{"id":7105,"date":"2026-04-02T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eto44.ovh\/?p=7105"},"modified":"2026-04-03T10:21:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T08:21:11","slug":"the-story-of-the-wac-in-the-eto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eto44.ovh\/?p=7105","title":{"rendered":"THE STORY OF THE WAC IN THE ETO"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Le WAC\u202f\u00bb est un petit livret retra\u00e7ant l\u2019histoire du Women’s Army Corps dans le th\u00e9\u00e2tre d\u2019op\u00e9rations europ\u00e9en (ETO). Ce livret fait partie de la s\u00e9rie G.I. Stories<\/em> publi\u00e9e par Stars & Stripes<\/em> \u00e0 Paris en 1944-1945.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

THIS is your story — a record of the vital services performed by the Women’s Army Corps in the European Theater. Your versatility and competence earned the highest praise from commanders of every unit to which you were assigned. No matter what task was given you, the result was always the same — a job well done.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is only on rare occasions such as this that an opportunity occurs to express my satisfaction and pride in your record. I thank you wholeheartedly and wish you continued success.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna W. Wilson
Lt. Col., Theater WAC Staff Director<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE STORY OF THE WAC IN THE ETO<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MAY 7, 1945: Gen. Eisenhower’s Forward Headquarters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For two days and nights Allied and German generals had negotiated surrender terms inside the red brick schoolhouse. Reporters and photographers waited expectantly. Weary from pounding out vital messages, Wacs in the Secretary to General Staff section of Supreme Headquarters waited, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 0100, Lt. Gen. Walter B. Smith, Gen. Eisenhower’s Chief of Staff, told the Wacs to go home and get some sleep. The Germans weren’t likely to sign that night.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Ceci est votre histoire \u2014 le t\u00e9moignage des services essentiels rendus par le Women’s Army Corps<\/em> sur le th\u00e9\u00e2tre europ\u00e9en. Votre polyvalence et votre comp\u00e9tence ont m\u00e9rit\u00e9 les plus grands \u00e9loges de la part des commandants de toutes les unit\u00e9s auxquelles vous avez \u00e9t\u00e9 affect\u00e9es. Quelle que soit la t\u00e2che confi\u00e9e, le r\u00e9sultat a toujours \u00e9t\u00e9 le m\u00eame : un travail bien accompli.
Ce n\u2019est que rarement, dans des circonstances comme celles-ci, que se pr\u00e9sente l\u2019occasion d\u2019exprimer ma satisfaction et ma fiert\u00e9 \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9gard de votre bilan. Je vous remercie de tout c\u0153ur et vous souhaite un succ\u00e8s continu.
Anna W. Wilson
Lieutenant-colonel, directrice du personnel WAC du th\u00e9\u00e2tre
L\u2019HISTOIRE DU WAC SUR LE TH\u00c9\u00c2TRE EUROP\u00c9EN
7 mai 1945 : Quartier g\u00e9n\u00e9ral avanc\u00e9 du g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Eisenhower
Pendant deux jours et deux nuits, des g\u00e9n\u00e9raux alli\u00e9s et allemands avaient n\u00e9goci\u00e9 les conditions de la reddition dans une \u00e9cole en briques rouges. Journalistes et photographes attendaient avec impatience. \u00c9puis\u00e9es d\u2019avoir tap\u00e9 des messages essentiels, les WAC de la section secr\u00e9tariat de l\u2019\u00e9tat-major g\u00e9n\u00e9ral au quartier g\u00e9n\u00e9ral supr\u00eame attendaient elles aussi.
\u00c0 1 h du matin, le lieutenant-g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Walter B. Smith, chef d\u2019\u00e9tat-major du g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Eisenhower, dit aux WAC de rentrer dormir. Les Allemands n\u2019\u00e9taient pas cens\u00e9s signer cette nuit-l\u00e0.
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Sgt. Marjorie Wells, Logan, Ohio, went to her quarters, but she was back again in an hour. This was it — this was the moment for which everyone had been waiting. Sgt. Wells typed the official cable proclaiming Germany’s unconditional surrender to the Allied nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00ab\u00a0We were too tired to get excited,\u00a0\u00bb she recalls. \u00ab\u00a0I finished the necessary number of copies about 0530 and went home to catch some sleep. My roommate, Sgt. Katherine Ruch, New York City, didn’t believe me when I told her the news.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remembers Sgt. Davina Settle, Omaha: \u00ab\u00a0The fact that the war was over didn’t come to me until I started typing Cease Firing orders. I’d worked on drafting the cables the day before, but at midnight but at midnight we had to tear them up and change the date to May 7. After the signing we were busier than ever and typed Cease Firing orders to 137 Army Groups and units.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n


On V-E Day, 8000 Wacs could look back on long months of overseas duty. Only a few had been in on the surrender. But all had played an operational part in the war against Nazi Germany.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

La sergente Marjorie Wells, de Logan (Ohio), rentra dans ses quartiers, mais revint une heure plus tard. C\u2019\u00e9tait le moment attendu par tous. Elle tapa le t\u00e9l\u00e9gramme officiel proclamant la capitulation sans condition de l\u2019Allemagne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\u00ab Nous \u00e9tions trop fatigu\u00e9es pour \u00eatre excit\u00e9es \u00bb, se souvient-elle. \u00ab J\u2019ai termin\u00e9 les copies vers 5 h 30 et je suis rentr\u00e9e dormir. Ma colocataire ne m\u2019a m\u00eame pas crue. \u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n


T\u00e9moignage du sergent Davina Settle, Omaha :
\u00ab Je n\u2019ai vraiment r\u00e9alis\u00e9 que la guerre \u00e9tait termin\u00e9e qu\u2019au moment o\u00f9 j\u2019ai commenc\u00e9 \u00e0 taper les ordres de cessez-le-feu. J\u2019avais travaill\u00e9 \u00e0 la r\u00e9daction des c\u00e2bles la veille, mais \u00e0 minuit, nous avons d\u00fb les d\u00e9chirer et changer la date pour le 7 mai. Apr\u00e8s la signature, nous avons \u00e9t\u00e9 plus occup\u00e9s que jamais et avons envoy\u00e9 des ordres de cessez-le-feu \u00e0 137 groupes et unit\u00e9s de l\u2019arm\u00e9e. \u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Le jour de la victoire en Europe (V-E Day), 8 000 WAC pouvaient regarder en arri\u00e8re sur de longs mois de service outre-mer. Peu avaient assist\u00e9 \u00e0 la reddition, mais toutes avaient contribu\u00e9 \u00e0 l\u2019effort de guerre.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

JULY 16, 1943: A GI band swung into \u00ab\u00a0Lady Be Good\u00a0\u00bb as the First Separate Battalion debarked at Gourock, Scotland. Commanded by Lt. Col. (then Capt.) Mary A. Hallaren, Lowell, Mass., the 557 enlisted women and 19 officers comprised the first WAC battalion to be assigned to the ETO. First ashore was 2nd Lt. (then 1st\/Sgt.) Virginia Rosekrans, Chicago. Greeting them was Lt. Col. (then Capt.) Anna W. Wilson, Theater WAC Staff Director, who had arrived in London in early April, 1943, to prepare for the thousands of Wacs to follow. Assisting Col. Wilson was Maj. (then 2nd Lt.) Selma L. Herbert, New York City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attached to the pioneer 8th Air Force, battalion personnel were assigned to Headquarters, 3rd Bombardment Div., 2nd Bombardment Div., 8th Fighter and Bomber Command and 3rd Bombardment Wing of the 8th Air Force. The Wing, under Maj. Gen. Samuel F. Anderson, later became the hard-hitting 9th Bombardment Division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six battle stars now adorn the ETO ribbons worn by Wac veterans of the 9th Bombardment Division. They were awarded for the Air Offensive over Europe, Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Central Europe and Rhineland campaigns.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

16 juillet 1943 :<\/strong> Un orchestre de G.I. entama \u00ab\u00a0Lady Be Good\u00a0\u00bb<\/em> alors que le First Separate Battalion<\/em> d\u00e9barquait \u00e0 Gourock, en \u00c9cosse. Command\u00e9 par le lieutenant-colonel (alors capitaine) Mary A. Hallaren<\/strong>, de Lowell (Massachusetts), ce bataillon comptait 557 femmes engag\u00e9es et 19 officiers<\/strong>, formant la premi\u00e8re unit\u00e9 du Women\u2019s Army Corps (WAC)<\/em> affect\u00e9e au Th\u00e9\u00e2tre d\u2019op\u00e9rations europ\u00e9ennes (ETO). La premi\u00e8re \u00e0 mettre pied \u00e0 terre fut la sous-lieutenant (alors sergent-chef) Virginia Rosekrans<\/strong>, de Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00c0 leur arriv\u00e9e, elles furent accueillies par le lieutenant-colonel (alors capitaine) Anna W. Wilson<\/strong>, directrice du personnel WAC pour le th\u00e9\u00e2tre d\u2019op\u00e9rations, qui \u00e9tait arriv\u00e9e \u00e0 Londres en avril 1943 pour pr\u00e9parer l\u2019accueil des milliers de Wacs \u00e0 venir. Elle \u00e9tait assist\u00e9e par le major (alors sous-lieutenant) Selma L. Herbert<\/strong>, de New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rattach\u00e9 \u00e0 la pionni\u00e8re 8th Air Force<\/strong>, le personnel du bataillon fut affect\u00e9 au Headquarters, 3rd Bombardment Div.<\/strong>, \u00e0 la 2nd Bombardment Div.<\/strong>, 8th Fighter and Bomber Command<\/strong> et 3rd Bombardment Wing<\/strong> de la 8th Air Force<\/strong><\/strong>. Cette escadre, dirig\u00e9e par le major-g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Samuel F. Anderson<\/strong>, devint plus tard la redoutable 9th Bombardment Division<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Les v\u00e9t\u00e9rans WAC de la 9th Bombardment Division<\/strong> portent d\u00e9sormais six \u00e9toiles de bataille<\/strong> sur leurs ribbons ETO, d\u00e9cern\u00e9es pour leur participation aux campagnes suivantes : Offensive a\u00e9rienne sur l\u2019Europe<\/strong>, Normandie<\/strong>, Nord de la France<\/strong>, Ardennes<\/strong>, Europe centrale<\/strong>, Rhineland<\/strong> (Rhin).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n

