANNER -WASP PILOT.jpeg
All the U.S. Military Service Ladies are KEEPERS!
My mom was a WAC, 1944-1946.
My mother was too. She signed up in 1943. They sent her to Port Moresby. A real change from the East Coast of the U.S.!
Where are records for WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), a part of the
United States Naval Reserve (Women’s Reserve)
My aunt, Carlota Cubillas, was a WAC and a registered dietician. She worked in an Army hospital in England.
Nice to hear about RD’s serving !! Thanks for sharing!
The Veterans Military Museum in San Diego has a room devoted specifically to women’s service in the military and is very well done. Please visit when in San Diego along with the Midway aircraft carrier museum, the SD Zoo, and Balboa Park.
The women in WWII rendered very important and valuable service to the country.
I wish Doris Tanner’s WASP photo (with her bomber in the background!) had showed up here; very obviously, I don’t know how to include a photo with my comments.
She also wrote a fictionalized book, based on true accounts of her, and her sister pilots’ experiences in WWII. The Flying Wasp, 2010, Lanzer Printing Co., Union City, TN 38261.
I enlisted in the Women’s Army Corp in Phoenix, AZ, 29 June 1955. Took my first airplane flight from Phoenix, to Birmingham, AL a few days later. After Basic at Ft. McClellan, AL, Med Tech training at FT. Sam, and OJT I was assigned to the Contagious Disease Ward at Letterman Army Hospital in San Francisco, CA. My next assignment was the 97th General Hospital in Frankfurt, Germany. I extended my enlistment for 6 months while at the 97th. I found the Women’s Army to be a very positive experience.
Thank you for your service!
Happy these are now being included but can’t believe they weren’t already part of the records. ALL women veterans should be included, and I hope you plan to remedy this by including the WASPs and WAVEs quite soon.
I am the son of Lt. Helen C. Baniak. Survived the sinking of the Strath Allan. Spent night and early morning hours in life boat with famous woman correspondent from life magazine. Served in Algiers and Italy as nurse. Married Capt. Donald A. Schallock during the war. Ceremony held in St. Peters in Rome. Had audience with the Pope. The great adventure of a lifetime.
My mother, Valera Mae Zumbrun, served as a WAC in the late 50s until 61. She served in Landstuhl, Germany at the hospital as a payroll clerk. I know she mustered out at Fort Riley. Can’t remember for sure where she did basic. I want to say Fort Ben Harrison. After she returned home, she married another army veteran, Elmore Burgess Zollars, in 1961.
My aunt Shirley Stadtmiller served as a WAVE during WWII in San Francisco. She was actually the teletype operator who received and translated the communication that the war was over in Europe. She said the hardest thing she ever had to do was to not dance for joy when she translated it. She immediately took it to her commander, who reminded here how important it was to continue her silence.
A link of interest—- http://userpages.aug.com/captbarb/medals.html
“This list is ongoing and involves a bit of search and research – additions are most welcome as my resources are quite limited.’
Geoge, thans so much for the link to this website! It’s a keeper, and
I’m sharing it with others of like minds.
Sharon,
Glad to share.
George, I’ll check with the Tanner Family in Union City, to learn if Doris Brinker was awarded any medals.
Oh my gosh! What a great story!
These Ladies were, at the time, the bravest and best!
So glad Fold 3 is keeping them in the hearts and minds of the American Public!
Our very good family friend told me stories of serving as a WAC. Her name was Phyllis Henry (actually I don’t know her maiden name, shoot!). She loved being in the WACs. I would love to find information about her, where she served, etc. I believe she was from Texas but I’ve only known her here in Northeast Tennessee. She died many years ago.
Found this online; couldn’t remember the exact year for this – FINALLY – recognition for the LADY FLYERS:
On November 23, 1977, more than 30 years after the WASP program started, President Jimmy Carter signed Public Law 95-202 giving the women who served as civilian Airforce pilots during WWII veteran status.
My mother, who escaped from Germany in 1937, joined the WAC as soon as she became a citizen and served from 1942 to 1946. While stationed at Fort Williams, Maine, she met my father and they married in January 1945, just before he was sent overseas to Germany (he was on the boat when Germany surrendered).
What is the museum and facilities in Sweetwater, Texas? Worth a visit.