Wacs took over from WAAF and GI personnel. Within a week, telephone and teletype operators were working day, night and swing shifts. Flight control rooms were staffed by newly-trained plotters. Clerks organized files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like the rest of the army, GIs in Britain were openly apprehensive. For many, it was the first glimpse of American women in uniform. But doubts vanished when soldiers observed their work, their sharp, military appearance. British and Canadian officers, long proud of their own women in service, agreed that the performance of Wacs in review was difficult to equal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MUD, BOMBS, WORK ERASE GLAMOR<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the tempo of war accelerated, Wacs arrived overseas aboard liners and cargo boats in ever increasing numbers. They were assigned to ETOUSA headquarters, to the Air Forces, to services mushrooming from SOS, Ordnance, Quartermaster, Transportation, Medical, Chemical Warfare, Engineers. They plotted aircraft and V-1s, teleprinted, operated switchboards, typed, filed, made maps — from air-sea rescue rooms they \u00ab\u00a0brought home\u00a0\u00bb lost planes and pilots. They assessed combat films, cooked, gave innoculations, drove jeeps and trucks, and sweated out missions from control towers. These were only a few of the 239 jobs for which Wacs were trained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever notions they might have had of life in the ETO, Wacs soon learned there wasn’t much glamor. The clammy English dawn caused them to shiver in heatless Nissen huts and concrete barracks. Discipline was strict. Passes were scarce. There was mud — and bombs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

March 24, 1944: The Luftwaffe was still riding high. Air raid sirens moaned at two WAC camps, one housing SHAEF and Allied Service women, the other occupied by 8th Air Force personnel. The Tannoy system wheezed, crackled. Ack-ack guns pumped lead at the enemy aircraft. The stout-hearted took shelter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Les Wacs<\/strong> prirent le relais des WAAF<\/strong> (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) et des soldats am\u00e9ricains. En moins d\u2019une semaine, les op\u00e9ratrices t\u00e9l\u00e9phoniques et t\u00e9l\u00e9typistes travaillaient en \u00e9quipes de jour, de nuit et en rotation<\/strong>. Les salles de contr\u00f4le des vols furent dot\u00e9es de nouvelles plotters<\/strong> fra\u00eechement form\u00e9es, tandis que les secr\u00e9taires organisaient les archives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comme le reste de l\u2019arm\u00e9e, les G.I. stationn\u00e9s en Grande-Bretagne \u00e9taient ouvertement sceptiques<\/strong>. Pour beaucoup, c\u2019\u00e9tait la premi\u00e8re fois qu\u2019ils voyaient des Am\u00e9ricaines en uniforme<\/strong>. Mais leurs doutes s\u2019\u00e9vanouirent rapidement en observant leur travail rigoureux<\/strong> et leur allure militaire impeccable<\/strong>. Les officiers britanniques et canadiens, fiers de leurs propres femmes en service, reconnurent que la performance des Wacs<\/strong> lors des revues \u00e9tait difficile \u00e0 \u00e9galer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BOUE, BOMBES, TRAVAIL EFFACE LE GLAMOUR <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alors que le rythme de la guerre s\u2019intensifiait, les Wacs<\/strong> d\u00e9barquaient en nombre toujours plus grand \u00e0 bord de paquebots et de cargos. Elles furent affect\u00e9es au quartier g\u00e9n\u00e9ral de l\u2019ETOUSA<\/strong>, de l’Air Forces<\/strong>, ainsi qu\u2019aux services en pleine expansion de la SOS<\/strong> (Services of Supply), de l\u2019Ordnance<\/strong> (artillerie et armement), du Quartermaster<\/strong> (intendance), du Transportation <\/strong>(Transports), du Medical (Service m\u00e9dical<\/strong>) , du Chemical Warfare<\/strong> et des Engineers<\/strong> ( Troupe du g\u00e9nie). Elles tra\u00e7aient les trajectoires des avions et des V-1<\/strong>, transmettaient des t\u00e9l\u00e9impressions, op\u00e9raient les standard t\u00e9l\u00e9phoniques, dactylographiaient, classaient des dossiers, dessinaient des cartes \u2014 et depuis les salles de sauvetage air-mer, elles \u00ab ramenaient \u00e0 la maison \u00bb<\/strong> les avions et pilotes \u00e9gar\u00e9s. Elles analysaient les films de combat, cuisinaient, administraient des vaccins, conduisaient jeeps et camions, et attendaient avec angoisse le retour des missions depuis les tours de contr\u00f4le. Tout cela n\u2019\u00e9tait qu\u2019un aper\u00e7u des 239 m\u00e9tiers<\/strong> pour lesquels les Wacs avaient \u00e9t\u00e9 form\u00e9es.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quelles que fussent leurs attentes concernant la vie en ETO<\/strong>, les Wacs apprirent rapidement qu\u2019il y avait peu de glamour. Les aubes humides d\u2019Angleterre les faisaient frissonner dans leurs baraquements Nissen<\/strong> et leurs casernes de b\u00e9ton, d\u00e9pourvus de chauffage. La discipline \u00e9tait stricte. Les permissions, rares. Il y avait la boue\u2026 et les bombes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

24 mars 1944<\/strong> : La Luftwaffe<\/strong> dominait encore le ciel. Les sir\u00e8nes d\u2019alerte a\u00e9rienne hurlaient dans deux camps de WAC, l\u2019un abritant des femmes du SHAEF<\/strong> et des services alli\u00e9s, l\u2019autre occup\u00e9 par le personnel de la 8th Air Force<\/strong>. Le syst\u00e8me Tannoy<\/strong> gr\u00e9sillait, craquait. Les canons de la DCA crachaient le plomb sur les avions ennemis. Les plus courageuses se mirent \u00e0 l\u2019abri.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n

Flares lit the sky, plummeted earthward to the WAC camps. Explosions shook the ground; Wacs heard the unmistakable swish of bombs, were jarred by the concussion. When they left the shelters, one camp was silhouetted in flames. That night, Wacs of the 8th Air Force made room for 250 bombed-out buddies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typical drama lived by Wacs took place one day in January, 1944, at 9th Bombardment Division — just 15 minutes by Messerschmitt from Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00ab\u00a0There’s an enemy flight coming out of France,\u00a0\u00bb calmly announced Pvt. Bassie Moseley, Houston, Tex., as she adjusted her earphones. Before her was an interceptor board, a 12-foot square table marked with German and Allied air fields. Pvt. Moseley was stationed at a Marauder headquarters where she and other Wacs helped plot the movements of all aircraft in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, she picked up a metal strip on which she began placing magnetized discs identifying the planes winging over the Channel. With a croupier-like stick, she pushed the marker and an arrow to indicate direction of flight into the Channel section of the map. Seconds passed. Pvt. Moseley moved the red arrow closer — closer to the coast. She nudged the red arrow to point northward, then quickly swung it back; the Germans had feinted a change of course. Now they were coming straight in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pfc Lola McCoy, Rensselaer, Ind., leaned forward to move her RAF markers — RAF night fighters rising to tackle the invaders. Sirens wailed. Enemy aircraft roared overhead. The tenseness in the flight control boom was broken by a dull boom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pfc McCoy moved her RAF marker. \u00ab\u00a0One Kraut had a fighter after him,\u00a0\u00bb she said. Pvt. Moseley pushed the enemy marker out over the Channel. Those in the room relaxed, laughed nervously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00ab\u00a0Tomorrow, you’ll read in the papers that enemy raiders dropped a few bombs on the coastal area,\u00a0\u00bb Pvt. Moseley said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Les fus\u00e9es \u00e9clairantes illuminaient le ciel<\/strong>, retombant vers les camps des Wacs. Les explosions faisaient trembler le sol ; les Wacs entendaient le sifflement caract\u00e9ristique des bombes, puis ressentirent l\u2019onde de choc. Quand elles quitt\u00e8rent les abris, l\u2019un des camps se d\u00e9coupait en silhouette, envelopp\u00e9 de flammes. Cette nuit-l\u00e0, les Wacs de la 8th Air Force<\/strong> firent de la place pour accueillir 250 camarades sinistr\u00e9s<\/strong> par les bombardements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Un \u00e9pisode typique de leur quotidien se d\u00e9roula un jour de janvier 1944<\/strong>, au sein de la 9th Bombardment Division<\/strong> — \u00e0 seulement 15 minutes de Messerschmitt de l\u2019Allemagne<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00ab Une formation ennemie arrive de France \u00bb<\/em>, annon\u00e7a calmement la soldate Bassie Moseley<\/strong>, de Houston (Texas), en ajustant son casque. Devant elle, un tableau d\u2019interception<\/strong> : une table carr\u00e9e de 3,60 m\u00e8tres, marqu\u00e9e des terrains a\u00e9riens allemands et alli\u00e9s. Moseley \u00e9tait en poste dans un quartier g\u00e9n\u00e9ral de Marauders<\/strong>, o\u00f9 elle et d\u2019autres Wacs tra\u00e7aient les mouvements de tous les appareils dans le secteur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elle saisit une bande m\u00e9tallique sur laquelle elle commen\u00e7a \u00e0 placer des disques magn\u00e9tiques, identifiant les avions survolant la Manche. D\u2019un b\u00e2ton rappelant celui d\u2019un croupier, elle poussa le marqueur et une fl\u00e8che indiquant la direction du vol vers la section \u00ab Manche \u00bb de la carte. Les secondes passaient. Moseley rapprocha la fl\u00e8che rouge \u2014 toujours plus pr\u00e8s de la c\u00f4te. Elle la fit pivoter vers le nord, puis la ramena brusquement : les Allemands avaient feint\u00e9 un changement de cap. Maintenant, ils fon\u00e7aient droit devant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