There is a nice museum there to memorialize the WASPS. I enjoyed my visit there. It is small, the WASP program didn’t last for a long time, but I would recommend visiting there.
The best time to visit the WASP Museum in Sweetwater, Tx, is when they have their annual memorial event in May. In years past, those WASPs still alive and able to make the trip are feted. There is a fly-in featuring WWII aircraft and some of the aircraft WASPs flew and trained in. This past year was live event one weekend and a zoom event the next. There is something different every year and it is well worth the effort to go.
I don’t believe the women were given all the benefits, such as baq, even back then.
They would not have gotten BAQ, but enlisted men who were single did not get BAQ either. For anyone who doesn’t understand the acronym, BAQ was an allowance for soldiers who did not live on base.
My Mom Freida E. Montgomery served as a WAC from March 1944, until the end of the War. Meet my Dad at the end of the war, when he was stationed at Peyote Army Air Base in Texas. That is why I am able to write this message today. Proud of them both!
My Aunt Sally Lemley from New Castle, PA served with WAAC swim team in Daytona, Florida. Their duties included life saving skills demonstrations for the soldiers. Her team was also visited by Churchill’s daughter Mary Churchill who wanted to see what American women were doing for the war effort.
At the same time, her husband Gerald Lemley was serving in the Pacific theater.
My mother was in the WAAC & worked In security at Douglas Aircraft, Long Beach CA. I have pictures of her in uniform & one standing in the door of an airplane with “The first flying boxcar” written on it. I haven’t been able to get information about the WAAC and their duties. Is there any resources for information on the WAACs?
I was a WAC 1965-66 doing basic at Ft. McClellan. We were restriced to base due to the civil right activity in town.
Then to Ft. Monmouth signal school.
Went through various jobs, ending with being a receiver repair with another WAC.
I was a WAC from 1971 until 1974. I, too, did basic at to Ft. McClellan, AL. We were detained in the barracks due to civil rights activity on base.
Went to Ft. Sam Houston, TX, for dental specialist basic, the Ft. Monmouth, NJ. for permanent station.
My mother served in Washington DC and Riverside, California with the WAAC in 1942. She opted out when they converted the WAAC to the WAC. We have her uniform jacket, displayed beside our father’s WW II US Army uniform jacket (ETO), in a display case at our local VFW post. I tried adding a picture of her in uniform in Cali but was not successful.
My cousin, Catherine (Bell) Chrisman was Sgt. in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) 1942-1945. As wife of an Army soldier, she wanted to do her part for the War effort. I enjoyed reading of her challenges and experiences in her book “My War” WWII–As Experienced by One Woman Soldier.
I was a WAC from 1966 to 1972. I am one of the few who actually served in country South Vietnam. I am proud of my service and my sister WACs. We are part of the reason that we are free today.
My mother served as a WAC during WWII. She landed at Arromanches -les- Bains, France , which is in the middle of Gold Beach, Normandy, a week or two after the D Day invasion. This location is where the temporary “Mulberry Harbours” were assembled to facilitate the unloading of troops, supplies, and equipment to support the Allied push toward Paris. As territory was liberated, her group would follow. She was stationed in Paris till the end of the war working in the office pool. Most of her military records were destroyed in a fire so I was never able to find much more about her military service. All I know is that she was one tough lady
My mother was in the WAAC in WWII. She was stationed at a prisoner of war camp in Mississippi, where she worked in the base office. Later she met my father, who was in the Marine Corps. He served at Iwo Jima, Saipan, Tinian, Guadalcanal, and Korea. He retired as a Master Sergeant. They were both patriots and heroes. I am so proud of them. I wish they could still be with us. I have so many questions I would like to ask them.
My cousin, Rita Hess, from Pittsburgh, PA was a WAC during WWII. I know she was stationed in England but I’m not sure what she did, but it might have had something to do with communications. She passed away in 1963 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
My grandmother served a full 20 year career, having enlisted as a WAC in 1944. Her sister served an enlistment as an Air-WAC, also enlisting in 1944.
I enlisted in the WACS in 1974. Basic started in January 1975. Unfortunately the WACS were abolished (my word and feelings) later that year. Our insignia was replaced. I had joined to be a “lifer” WAC. I was not anxious to prove I was a good as I man. Being a women raised by a former WAV and strong women, I always knew the strength of a women.