La caporale Lola McCoy<\/strong>, de Rensselaer (Indiana), se pencha pour d\u00e9placer ses marqueurs de la RAF<\/strong> \u2014 des chasseurs de nuit britanniques d\u00e9collant pour affronter les intrus. Les sir\u00e8nes hurlaient. Les avions ennemis rugissaient au-dessus de leurs t\u00eates. La tension dans la salle de contr\u00f4le des vols fut rompue par un sourd boum<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

McCoy d\u00e9pla\u00e7a son marqueur RAF. \u00ab Un Boche avait un chasseur \u00e0 ses trousses \u00bb<\/em>, dit-elle. Moseley repoussa le marqueur ennemi au-dessus de la Manche. Dans la pi\u00e8ce, l\u2019atmosph\u00e8re se d\u00e9tendit ; des rires nerveux fus\u00e8rent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00ab Demain, vous lirez dans les journaux que des raiders ennemis ont largu\u00e9 quelques bombes sur la zone c\u00f4ti\u00e8re \u00bb<\/em>, d\u00e9clara Moseley.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n

American women helped whip the Luftwaffe. Unheralded and unsung — clerks, switchboard operators, stenographers and secretaries. Some held jobs close to Operations, such as Pfc Mary L. Finane, Vicksburg, Miss., who drafted weather reports on War Room maps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00ab\u00a0What’s the dope on weather over Germany for the next three or four days?\u00a0\u00bb was a question which ground as well as air forces invariably asked USSTAF’s weather section. Pfc Finane’s maps held the answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A hand-in-glove combination for Photo Intelligence was Lt. Lillian Kamphuis, Crichton, Ala., and Pfc Elizabeth E. Armstrong, Syracuse, N.Y. Pictures taken by airmen over targets determined the destruction or damage to oil plants, bridges, factories, or naval installations. Pfc Armstrong processed the film while Lt. Kamphuis studied the photos, catalogued the strikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As secretary to the Director of Operations, USSTAF, W\/O Mae C. Merz, Nashville, Tenn., always had advance information on the 1000-plane assaults on the Reich.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unit Meritorious Service Plaque awards were made to the 394th Signal Co., attached to the 9th Air Force Service Command and to the 21st Statistical Control Unit, 8th Air Force. Third Bombardment Div. received the Distinguished Unit Citation for pre-invasion blasting of strategic Nazi cities and targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The entire WAC unit with the 8th Air Force Service Command won a superior rating. S\/Sgt. Bun Brusse, Houston, Tex., and T\/Sgt. Dorothy La Valle, Winona, Minn., received Theater Certificates of Merit for outstanding service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Largest single group of Air Force Wacs in the ETO was with the Base Air Depot Area. This depot was charged with furnishing all supplies and maintaining all aircraft parts of U.S. Air Forces and RAF in Europe. Wacs served as teletype operators, drivers, hospital technicians, photo laboratory technicians, rehabilitation workers, dental assistants, parachute menders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wacs never will forget the \u00ab\u00a0Old Homestead\u00a0\u00bb — 70th Reinforcement Depot at Stone, England — where incoming and outgoing Air Force personnel were processed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was always a husband, sweetheart, brother or friend turning up at the \u00ab\u00a0Old Homestead.\u00a0\u00bb Sgt. Eunice O’Connell, Minneapolis, Minn., glanced up from her typewriter July 16, 1944, to see her paratrooper brother, Cpl. Raymond O’Connell. He had just returned from France where he had taken part in the invasion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Les Am\u00e9ricaines ont contribu\u00e9 \u00e0 vaincre la Luftwaffe.<\/strong> M\u00e9connues et sans gloire \u2014 employ\u00e9es de bureau, op\u00e9ratrices de standard, st\u00e9nodactylos et secr\u00e9taires. Certaines occupaient des postes proches des Op\u00e9rations<\/strong>, comme la caporale Mary L. Finane<\/strong>, de Vicksburg (Mississippi), qui r\u00e9digeait les bulletins m\u00e9t\u00e9o<\/strong> sur les cartes de la salle de guerre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00ab Quelles sont les pr\u00e9visions m\u00e9t\u00e9o sur l\u2019Allemagne pour les trois ou quatre prochains jours ? \u00bb<\/em> \u2014 cette question, les forces terrestres comme a\u00e9riennes la posaient immanquablement \u00e0 la section m\u00e9t\u00e9o de l\u2019USSTAF<\/strong>. Les cartes de Finane d\u00e9tenaient la r\u00e9ponse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Un duo ins\u00e9parable<\/strong> pour le renseignement photographique : la lieutenante Lillian Kamphuis<\/strong>, de Crichton (Alabama), et la caporale Elizabeth E. Armstrong<\/strong>, de Syracuse (New York). Les clich\u00e9s pris par les aviateurs au-dessus des cibles permettaient d\u2019\u00e9valuer les d\u00e9g\u00e2ts inflig\u00e9s aux raffineries, ponts, usines ou installations navales<\/strong>. Armstrong d\u00e9veloppait les films, tandis que Kamphuis analysait les photos et r\u00e9pertoriait les frappes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

En tant que secr\u00e9taire du Directeur des Op\u00e9rations<\/strong> de l\u2019USSTAF, l\u2019officier Mae C. Merz<\/strong>, de Nashville (Tennessee), \u00e9tait toujours inform\u00e9e \u00e0 l\u2019avance des assauts de 1 000 bombardiers<\/strong> sur le Reich.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unit Meritorious Service Plaque <\/strong> furent d\u00e9cern\u00e9es \u00e0 la 394th Signal Co<\/strong>, rattach\u00e9e \u00e0 la 9th Air Force Service Command<\/strong>, et \u00e0 la 21st Statistical Control Unit, 8th Air Force<\/strong>. La 3e Bombardment Div<\/strong> re\u00e7ut la Distinguished Unit Citation<\/strong> pour ses frappes pr\u00e9alables au d\u00e9barquement sur des cibles strat\u00e9giques nazies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

L\u2019ensemble de l\u2019unit\u00e9 WAC du 8th Air Force Service Command<\/strong> obtint une \u00e9valuation sup\u00e9rieure<\/strong>. Le sS\/Sgt. Bun Brusse<\/strong>, de Houston (Texas), et le T\/Sgt. Dorothy La Valle<\/strong>, de Winona (Minnesota), re\u00e7urent des Theater Certificates of Merit <\/strong> pour leur service exceptionnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Le plus grand groupe de Wacs de l\u2019US Air Force<\/strong> en ETO \u00e9tait affect\u00e9 au D\u00e9p\u00f4t a\u00e9rien de base<\/strong>. Ce d\u00e9p\u00f4t avait pour mission d\u2019approvisionner et d\u2019entretenir toutes les pi\u00e8ces d\u2019aviation<\/strong> pour les forces a\u00e9riennes am\u00e9ricaines et la RAF<\/strong> en Europe. Les Wacs y servaient comme op\u00e9ratrices t\u00e9l\u00e9type, conductrices, techniciennes hospitali\u00e8res, techniciennes de laboratoire photo, travailleuses en r\u00e9adaptation, assistantes dentaires et r\u00e9paratrices de parachutes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Les Wacs n\u2019oublieront jamais le \u00ab Old Homestead \u00bb<\/em> \u2014 le 70e D\u00e9p\u00f4t de renfort<\/strong> \u00e0 Stone, en Angleterre, o\u00f9 transitaient les personnels de l\u2019Air Force en arriv\u00e9e ou en partance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Il y avait toujours un mari, un amoureux, un fr\u00e8re ou un ami<\/strong> qui surgissait au \u00ab Old Homestead \u00bb<\/em>. Le 16 juillet 1944, la sergente Eunice O\u2019Connell<\/strong>, de Minneapolis (Minnesota), leva les yeux de sa machine \u00e0 \u00e9crire et aper\u00e7ut son fr\u00e8re parachutiste, le caporal Raymond O\u2019Connell<\/strong>. Il venait de revenir de France, o\u00f9 il avait particip\u00e9 au D\u00e9barquement<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n

HARDSHIP PLUS RESPONSIBILITY<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Second Separate WAC Bn. arrived for duty in London with ETOUSA headquarters in September and October. Several hundred brisk-stepping Wacs joined the \u00ab\u00a0paper work\u00a0\u00bb Army in Grosvenor Square, already an American stronghold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From NATOUSA, Gen. Eisenhower had brought the \u00ab\u00a0famous five\u00a0\u00bb captains: Ruth M. Briggs, Westerly, R.I.; Mattie A. Pinette, Fort Kent, Me.: Martha E. Rogers, Jackson, Miss.; Alene Drezmal, St. Paul, Minn.; and Louise Anderson, Denver, Colo. First Wacs to serve overseas, all are now majors, three still attached to his headquarters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Allied Women’s Camp, under the command of Maj. Edith M. Davis, Royal Oak, Mich., provided an outstanding example of how women of several nations — WACs, WAAFs, WRNs, ATS and CWACs — lived and worked together. Sri successful was the arrangement that the women asked to remain together as long as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All SHAEF personnel, their job was to help with the vast amount of paper and communications work essential to the planning and execution of the invasion. As D-Day approached, work hours lengthened. Days off, leaves, furloughs were forgotten. Many, like S\/Sgt. Sue Sarafian, Detroit, Mich., typed while the King of England, Prime Minister Churchill, generals and admirals conferred in nearby offices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wacs shared responsibilities, hardships, along with the excitement. Bombed from huts and billets by robot bombs, Wacs rode to work many miles daily in Army trucks until new quarters were available.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u00c9PREUVES ET RESPONSABILIT\u00c9S<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Le Second Separate WAC Bn. ind\u00e9pendant arriva \u00e0 Londres pour rejoindre le quartier g\u00e9n\u00e9ral de l\u2019ETOUSA en septembre et octobre. Plusieurs centaines de Wacs, d\u2019un pas vif, rejoignirent l\u2019 arm\u00e9e du papier \u00e0 Grosvenor Square, d\u00e9j\u00e0 un bastion am\u00e9ricain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Du NATOUSA, le g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Eisenhower avait amen\u00e9 les \u00ab famous five \u00bb capitaines : Ruth M. Briggs, de Westerly, Rhode Island ; Mattie A. Pinette, de Fort Kent, Maine ; Martha E. Rogers, de Jackson, Mississippi ; Alene Drezmal, de Saint Paul, Minnesota ; et Louise Anderson, de Denver, Colorado. Premi\u00e8res Wacs \u00e0 servir outre-mer, elles sont aujourd\u2019hui toutes majors, et trois d\u2019entre elles sont toujours affect\u00e9es \u00e0 son quartier g\u00e9n\u00e9ral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Le Allied Women’s Camp, sous le commandement du major Edith M. Davis, de Royal Oak, Michigan, offrait un exemple remarquable de la mani\u00e8re dont des femmes de plusieurs nations \u2014 Wacs, WAAFs, WRNs, ATS et CWACs \u2014 vivaient et travaillaient ensemble. L\u2019organisation fut si r\u00e9ussie que les femmes demand\u00e8rent \u00e0 rester ensemble le plus longtemps possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leur mission, en tant que personnel du SHAEF, \u00e9tait d\u2019aider \u00e0 g\u00e9rer l\u2019immense quantit\u00e9 de paperasse et de communications essentielles \u00e0 la planification et \u00e0 l\u2019ex\u00e9cution de l\u2019invasion. \u00c0 l\u2019approche du Jour J, les heures de travail s\u2019allong\u00e8rent. Les jours de repos, les permissions et les cong\u00e9s furent oubli\u00e9s. Beaucoup, comme le sergent Sue Sarafian, de D\u00e9troit, Michigan, tap\u00e8rent \u00e0 la machine pendant que le roi d\u2019Angleterre, le Premier ministre Churchill, les g\u00e9n\u00e9raux et les amiraux tenaient des conf\u00e9rences dans les bureaux voisins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Les Wacs partag\u00e8rent les responsabilit\u00e9s, les \u00e9preuves, ainsi que l\u2019excitation. Bombard\u00e9es depuis leurs huttes et leurs cantonnements par des bombes volantes, elles se rendirent au travail chaque jour, parcourant de nombreux kilom\u00e8tres dans des camions militaires, jusqu\u2019\u00e0 ce que de nouveaux quartiers soient disponibles.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n

In April, 1944, the first large contingent of Wacs reported for duty with Services of Supply units. They were assigned to far-flung installations of the Transportation Corps, Corps of Engineers, Quartermaster Corps, Chemical Warfare Service, Medical Service, Ordnance Department, and Signal Corps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transportation Corps Wacs spent 18 hours daily controlling the count and distributing incoming cargo and war supplies. With RTOs they shared the responsibility of handling troop movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tribute was paid TC Wacs when the \u00ab\u00a0WAC Blazer,\u00a0\u00bb a 75-ton locomotive, was christened for the Corps by Cpl. Maxine Vaught, Evansville, Ind., in the presence of Maj. Gen. Frank S. Ross, Chief of Transportation, ETO; Brig. Gen. Clarence L. Burpee, Second Military Railway Service CG, and Col. Wilson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WACS like Cpl. Severine Britt, Portsmouth, Va., and Cpl. Marie Hennericy, Long Island, N.Y., translated French and German on maps for Engineers and helped chart invasion routes. Cpl. Nan Rice, Niles, Mich., who, as an engineer, had worked on the Army camp at Blackshaw Moor, England, helped collect secret information on tides. Surveys of the Army’s utility needs — water, power, railroads — were a few of the jobs she tackled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Large numbers of Wacs were assigned to First Base Post Office. It wasn’t an easy task to get mail, some carelessly addressed, to the ever-moving soldier. APO Wacs seldom gave up the search for addresses. Little glamor could be attached to flipping letters into sacks racked up aisle after aisle, but it was a job that had to be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Air Transport Command bases, Wacs took incoming calls and made reservations for travelers shuttling across the ocean. They drove 6×6 trucks, transporting baggage and mail from planes. In midwinter, Wacs joked about their appearance — they wore arctics and weather-soaked field trousers as they plodded across muddy airstrips — but they cheerfully accepted each assignment. This was the Wacs’ war, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

En avril 1944<\/strong>, le premier grand contingent de Wacs se pr\u00e9senta pour servir au sein des unit\u00e9s des Services of Supply . Elles furent affect\u00e9es \u00e0 des installations \u00e9loign\u00e9es du transportation Corps, Corps of Engineers, Quartermaster Corps, Chemical Warfare Service, Medical Service, Ordnance Department, et Signal Corps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Au Transportation Corps <\/strong>, les Wacs passaient 18 heures par jour \u00e0 contr\u00f4ler, compter et distribuer les cargaisons et les fournitures de guerre arrivantes. Avec les RTO (Responsables des Transports Op\u00e9rationnels), elles partageaient la responsabilit\u00e9 de la gestion des mouvements de troupes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Un hommage fut rendu aux Wacs du Transportation Corps<\/strong> lorsque la \u00ab WAC Blazer \u00bb<\/em>, une locomotive de 75 tonnes, fut baptis\u00e9e en l\u2019honneur du Corps par le caporal Maxine Vaught, d\u2019Evansville, Indiana, en pr\u00e9sence du major-g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Frank S. Ross, Chief of Transportation pour l’ETO, du brigadier-g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Clarence L. Burpee, commandant du Second Military Railway Service CG, et du colonel Wilson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Des Wacs comme le caporal Severine Britt<\/strong>, de Portsmouth, Virginie, et le caporal Marie Hennericy, de Long Island, New York, traduisirent le fran\u00e7ais et l\u2019allemand sur des cartes pour le G\u00e9nie et aid\u00e8rent \u00e0 tracer les routes en pr\u00e9vision du d\u00e9barquement. Le caporal Nan Rice, de Niles, Michigan, qui avait travaill\u00e9 en tant qu\u2019engineersur le camp militaire de Blackshaw Moor, en Angleterre, aida \u00e0 recueillir des informations secr\u00e8tes sur les mar\u00e9es. Les relev\u00e9s des besoins logistiques de l\u2019arm\u00e9e \u2014 eau, \u00e9lectricit\u00e9, chemins de fer \u2014 faisaient partie des missions qu\u2019elle accomplit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Un grand nombre de Wacs furent affect\u00e9es au First Base Post Office<\/strong>. Ce n\u2019\u00e9tait pas une t\u00e2che facile de faire parvenir le courrier, parfois mal adress\u00e9, aux soldats en d\u00e9placement constant. Les Wacs du bureau postal abandonnaient rarement leurs recherches pour retrouver les adresses. Peu de glamour pouvait \u00eatre associ\u00e9 au fait de trier des lettres dans des sacs align\u00e9s dans des all\u00e9es sans fin, mais c\u2019\u00e9tait un travail qui devait \u00eatre fait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dans les bases du Air Transport Command<\/strong>, les Wacs prenaient les appels entrants et faisaient les r\u00e9servations pour les voyageurs traversant l\u2019oc\u00e9an. Elles conduisaient des camions 6×6, transportant bagages et courrier depuis les avions. En plein hiver, les Wacs plaisantaient sur leur apparence \u2014 v\u00eatues de tenues arctiques et de pantalons de terrain tremp\u00e9s par la pluie, elles traversaient p\u00e9niblement les pistes boueuses \u2014 mais elles acceptaient chaque mission avec bonne humeur. C\u2019\u00e9tait aussi leur guerre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n

Military intelligence section Wacs had the specific mission of helping pilots find their way back after forced landings in enemy territory. As a result of their work, many airmen listed as missing in action reported back for duty. Wacs handled top secret papers daily; had access to files few Army personnel ever were permitted to see. Top secret material also was handled by the WAC detachment with the Office of Strategic Services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