That happened to us in 1971. We were no longer WACs but Women in the Army. As time went by, it wasn’t worth the aggravation. I did learn that I was stronger that I thought.
PS My mother worked making bombs during the war in Philadelphia.
My mother Gloria (Hargadine) was training as a WAC to be a nurse in 1945. Sometime after WWII ended she left the program. I knew she had started training as a nurse during the war but had no idea she was a WAC until I discovered records on doing genealogy and saw her military record.
My mother enlisted as a WAC when her husband (of 6 months) was killed in a mid-air training flight as a WWII fighter pilot. She ended her service with 9 months in Shanghai, China. The experience truly shaped her life.
My mother, Hazel Luella Reisewitz, was a WAC. She was trained as a driver and drove everything from jeeps to large trucks. She served in Australia, New Guinea and the Philippines. She was in the Philippines at war’s end.
I wonder whether our mothers knew each other. My mother–also a WAC–served in Port Moresby. She headed a censorship unit there. Technically her discharge papers show that the unit was considered “transportation.” But it was really censorship.
My mom was Irene Stempski, a WAAC in the 13th Company, 3rd Regiment, she trained at Ft. Des Moines in March of 1943.
My mother (Annette Bitterman and later Annette Rosenstiel) was a WAAC at Ft. Oglethorpe beginning in mid-March 1943. Then she re-upped as a WAC later.
My Mom inlisted in the WAACs in 1942 and went to Ft. Des Moines, Ft. Ogelthorpe As soon as she was cleared for overseas duty as a WAC, she went to Port Moresby, New Guinea, Port Moresby and then Manila. Her transport ship sailed through the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
Discharged as Staff Sergeant Rita Florence Goldreich.in 1945.
I HAVE HER SCRAP BOOK INCL IMAGES OF HER PLATOON/SQUAD whatever you call it. Any of you want to see some images? If son send me your email. I will scan this week and perhaps you’ll see our Moms all together? Looks like they put all the Jewish women together! LOL!!!
My email is [email protected].
To all those women and men who made our country safe for democracy – God bless you all!
I had an aunt Margaret Hutter from Wisconsin. who was a WAC in about 1941 or so
I joined the WAC right out of High School in 1971 and went through WAC Basic at Ft MCClellan, AL. I served as a 71Q/84Z (Public Affairs Specialist) at Ft Sam Houston, TX ( became the first female Distinguished Honor graduate from the III Corps NCO Academy while assigned at Ft Sam Houston); served in 8th USARMY, USAF, Army HQ, Yongson, Korea, (when Noth Korean tunnels into South Korea under the DMZ were discovered and when the US military made that final, dramatic pullout of Vietnam); USAG, Ft Campbell, KY (when the WAC was finally merged with the regular Army); as the career manager for the enlisted Army Public Affairs field (contributed to the establishment of CMF 84 Public Affairs as a separate, self-contained enlisted Career Field), at MILPERCEN, Alexandria, VA; at the Defense Information School ( DINFOs), Ft Ben Harrison, IN, as a Training Developer/Instructor; then in Office of Public Affairs, HQ US Army, Pentagon, Washington, DC, where I continued to work on/ and saw the actual establishment of the new CMF84. Met my husband, MSG Gary Glover, at DINFOS when he was a student. Later, while both assigned to the Pentagon, we became reacquainted as co-workers, in 1984 and married in Sept 1985. I spent six months at the SGM Academy at Ft Bliss TX, then Gary and I were reassigned to Frankfurt, Germany in 1987. Gary was assigned to the American Forces Network and I was assigned as the Fifth Corps, HQ US Army as the Public Affairs Sergeant Major. We were there when the terrorist group Bieder Meinhoff was actively attacking and blowing up US military targets and when the Berlin Wall finally came down.
From there we were reassigned to the Military District of Washington — Gary to DOD Public Affairs and I was assigned as the US Materiel Command PA Sergeant Major. Gary was then reassigned overseas to AFRTS Korea and I retired, after 21.5 yrs service. I earned my first BS degree in Journalism, while on active duty; I earned my second BS in Information Systems by returning to college the day after I retired from the Army which led to my second career in federal service as an Information Technology Spec.) I can still wear my dress greens and blues and still have and wear my Vietnam-era women’s combat boots. After it took so long, and lots of blisters to break those boots in, you can bet I still have them.
That is a great story… What was so difficult during my time is enlisted women staying in long enough to get to the senior grades, so bravo on your successes. I am a crossover element… I was commissioned as a WAC & MPC in 1977. I went to the office or basic course at Fort McClellan for MPs. I was stationed in Germany in Stuttgart, Leonberg, and Munich from 1983 to 1988. I remember the B/M gangs…Don’t think Americans really understand that there were a lot of terrorist groups in Europe and elsewhere.
You are so right! The week I arrived in Germany, the parking lot, where I would be parking my mini-van outside the Fifth Corps HQ I.G.Farbin building, was fire-bombed. East Germans were dying while trying to cross the border between East and West Germany to reach freedom — they were either shot by E. German guards or stepping on mines. The tracks of the Berlin train that ran between the two Germany’s was constantly being mined with explosives by the B/M and/or others (and luckily, found and disarmed). We had to check our personal vehicles very carefully before getting in and driving them daily, because they might have been wired to explode overnight. I was amazed, because we never heard about most of this back in the USA. I escorted media up to Fulda and other areas along the border where the wall literally went through the middle of homes. It was also awesome to also be there when the wall came down! I don’t think American’s really understand what a wall like that can do or represents. They forget that walls work two ways…they keep things, people out; but they also keep things and people in, whether they want to be kept or not.
My Mom inlisted in the WAACs in 1942 and went to Ft. Des Moines. As soon as she was cleared for overseas duty as a WAC, she went to New Guinea, Port Moresby and then Manila. He transport ship sailed through the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
Discharged as Staff Sergeant Rita Goldreich.in 1945. Had to then fight decades later for the service time she got no credit for while she was a WAAC. Despite attacks of Malaria well in to he 70’s she got what she earned.
To all those women and men who made our country safe for democracy – God bless you all!
My Mom inlisted in the WAACs in 1942 and went to Ft. Des Moines, Ft. Ogelthorpe As soon as she was cleared for overseas duty as a WAC, she went to Port Moresby, New Guinea, Port Moresby and then Manila. Her transport ship sailed through the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
Discharged as Staff Sergeant Rita Florence Goldreich.in 1945.
I HAVE HER SCRAP BOOK INCL IMAGES OF HER PLATOON/SQUAD whatever you call it. Any of you want to see some images? If son send me your email. I will scan this week and perhaps you’ll see our Moms all together? Looks like they put all the Jewish women together! LOL!!!
My email is [email protected].
To all those women and men who made our country safe for democracy – God bless you all!
If anyone wants to see a performance that brings the women who flew in the war come to life, check out History at Play. I have seen her performance where women who participated (and their spouses) are just blown away by how realistic her solo presentation is. https://www.facebook.com/HistoryAtPlay/photos/2720860968018757
My mother was a Nurse in the First Army in England, France, Belgium, and Germany during the war. She was at the Battle of the Bulge and 7 or so other battles but I haven’t seen much of anything on the Nurses. She received a book that was given to all her colleagues when they were sent home. Hers was stolen from her trunk at the train station in the US. Are there other books now available that are similar to the one she was given? I would love to see more information on the Nurse Corp. She didn’t talk much about the war though she had some small pictures.
My mother was a WAC 1944-1946 after Ft Des Moines and Ft Oglethorpe was then assigned to Camp Shanks, NY, as a personnel clerk. This was the processing station for personnel shipping out from the port of NY. There are some photos in an album of her fellow WAC I’m willing to share.
I was in the WACs from 1963 to 1965, during Vietnam, in the Dental Corps.
I was stationed at Fort McClellan, AL,
Fort Sam Houston ,TX and Fort Ord, CA.
I really enjoyed my time in the Army and am proud of my service to my country!
I was a WAC from 1971 until 1974. I, too, did basic at to Ft. McClellan, AL. We were detained in the barracks due to civil rights activity on base.
Went to Ft. Sam Houston, TX, for dental specialist basic, the Ft. Monmouth, NJ. for permanent station.