INVASION — WACS PLAY PROUD ROLE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JUNE 6, 1944: A shift of Air Force Wac teletype operators had just reported for duty on the midnight-to-morning shift. Suddenly, teletypes tapped out the first words of the greatest military operation ever conceived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Machines reeled off one field order after another. Virtually every bomber and fighter in the Command was being called out from secret air-fields throughout England. The invasion was on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Field orders, annexes and bombing lines were relayed to American and British stations in the UK. The five Wacs on duty — Cpl. Eugenia Hall, Rideway, Pa.; Sgt. Carmen R. Brand, Staunton, Va.; Cpl. Elsie S. Wheeler, Ada, Ill.; T\/5 Mary Denton, Decatur, Tenn.; T\/5 Helen M. Sweeny, Chicago — stuck to their machines through those early morning hours, almost completely overwhelmed by the messages pouring from every high headquarters to air force stations, then on to combat wings. The pace was maintained until the shift was relieved at 0730.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the Wacs stepped from the huge underground room into the sunlight, they raised tired eyes to a sky black with planes — bombers, fighters, troop carriers, gliders. They had helped put those aircraft there.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Les Wacs de la section du Military intelligence<\/strong> avaient pour mission sp\u00e9cifique d\u2019aider les pilotes \u00e0 retrouver leur chemin apr\u00e8s des atterrissages forc\u00e9s en territoire ennemi. Gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 leur travail, de nombreux aviateurs port\u00e9s disparus au combat purent regagner leurs unit\u00e9s. Les Wacs manipulaient quotidiennement des documents ultra-secrets et avaient acc\u00e8s \u00e0 des dossiers que peu de membres de l\u2019arm\u00e9e \u00e9taient autoris\u00e9s \u00e0 consulter. Des documents ultra-secrets \u00e9taient \u00e9galement trait\u00e9s par le d\u00e9tachement WAC du Bureau des Services Strat\u00e9giques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DEBARQUEMENT: LES WACS JOUENT UN FIER R\u00d4LE <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

6 juin 1944<\/strong> : Une \u00e9quipe de Wacs op\u00e9ratrices de t\u00e9l\u00e9type de l\u2019Air Force venait tout juste de commencer son service de nuit, de minuit au matin. Soudain, les t\u00e9l\u00e9types se mirent \u00e0 transmettre les premiers mots de la plus grande op\u00e9ration militaire jamais con\u00e7ue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Les machines imprim\u00e8rent un ordre de mission apr\u00e8s l\u2019autre. Presque chaque bombardier et chaque chasseur du Commandement \u00e9tait appel\u00e9 \u00e0 d\u00e9coller depuis des bases secr\u00e8tes diss\u00e9min\u00e9es \u00e0 travers l\u2019Angleterre. Le d\u00e9barquement \u00e9tait lanc\u00e9e !<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Les ordres de mission, les annexes et les <\/strong>axes de bombardement <\/strong>furent relay\u00e9s vers les stations am\u00e9ricaines et britanniques au Royaume-Uni. Les cinq Wacs de service \u2014 Cpl. Eugenia Hall, de Ridgway, Pennsylvanie ; Sgt. Carmen R. Brand, de Staunton, Virginie ; leCpl. Elsie S. Wheeler, d\u2019Ada, Illinois ; la T\/5 Mary Denton, de Decatur, Tennessee ; et la T\/5 Helen M. Sweeny, de Chicago \u2014 rest\u00e8rent riv\u00e9es \u00e0 leurs machines pendant ces heures matinales, presque submerg\u00e9es par le flot de messages provenant de tous les \u00e9tats-majors sup\u00e9rieurs, achemin\u00e9s vers les stations de l\u2019Air Force, puis vers les escadrons de combat. Le rythme fut maintenu jusqu\u2019\u00e0 la rel\u00e8ve de l\u2019\u00e9quipe \u00e0 7h30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alors que les Wacs sortirent de la vaste salle souterraine pour se retrouver \u00e0 la lumi\u00e8re du jour, elles lev\u00e8rent leurs yeux fatigu\u00e9s vers un ciel noir de avions \u2014 bombardiers, chasseurs, transporteurs de troupes, planeurs. Elles avaient contribu\u00e9 \u00e0 les y envoyer.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n

Throughout England Wacs looked up and felt the same pride. For weeks, Wacs at headquarters, Southern Base Section, 16, 17 and 18 Districts had worked long hours to help fill hundreds of craft with supplies and men. Every Wac in the Theater felt she was part of the military team striving for a single objective — invasion of the Continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SOON after the first beachhead was secured, WAC detachments began training programs designed to condition them for field living on the Continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As casualties were brought in from the beaches in increasing numbers, Wacs in the Chief Surgeon’s Office in London assisted in loading and moving hospital trains, prepared latest reports on battle casualties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flying to Normandy with a group of SHAEF officers on June 22, T\/Sgt. Mabel Carney, Camden, N.J., became the first Wac to land on the Continent. She took dictation at a beachhead conference, returned to England the same night. Nine months later, Sgt. Carney was one of the first Wacs to enter the Reich.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wacs continued to arrive in the Theater. In an effort to secure additional WAC personnel, enlistments were made available to American citizens residing in the United Kingdom. Lucille N. Hall, Auburndale, Mass., was the first woman in the ETO to be sworn in as a Wac. Approximately 150 Wacs were enlisted and trained in England.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Partout en Angleterre, les WAC lev\u00e8rent les yeux avec la m\u00eame fiert\u00e9. Pendant des semaines, les WAC des quartiers g\u00e9n\u00e9raux de la Southern Base Section, des 16e, 17e et 18e districts avaient travaill\u00e9 d\u2019arrache-pied pour aider \u00e0 remplir des centaines d\u2019embarcations de fournitures et de soldats. Chaque WAC du th\u00e9\u00e2tre d\u2019op\u00e9rations se sentait membre de cette \u00e9quipe militaire \u0153uvrant pour un seul et m\u00eame objectif : le d\u00e9barquement sur le continent europ\u00e9en.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

D\u00e8s que la premi\u00e8re t\u00eate de pont fut s\u00e9curis\u00e9e<\/strong>, les d\u00e9tachements de Wacs commenc\u00e8rent des programmes d\u2019entra\u00eenement con\u00e7us pour les pr\u00e9parer \u00e0 la vie sur le terrain, sur le Continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alors que les bless\u00e9s affluaient en nombre croissant depuis les plages, les Wacs du Chief Surgeon’s Office \u00e0 Londres aid\u00e8rent au chargement et au d\u00e9placement des trains-h\u00f4pitaux, et pr\u00e9par\u00e8rent les derniers rapports sur les pertes au combat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Le 22 juin<\/strong>, en volant vers la Normandie avec un groupe d\u2019officiers du SHAEF, le T\/Sgt Mabel Carney, de Camden, New Jersey, devint la premi\u00e8re Wac \u00e0 atterrir sur le Continent. Elle prit en st\u00e9nographie les comptes-rendus d\u2019une conf\u00e9rence sur la t\u00eate de pont et revint en Angleterre le soir m\u00eame. Neuf mois plus tard, le sergent Carney fut l\u2019une des premi\u00e8res Wacs \u00e0 entrer dans le Reich.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Les Wacs continu\u00e8rent d\u2019arriver dans sur le th\u00e9\u00e2tre d\u2019op\u00e9rations. Afin de recruter davantage de personnel WAC, des engagements furent ouverts aux citoyennes am\u00e9ricaines r\u00e9sidant au Royaume-Uni. Lucille N. Hall, d\u2019Auburndale, Massachusetts, fut la premi\u00e8re femme en ETO \u00e0 pr\u00eater serment en tant que Wac. Environ 150 Wacs furent engag\u00e9es et form\u00e9es en Angleterre.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n

Buzz-bombs didn’t spare the Wacs. Wacs took their share of hits, near hits and injuries. First to receive the Purple Heart Award for injuries from flying bombs were Pfc Dorothy E. Whitfield, Schenectady, N.Y.; Pfc Effie M. Gibbons, Lewiston, Idaho; Pvt. Margaret Johnson, Madison, Wis., and Pvt. Leona J. Gaylon, Odessa, Tex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another first came when three WAC officers arrived in England to attend the British Staff College, ATS Wing, at the War Office’s invitation. They were Capt. Pauline Spofford, Miami, Fla., Capt. Janet C. Varn, Jacksonville, Fla., and Lt. Aileen M. Witting, Gonzales, Tex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A
S Allied forces fanned out in Normandy, the first forward echelon of Wacs landed on Normandy beaches on D plus 38, following an urgent call for Headquarters and Communications Zone personnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aboard a heavily-laden cruiser the loudspeakers blared; \u00ab\u00a0WAC personnel, prepare to disembark.\u00a0\u00bb Wacs hooked helmet straps, grabbed gear, climbed down the ladder into a bouncing LCI. Ashore, they saw blackened steel skeletons of vehicles, smashed German and American equipment and mute rows of wooden crosses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GIs waved from tents hidden under trees as Wac trucks jolted over shelled roads. French peasants looked up from digging in the ruins of bombed villages and smiled an amazed greeting at the American women under pack and helmet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Les WAC ont subi leur part de coups directs, de tirs rapproch\u00e9s et de blessures. Les premi\u00e8res \u00e0 recevoir la Purple Heart pour des blessures caus\u00e9es par des bombes volantes furent Pfc Dorothy E. Whitfield, de Schenectady (New York) ; Pfc Effie M. Gibbons, de Lewiston (Idaho) ; Pvt Margaret Johnson, de Madison (Wisconsin) ; et Pvt.Leona J. Gaylon, d\u2019Odessa (Texas).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Une autre premi\u00e8re eut lieu lorsque trois officiers WAC arriv\u00e8rent en Angleterre pour suivre les cours du British Staff College, section ATS, sur invitation du War Office. Il s\u2019agissait du capitaine Pauline Spofford, de Miami (Floride), du Capt. Janet C. Varn, de Jacksonville (Floride), et du Lt. Aileen M. Witting, de Gonzales (Texas).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alors que les forces alli\u00e9es se d\u00e9ployaient en Normandie, le premier \u00e9chelon avanc\u00e9 de Wacs d\u00e9barqua sur les plages de Normandie \u00e0 J+38, en r\u00e9ponse \u00e0 un appel urgent en personnel pour la Headquarters and Communications Zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00c0 bord d\u2019un croiseur lourdement charg\u00e9, les haut-parleurs retentirent : \u00ab Personnel WAC, pr\u00e9parez-vous \u00e0 d\u00e9barquer. \u00bb<\/em> Les Wacs ajust\u00e8rent les sangles de leurs casques, attrap\u00e8rent leur \u00e9quipement et descendirent l\u2019\u00e9chelle vers un LCI qui tanguait. \u00c0 terre, elles virent des squelettes d\u2019acier calcin\u00e9 de v\u00e9hicules, des \u00e9quipements allemands et am\u00e9ricains d\u00e9truits, et des rang\u00e9es silencieuses de croix de bois.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Des GIs leur firent signe depuis des tentes cach\u00e9es sous les arbres, tandis que les camions des Wacs cahotaient sur des routes bombard\u00e9es. Des paysans fran\u00e7ais, occup\u00e9s \u00e0 fouiller les ruines de villages d\u00e9truits, lev\u00e8rent les yeux et sourirent, \u00e9merveill\u00e9s, en voyant ces femmes am\u00e9ricaines sous leur paquetage et leur casque.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n

The 49 EWs and five WAC officers who arrived with Forward Echelon, Communications Zone headquarters, lived under canvas near chateau headquarters outside Valogne. They dug drainage ditches around their tents as Normandy skies poured rain for eight straight days. K and C rations, rationed Lister-bag water, mud and dust, helmet baths, became routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When water was a critical item, they rationed it to themselves. Recalled Cpl. Mary Relic, Cleveland, Ohio: \u00ab\u00a0If we had only enough water to fill one helmet we used it to the last drop. First we’d brush our teeth. Then we’d bathe as best we could in the same cold water. Next we’d wash our hair — same helmetful of water. The last step was to wash our clothes. And by that time there wasn’t any water left.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Up front, battles raged. The titanic supply job on the Continent mounted; Wacs pitched in. Telephone operators donned earphones as fast as mobile switchboards were set up, worked long shifts day after day. In a chateau wine cellar in Area I, operators worked the board while rainwater swirled around their feet. S\/Sgt. Sally McCaffrey, Jamaica Plain, Mass.; Sgt. Laura Carson, Chicopee Falls, Mass., and Cpl. Mary Nardy, Yonkers, N.Y., many others — some of whom had just been flown from the States — worked the long, hard grind, sweating out line repairs and heavy traffic on the long distance Area III board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PARIS — PAPER WORK AND PERFUME<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IN tents and pre-fabricated huts, with only a sputtering gas lamp and portable or makeshift equipment, Wacs typed, filed, kept records, reports, requisitions, statistics, moving up as more troops and supplies fed the advancing armies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chow became complicated at times. On a hill in a wooded pasture, M\/Sgt. Helen Wilson, Pasadena, Calif., and a GI mess sergeant shared, responsibility. Sgt. Wilson and cooks like Cpl. Hazel Curnutt, Springfield, Mo., and Sgt. Isabel Simbine, Elizabeth, N.J., worked 16-hour shifts, rose at 0400 daily, strove to make field rations tasty.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Les 49 EW et les cinq offici\u00e8res WAC arriv\u00e9es avec l\u2019\u00e9chelon avanc\u00e9 du quartier g\u00e9n\u00e9ral de la zone des communications vivaient sous des tentes pr\u00e8s du quartier g\u00e9n\u00e9ral install\u00e9 dans un ch\u00e2teau \u00e0 l\u2019ext\u00e9rieur de Valognes. Elles creus\u00e8rent des foss\u00e9s de drainage autour de leurs tentes alors que le ciel normand d\u00e9versait de la pluie pendant huit jours cons\u00e9cutifs. Les rations K et C, l\u2019eau rationn\u00e9e des sacs Lister, la boue et la poussi\u00e8re, les \u00ab bains au casque \u00bb devinrent leur quotidien.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lorsque l\u2019eau devint une ressource critique, elles se la rationn\u00e8rent elles-m\u00eames. Le Cpl. Mary Relic, de Cleveland (Ohio), se souvient :
\u00ab Si nous n\u2019avions que de quoi remplir un seul casque d\u2019eau, nous l\u2019utilisions jusqu\u2019\u00e0 la derni\u00e8re goutte. D\u2019abord, nous nous brossions les dents. Ensuite, nous nous lavions du mieux possible avec cette m\u00eame eau froide. Puis nous nous lavions les cheveux \u2014 toujours avec le m\u00eame casque d\u2019eau. La derni\u00e8re \u00e9tape consistait \u00e0 laver nos v\u00eatements. Et \u00e0 ce moment-l\u00e0, il ne restait plus une seule goutte d\u2019eau. \u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sur le front, les combats faisaient rage. L\u2019immense effort de ravitaillement sur le continent prenait de l\u2019ampleur ; les WAC y participaient activement. Les op\u00e9ratrices t\u00e9l\u00e9phoniques enfilaient leurs \u00e9couteurs d\u00e8s que des centraux mobiles \u00e9taient install\u00e9s et travaillaient de longues journ\u00e9es, jour apr\u00e8s jour. Dans une cave \u00e0 vin d\u2019un ch\u00e2teau de la zone I, les op\u00e9ratrices travaillaient au standard tandis que l\u2019eau de pluie tourbillonnait autour de leurs pieds. Le S\/Sgt. McCaffrey, de Jamaica Plain (Massachusetts), le Sgt. Laura Carson, de Chicopee Falls (Massachusetts), et le Cpl. Mary Nardy, de Yonkers (New York), ainsi que de nombreuses autres \u2014 dont certaines venaient tout juste d\u2019arriver des \u00c9tats-Unis accomplissaient ce travail long et \u00e9prouvant, g\u00e9rant les r\u00e9parations de lignes et un trafic intense sur le standard interurbain de la zone III.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PARIS \u2014 PAPIERASSE ET PARFUM<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dans des tentes et des baraquements pr\u00e9fabriqu\u00e9s, avec pour seul \u00e9clairage une lampe \u00e0 gaz vacillante et du mat\u00e9riel portatif ou de fortune, les WAC tapaient \u00e0 la machine, classaient, tenaient les registres, r\u00e9digeaient des rapports, des demandes d\u2019approvisionnement et des statistiques, progressant \u00e0 mesure que les troupes et le mat\u00e9riel alimentaient l\u2019avanc\u00e9e des arm\u00e9es.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Les repas devenaient parfois compliqu\u00e9s. Sur une colline dans un p\u00e2turage bois\u00e9, le M\/Sgt. Helen Wilson, de Pasadena (Californie), partageait les responsabilit\u00e9s avec un sergent de mess des GI. Le sergent Wilson et des cuisini\u00e8res comme le caporal Hazel Curnutt, de Springfield (Missouri), et le Sgt. Isabel Simbine, d\u2019Elizabeth (New Jersey), travaillaient par \u00e9quipes de 16 heures, se levaient \u00e0 4 h chaque jour et s\u2019effor\u00e7aient de rendre les rations de campagne aussi app\u00e9tissantes que possible.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n

More Wacs arrived. Under the command of Capt. Isabel Kane, Tacoma, Wash., life in the \u00ab\u00a0Wac Area – Off Limits\u00a0\u00bb apple orchard moved smoothly despite rigors of tent life. First Sgt. Nancy Carter, Los Angeles, and the cadre worked from reveille past blackout each day caring for administrative needs of Wacs and meeting new convoys. Cadre duties in two additional camps for new arrivals were assumed by Cpl. Gladys Brent, Seattle, Wash., and Sgt. Virginia Wallace, Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still they came. Engineers, Signal Corps, Medical Corps, Quartermaster, Transportation, Ordnance — all had ever-mounting tasks as St. Lo, Bayeux, Caen became cities of rubble, names in the history of World War II. Wacs took over new duties as necessity dictated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supply clerks, map makers, draftsmen, typists, translators back in England, Engineer Wacs helped plan the newly-constructed roads over which they now traveled, the pipe lines supplying their water, the camps they now called home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the port base section in Cherbourg, forward headquarters, SHAEF, USSTAF and mobile 12th Army Group Headquarters in France, Wacs had close-up views of the over-all picture. They were a part of the Army that smashed forward across France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only Wacs attached to a ground force unit reached France in July, moved with 12th Army Group Headquarters which trailed close behind the fighting units. Ever advancing, they lived in tents, ramshackle buildings, whatever billets were found, travelled along the road that led to Wiesbaden, Germany, under their original CO, Capt. Alice Moroney, San Francisco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the liberation of Paris, Com Z Headquarters hit the road again. Overnight, tents emptied and typewriters, files and records were packed as Wacs and GIs left the Normandy countryside to establish the SOS nerve center in the French capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six days after the Allies entered Paris, Aug. 31, 1944, six Wacs — Maj. Frances S. Cornick, Norfolk, Va., Capt. (then Lt.) Elizabeth P. Hoisington, Seattle, Wash.; 1st\/Sgt. Nancy Carter, Los Angeles; Sgt. Margaret Wright, Atlanta, Ga.; S\/Sgt. Mary Haluey, Cambridge, Mass.; and M\/Sgt. Wilhelmina Fowler, East Islip, Long Island, N.Y. — moved into the city as an advance detachment. For their efficiency and speed in arranging for the thousands of Wacs to follow, they were awarded the Bronze Star by Brig. Gen. Allen R. Kimball, ETO Headquarters Commandant.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