My mother was a WAC 1943-44. She enlisted when my father did both served at Ft McClelland, Alabama, initially. Following basic training, she was offered a chance to go to OCS, but my father was to receive a medical discharge, and she was given a choice to continue on to OCS or be discharged to take care of my father. She made the obvious choice and went with my father. If she had not, I would most probably not be posting this comment. I am surprised that I cannot find her military documents, even though I have a handful of photos of her in uniform proving she was there with her platoon mates at Ft McClelland.
My wife was a WAC at Fort Eustis VA when I met her in 1961. We were married in 1962 She was a SP-4 an I was a PFC. I was there for training . My wife worked in Courts and Boards. Unfortunately she died June 7 2008 of Leukemia. Missed by all.
My mother, Evelyn (Brown) Motley, enlisted in the WAAC on 9/23/1942 as a truck driver. She earned her GED and applied for OCS, receiving her commission as a Second Lieutenant on 10/16/1943 in the WAC as a Signal Corps Officer. She was a Crypto Officer in the White House Crypto Office in 1944 and a Top Secret Courier between the War Dept and the White House. In 1945, she worked in Lord Louis Mountbatten’s SEA HQ’s in Ceylon before serving in the I.G. Farben Building in Frankfurt, Germany until Dec. 1947. She then served in the US Forces Austria HQ’s in Vienna, Austria until June 1950. In July 1950, she attended the Army Language School in Monterrey, CA to study Russian until June 1951. She was then assigned to the Army Security Agency HQ’s until she was forced out of the service when she became pregnant with my brother in 1954. She left the service as a Major.
My mother said, “We fought the Battle of Broadway in New York City.” She and her company were mail clerks. They had to “MOVE” that mail to keep the morale of the troops overseas up and excited. of course, she was told and loved to remind me that her battle helped to win the war because if our troops morale went down, we would have lost.
Does anyone know of the Battle of Broadway in New York? The postal clerks? I would appreciate hearing stories from others who had female relatives march along Broadway to the post office each day.
If they were anything like modern day troops, they were referring to where they would go during their off duty time. In Germany we often referred to the Gasthouse (bar) Wars.
My mother, Barbara Jane Case, enlisted in the WAC in April of 1943 upon graduation from USC in Los Angeles. She did her basic training at Camp Monticello in Arkansas, and then went to OCS in Des Moines, Iowa. 2nd Lt. Case was attached to the recruiting division and travelled across the country encouraging other women to join the WAC. In March 1944, she was attached to the Signal Corps in Alexandria, Virginia. She spent the next 20 months as an executive personnel officer for civilian employees at the Signal Corps. By the end of WWII she had earned the rank of 1st Lt. She was released from duty in December, 1945, and three months later she was married to Major Grover C. Gauntt Jr. who had just returned from two years of fighting in the South Pacific.
I was a friend and fellow graduate student of Harriet Louise Urban White; she was a WASP. We became study buddies, struggling through two statistics courses When I asked her when she wanted to study for the final exam of the second course, she told me she was dropping the course so she could attend a reunion of her former service pilot colleagues in Sweetwater, TX. That puzzled me until later when there was an article in the Albuquerque Journal about her career as a Women Airforce Service Pilot! Then I understood! It was then that I learned that Harriet had later also completed the degree she sought, which meant she mastered the statistics course:-)
Harriet was the mother of four sons and one daughter. After the divorce she took in foreign university student boarders to earn a living to provide for her children and to finance obtaining her own bachelor degree from the University of New Mexico.
Having grown up in the east coast, she was an expert at sailing but she had dreamed of flying. Eventually her father gave in and paid for flying lessons. So it had been a natural choice for her to become a WASP!
My mother’s youngest brother, as a member of the Army Air Corps (forerunner of the US Airforce), was killed when the insulation on the plane for which he served as Navigator, became wet in a terrific storm at sea after a successful bombing raid in the Pacific, and the engine failed.
The second husband whom I’ve out lived, served in the Navy as a gunner on an LCI in Northern Africa during WWII.
My father’s youngest brother served in the Army in WWII, and in the Air Force in Korea; he continued his service in Alaska when the 1957 earthquake hit. For several days he was unable to return home after work to his wife and two children. In December of 2019, he was buried in his blue dress uniform.
We owe much to all those who have served our country!!!