D\u2019autres WAC arriv\u00e8rent encore. Sous le commandement du Capt. Isabel Kane, de Tacoma (Washington), la vie dans le verger de pommiers baptis\u00e9 \u00ab Wac Area \u2013 Off Limits \u00bb se d\u00e9roulait de mani\u00e8re organis\u00e9e malgr\u00e9 les rigueurs de la vie sous tente. Le First Sgt. Nancy Carter, de Los Angeles, et le personnel cadre travaillaient du r\u00e9veil jusqu\u2019au couvre-feu chaque jour, s\u2019occupant des besoins administratifs des WAC et accueillant les nouveaux convois. Les fonctions de cadre dans deux autres camps destin\u00e9s aux nouvelles arrivantes furent assur\u00e9es par le Cpl. Gladys Brent, de Seattle (Washington), et le Sgt. Virginia Wallace, de Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Et elles continuaient d\u2019affluer. Engineers, Signal Corps, Medical Corps, Quartermaster, Transportation, Ordnance, tous faisaient face \u00e0 des t\u00e2ches toujours croissantes, tandis que Saint-L\u00f4, Bayeux et Caen devenaient des villes en ruines, des noms inscrits dans l\u2019histoire de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Les WAC assumaient de nouvelles responsabilit\u00e9s selon les besoins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commis \u00e0 l\u2019approvisionnement, cartographes, dessinateurs, dactylographes, traductrices en Angleterre : les WAC du g\u00e9nie avaient contribu\u00e9 \u00e0 planifier les routes nouvellement construites qu\u2019elles empruntaient d\u00e9sormais, les pipelines qui leur fournissaient de l\u2019eau, ainsi que les camps qu\u2019elles appelaient maintenant leur foyer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Au sein de la section de base portuaire de Cherbourg, des quartiers g\u00e9n\u00e9raux avanc\u00e9s du SHAEF, de l\u2019USSTAF et du quartier g\u00e9n\u00e9ral mobile du 12th Army Group Headquarters, les WAC avaient une vision directe de l\u2019ensemble des op\u00e9rations. Elles faisaient partie de l\u2019arm\u00e9e qui avan\u00e7ait \u00e0 travers la France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Les seules WAC rattach\u00e9es \u00e0 une unit\u00e9 de forces terrestres arriv\u00e8rent en France en juillet et se d\u00e9plac\u00e8rent avec le 12th Army Group Headquarters, qui suivait de pr\u00e8s les unit\u00e9s de combat. Toujours en progression, elles vivaient sous des tentes, dans des b\u00e2timents d\u00e9labr\u00e9s ou tout autre logement disponible, parcourant la route menant \u00e0 Wiesbaden, en Allemagne, sous le commandement initial du Capt. Alice Moroney, de San Francisco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avec la lib\u00e9ration de Paris, le quartier g\u00e9n\u00e9ral de la Com Z Headquarters reprit la route. Du jour au lendemain, les tentes furent vid\u00e9es et les machines \u00e0 \u00e9crire, les dossiers et les archives furent emball\u00e9s, tandis que les WAC et les GI quittaient la campagne normande pour \u00e9tablir le centre n\u00e9vralgique du SOS dans la capitale fran\u00e7aise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six jours apr\u00e8s l\u2019entr\u00e9e des Alli\u00e9s dans Paris, le 31 ao\u00fbt 1944, six WAC \u2014 le Maj. Frances S. Cornick, de Norfolk (Virginie), le Capt. (alors lieutenant) Elizabeth P. Hoisington, de Seattle (Washington), le premier sergent Nancy Carter, de Los Angeles, le sergent Margaret Wright, d\u2019Atlanta (G\u00e9orgie), le sergent-chef Mary Haluey, de Cambridge (Massachusetts), et le sergent-major Wilhelmina Fowler, d\u2019East Islip (Long Island, New York) \u2014 entr\u00e8rent dans la ville en tant que d\u00e9tachement avanc\u00e9. Pour leur efficacit\u00e9 et leur rapidit\u00e9 dans l\u2019organisation de l\u2019arriv\u00e9e des milliers de WAC qui suivirent, elles re\u00e7urent la Bronze Star des mains du brigadier g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Allen R. Kimball, commandant du quartier g\u00e9n\u00e9ral ETO.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n

Central Base Section Wacs who arrived as part of the new Seine Base Section, set up offices in a building vacated only a few days before by the Germans. Wacs observed a strict 2000 hours curfew. Armed GIs escorted late-working Wacs from billet to office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the first days following the liberation, Paris was at a standstill: power, light, transportation facilities broke down; food supplies were nearly exhausted. But the French greeted the Americans with smiles, salutes and cheers just the same. Wacs, tired and grimy-faced from travel, smiled back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

T
HE machinery of Com Z and ETOUSA headquarters immediately swung into action, distributing men, guns, ammunition for armies now slashing through Belgium and Luxembourg. Morning, noon and night, the Champs Elysees was packed with GIs and Wacs going to and coming from offices near the Arc de Triomphe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With winter’s approach, busy Wacs found time to sample the wonders of Paris perfume shops and fashion houses, experimented with Parisian make-up and hairdos, struggled to master the language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Seine Base headquarters, Wac typists, switchboard operators, file clerks, drivers, and stenographers combed all possible sources to find hotel billets for battle-weary soldiers visiting Paris on 48-hour passes. Wacs worked in the Finance Office and in the Post Exchange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Armies pushed on. As Allied-held territory increased, the strain on Signal Corps communications sections became greater. More and more Wacs were placed in nearly every department, releasing technically trained men for more advanced echelons.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Les Wacs de la Central Base Section<\/strong>, arriv\u00e9es dans le cadre de la nouvelle Seine Base Section<\/strong>, install\u00e8rent leurs bureaux dans un b\u00e2timent abandonn\u00e9 par les Allemands seulement quelques jours plus t\u00f4t. Les Wacs respectaient un couvre-feu strict \u00e0 20 heures. Des GIs arm\u00e9s escortaient celles qui travaillaient tard, de leur cantonnement \u00e0 leur bureau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pendant les premiers jours suivant la Lib\u00e9ration, Paris \u00e9tait \u00e0 l\u2019arr\u00eat : l\u2019\u00e9lectricit\u00e9, l\u2019\u00e9clairage public et les transports \u00e9taient en panne ; les r\u00e9serves de nourriture \u00e9taient presque \u00e9puis\u00e9es. Pourtant, les Fran\u00e7ais accueillaient les Am\u00e9ricains avec des sourires, des saluts et des acclamations. Les Wacs, fatigu\u00e9es et le visage couvert de poussi\u00e8re apr\u00e8s le voyage, leur rendaient leurs sourires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

La machine administrative<\/strong> du Com Z<\/strong> et du quartier g\u00e9n\u00e9ral de l\u2019ETOUSA<\/strong> se mit imm\u00e9diatement en marche, r\u00e9partissant hommes, armes et munitions pour les arm\u00e9es qui traversaient alors la Belgique et le Luxembourg \u00e0 toute vitesse. Le matin, le midi et le soir, les Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es \u00e9taient bond\u00e9s de GIs et de Wacs se rendant ou revenant de leurs bureaux pr\u00e8s de l\u2019Arc de Triomphe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avec l\u2019approche de l\u2019hiver, les Wacs, malgr\u00e9 leur emploi du temps charg\u00e9, trouv\u00e8rent le temps de d\u00e9couvrir les merveilles des parfumeries et des maisons de couture parisiennes. Elles exp\u00e9riment\u00e8rent les maquillages et les coiffures \u00e0 la parisienne et s\u2019efforc\u00e8rent de ma\u00eetriser la langue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Au quartier g\u00e9n\u00e9ral de la Seine Base<\/strong>, les dactylos, op\u00e9ratrices t\u00e9l\u00e9phoniques, archivistes, conductrices et st\u00e9nographes Wacs fouillaient toutes les sources possibles pour trouver des chambres d\u2019h\u00f4tel aux soldats \u00e9puis\u00e9s par les combats, en permission de 48 heures \u00e0 Paris. Les Wacs travaillaient aussi au bureau des Finances et au Post Exchange<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Les arm\u00e9es avan\u00e7aient. \u00c0 mesure que les territoires lib\u00e9r\u00e9s par les Alli\u00e9s s\u2019\u00e9tendaient, la pression sur les sections de communication du Signal Corps<\/strong> augmentait. De plus en plus de Wacs furent affect\u00e9es dans presque tous les services, lib\u00e9rant ainsi des hommes techniquement form\u00e9s pour des \u00e9chelons plus avanc\u00e9s.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n

Scores of operators, members of the %3341 Signal Service Battalion, now under the command of Maj. Jane A. Stretch, Newtown, Pa., went on duty at telephone switchboards where German voices had been heard just a short time previously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wac draftsmen with the Transportation Corps pored over maps in the urgent mission of sending supply trucks and trains to the front. Their map tracings of France and Germany, showing all military rail and trucking routes, became the reference used by Planning and Control Division to route traffic to advancing American armies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Day and night shifts of Wac typists and statisticians in the far-reaching, intricate Quartermaster system prepared the final dispositions for releasing huge tonnages of meat, K rations, blankets, wool socks, gasoline, and endless supplies which kept the Army forging ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Known as \u00ab\u00a0that Quartermaster Wac,\u00a0\u00bb Lt. Elaine R. Dickson, Kewanee, Ill., was responsible for the maintenance of clothing supplies for all American service women in the ETO. In addition to her other duties. she delivered combat uniforms to Army nurses in field hospitals, often just a few miles behind combat lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wacs assigned to Com Z base sections and Seine, Normandy, Oise Intermediate and Delta bases wrote their own chapters to the biggest supply story in the world. In September, the first WAC-driven convoy in France completed a 400-mile trip, transporting 80 Wacs to Oise Base Section. Because of a driver shortage, Wacs assigned as secretaries, clerks, stenographers, took over the jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Air Force Wacs who had earned their overseas spurs in England, followed airmen to the Continent, moving as the various headquarters advanced. They answered roll call at USSTAF, 9th Air Force, 9th Air Division, 9th Service Command, 8th Fighter Command, I Tactical Air Force (P), First Allied Airborne Army, Ninth BADA, at the 1408th AAF Base Unit, EDATC, and at 302nd Transport Wing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Des dizaines d\u2019op\u00e9ratrices, membres du 3341e Bataillon des Services de Transmission<\/strong>, d\u00e9sormais sous le commandement du major Jane A. Stretch, de Newtown (Pennsylvanie), prirent leur poste aux centraux t\u00e9l\u00e9phoniques o\u00f9 l\u2019on entendait encore, peu de temps auparavant, des voix allemandes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Les Wacs dessinatrices affect\u00e9es au Corps des Transports<\/strong> \u00e9tudiaient minutieusement les cartes dans le cadre de la mission urgente d\u2019acheminer camions et trains de ravitaillement vers le front. Leurs trac\u00e9s cartographiques de la France et de l\u2019Allemagne, indiquant toutes les voies ferr\u00e9es et routes militaires, devinrent la r\u00e9f\u00e9rence utilis\u00e9e par la Division de la Planification et du Contr\u00f4le<\/strong> pour diriger le trafic vers les arm\u00e9es am\u00e9ricaines en progression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