My , Marjorie Aline Hinds, daughter of Col. Harold Walker Hinds, USArmy Air Corps, was a WAC up to her marriage in 1944 to Lt. Frank Stanley Warzeski Jr in 1944. My father was stationed at Aberdeen Proving Grounds after graduating in Chemical Engineering at MIT in 1943. So Mom was probably stationed at or near the Proving Grounds as well. Mom’s father, “The Colonel” was in the Army National Guard, serving in both WW1 and WW2.
We’d like to find out anything we can about Mom and her service.
Is this your mother? A Marjorie Hind who was a nurse.
https://www.fold3.com/image/316789503?terms=hinds,marjorie
Freda Dean, was a member of the famed WAC 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion. Fold3 can easily incorporate the service of the “Six Triple Eight:”
https://www.history.com/news/black-woman-army-unit-mail-world-war-ii
I agree. The 6888th including the three members who died in France and are buried at Coleville sur Mer deserve all the information Fold3 can post. Mildred Peterson was a member.
How was this program related to the WASP program, which was based at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas?
My sincerest thanks to these Women who “ heard the bugle call within themselves “ and served their Country in its time of need.
Gene McCandless
USMC Vietnam 1968-69
My mother served as a WAC during WWII. She repaired tank radios at Ft. Knox, KY. She told a story of getting stuck upside down in a tank turret while working on a radio. Sadly, she passed young, in 1961. I have loving memories of her and pictures of her in uniform. Long time ago now…
Any information on Catherine Burmester.
Service number 00 703 181
Rank Technician Fifth Grade
December 29 1942 until October14 1945
Stationed in Fitchburg MA
London and Paris
See first message
I tried to find some info on the VA website about getting a military headstone for these women, sad to say I could not. If anyone can provide this info, please post—https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/memorial-items/headstones-markers-medallions/
Thank you George.
George, If you find anything on how to do this, please post here! We all know someone in the Ladies Corps who deserve this recognition.
Here is the information from the link he posted:
A Veteran who didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge or a service member who died while on active duty may be eligible for a headstone or marker if they meet the requirements listed below specific to when they served.
Enlisted personnel who served before September 7, 1980, and officers who served before October 16, 1981
At least one of these must be true. The Veteran or service member:
Died on or after November 1, 1990, and their grave is currently marked with a privately purchased headstone, or
Was buried in an unmarked grave, anywhere in the world
Can I apply for one of these memorial items?
In most cases, you can apply for one of these memorial items if you’re representing the deceased Veteran, service member, or family member in any of the below relationships or professional roles.
One of these must describe your relationship to the deceased:
A family member, or
A personal representative (someone who officially represents the deceased), or
A representative of an accredited Veterans Service Organization, or
An employee of a state or local government whose official responsibilities include serving Veterans, or
Any person who’s legally responsible for making arrangements for unclaimed remains or for details having to do with the deceased’s interment or memorialization, or
Any individual representing the deceased, if the Veteran’s service ended before April 6, 1917
Mr. Fargason,
One thing I would like to add to your description, the cemetery must approve the placement of the headstone. At least that was true about 10 years ago when I was placing headstones. I had no problem because I am one of the owners of the cemetery.
My mother was the first woman in Los Angeles County California to enlist. I have the news paper article on her military page for her . My mother was Evelyn Marth Morley she married my father John Henry Goodrich Squires AKK Mac Donald at Fort Ord California in 1945 he was a master sergeant . I loved my parents very much they both died in 1994 within 3 months of each other. They often spoke of their military life and the hard ships they had to endure . I still have their ration books for gasoline and food . My sister and I really miss them.
My Mother was a WAC. She enlisted 1943 while working at the Pentagon while it was being built. She worked for the WAR Dept in small arms procurement. Boot camp was Ft Ogalthorpe. Her and 47 other WACs were selected and followed Gen. Bradley until summer 1945. 12th US AG, SHAEF. She has 5 Battle Stars, had a Top Secret clearance. These women slept and lived as the male GIs did.
I contacted the cemetery where my parents are buried. Both served in WWII; Daddy in the Army & Mom enlisted as a WAAC in 1943. Cemetery personnel made all the contacts, received & installed military medallions n my parent’s headstone. There is a medallion for the Army and also one for the WAC. Perfect!
All I had to do was to send in copies of their discharge papers. In all, took about 4 weeks. I know my folks would be extremely proud.