En \u00e9quipes de jour et de nuit, les dactylos et statisticiens Wacs du vaste et complexe syst\u00e8me du Quartermaster<\/strong> pr\u00e9paraient les derni\u00e8res dispositions pour lib\u00e9rer d\u2019\u00e9normes tonnages de viande, de rations K, de couvertures, de chaussettes en laine, d\u2019essence et d\u2019une multitude d\u2019autres fournitures qui permettaient \u00e0 l\u2019arm\u00e9e d\u2019avancer sans rel\u00e2che.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surnomm\u00e9e \u00ab cette Wac du Quartermaster \u00bb<\/em>, le lieutenant Elaine R. Dickson, de Kewanee (Illinois), \u00e9tait responsable de la gestion des stocks de v\u00eatements pour toutes les femmes militaires am\u00e9ricaines en ETO<\/strong>. En plus de ses autres t\u00e2ches, elle livrait des uniformes de combat aux infirmi\u00e8res de l\u2019arm\u00e9e dans les h\u00f4pitaux de campagne, souvent situ\u00e9s \u00e0 seulement quelques kilom\u00e8tres derri\u00e8re les lignes de front.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Les Wacs affect\u00e9es aux base sections du Com Z<\/strong> et aux bases de la Seine<\/strong>, de Normandie<\/strong>, de l\u2019Oise Intermediate<\/strong> et du Delta<\/strong> \u00e9crivirent leurs propres chapitres dans la plus grande histoire logistique du monde. En septembre, le premier convoi conduit par des Wacs en France acheva un trajet de 640 kilom\u00e8tres, transportant 80 Wacs vers la Oise Base Section<\/strong>. En raison d\u2019un manque de conducteurs, des Wacs initialement affect\u00e9es comme secr\u00e9taires, employ\u00e9es de bureau ou st\u00e9nographes prirent le volant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Les Wacs de l\u2019Air Force<\/strong>, qui avaient gagn\u00e9 leurs galons outre-mer en Angleterre, suivirent les aviateurs sur le Continent, se d\u00e9pla\u00e7ant au gr\u00e9 de l\u2019avanc\u00e9e des diff\u00e9rents quartiers g\u00e9n\u00e9raux. Elles r\u00e9pondirent \u00e0 l\u2019appel dans les unit\u00e9s suivantes : USSTAF<\/strong>, 9e Air Force<\/strong>, 9e Air Division<\/strong>, 9e Service Command<\/strong>, 8e Fighter Command<\/strong>, I Tactical Air Force (P)<\/strong>, Premi\u00e8re Arm\u00e9e A\u00e9roport\u00e9e Alli\u00e9e<\/strong>, Ninth BADA<\/strong>, 1408e AAF Base Unit<\/strong>, EDATC<\/strong>, et 302e Transport Wing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n

WACS — \u00ab\u00a0THEY MET EVERY TEST\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DECEMBER, 1944: Under the weight of von Rundstedt’s smashing counter-offensive Allied lines bent, curved back, but held. Calls swamped rear echelons for supplies, men. Wacs of the 302nd Transport Wing met the challenge. From 1630 hours, Dec. 24, until 1430 hours, Christmas Day, they worked feverishly to help get the needed reinforcements and materiel to the front. Their feat earned a commendation from Gen. Carl A. Spatz, USSTAF CG.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cpl. Faye Haimson, Chicago, cryptographer, decoded secret orders for the Bulge operation. Cpl. Beatrice Ratowsky, Brooklyn, was a stenographer in Operations; Sgt. Frances K. Karl, Chicago; and Pfc Sarah Hellinger, Philadelphia, kept telephone circuits open for emergency messages necessary to get 100 widely-scattered cargo planes to the front. Not a man or plane was lost in the move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the grim situation Wacs spent their first Christmas on the Continent in the American tradition even though a curfew was imposed and holiday events were cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the ETO, Wacs threw open their dayrooms to soldiers Christmas Day. One detachment shared its turkey dinner with 75 soldiers on convalescent leave or on pass. Wacs wrapped packages of candy, cigarettes, gum, cookies and gifts for wounded in hospitals in France and England. In Paris, a WAC choir sang at the Arc de Triomphe, then climbed into trucks which took them to hospitals where they sang for soldiers who had just been brought in from front line aid stations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 6888th Central Postal Directory Bn., first Negro Wacs to be sent overseas, was assigned to the First Base Post Office in February, 1945. The unit broke all records for re-directing mail. Each of the two eight-hour shifts averaged more than 65,000 pieces of mail. Long-delayed letters and packages reached battle casualties who had been moving too frequently for mail to catch up with them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

LES WACS \u2014 \u00ab ELLES ONT RELEV\u00c9 TOUS LES D\u00c9FIS \u00bb<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

D\u00c9CEMBRE 1944<\/strong> : Sous le poids de la contre-offensive \u00e9crasante de von Rundstedt, les lignes alli\u00e9es ploy\u00e8rent, se repli\u00e8rent, mais tinrent bon. Les appels afflu\u00e8rent vers les \u00e9chelons arri\u00e8re pour r\u00e9clamer des renforts en hommes et en mat\u00e9riel. Les Wacs du 302e Transport Wing<\/strong> relev\u00e8rent le d\u00e9fi. Du 24 d\u00e9cembre \u00e0 16h30<\/strong> jusqu\u2019au 25 d\u00e9cembre \u00e0 14h30<\/strong>, jour de No\u00ebl, elles travaill\u00e8rent sans rel\u00e2che pour aider \u00e0 acheminer les renforts et le mat\u00e9riel n\u00e9cessaires vers le front. Leur exploit leur valut une citation du g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Carl A. Spaatz, commandant de l\u2019USSTAF<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Le caporal Faye Haimson, de Chicago, cryptographe, d\u00e9chiffra les ordres secrets pour l\u2019op\u00e9ration des Ardennes. Le caporal Beatrice Ratowsky, de Brooklyn, \u00e9tait st\u00e9nographe dans les Op\u00e9rations ; le sergent Frances K. Karl, de Chicago, et la soldat Sarah Hellinger, de Philadelphie, maintinrent les circuits t\u00e9l\u00e9phoniques ouverts pour transmettre les messages d\u2019urgence n\u00e9cessaires \u00e0 l\u2019envoi de 100 avions-cargos dispers\u00e9s vers le front. Aucun homme ni avion ne fut perdu lors de cette op\u00e9ration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malgr\u00e9 la situation critique, les Wacs pass\u00e8rent leur premier No\u00ebl sur le Continent selon la tradition am\u00e9ricaine, m\u00eame si un couvre-feu \u00e9tait impos\u00e9 et que les c\u00e9l\u00e9brations \u00e9taient annul\u00e9es.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Partout en ETO<\/strong>, les Wacs ouvrirent leurs salles de jour aux soldats pour No\u00ebl. Un d\u00e9tachement partagea son d\u00eener de dinde avec 75 soldats, qu\u2019ils soient en convalescence ou en permission. Les Wacs pr\u00e9par\u00e8rent des colis remplis de bonbons, cigarettes, chewing-gums, biscuits et cadeaux pour les bless\u00e9s dans les h\u00f4pitaux de France et d\u2019Angleterre. \u00c0 Paris, une chorale de Wacs chanta \u00e0 l\u2019Arc de Triomphe, puis monta dans des camions qui les emmen\u00e8rent dans les h\u00f4pitaux, o\u00f9 elles chant\u00e8rent pour les soldats tout juste rapatri\u00e9s des postes de secours de premi\u00e8re ligne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Le 6888th Central Postal Directory Bn.<\/strong>, premi\u00e8res Wacs noires envoy\u00e9es outre-mer, fut affect\u00e9 au First Base Post Office<\/strong> en f\u00e9vrier 1945. L\u2019unit\u00e9 battit tous les records de r\u00e9acheminement du courrier. Chacune des deux \u00e9quipes de huit heures traitait en moyenne plus de 65 000 pi\u00e8ces de courrier<\/strong> par jour. Des lettres et colis longtemps retard\u00e9s parvinrent enfin aux soldats bless\u00e9s, qui changeaient trop souvent de position pour que le courrier puisse les atteindre.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n

By early Spring, 1945, Wacs were filling every conceivable assignment. They drove Army vehicles, transmitted photographs by radio, \u00ab\u00a0bossed\u00a0\u00bb camps for enemy women PWs, plotted emergency landings for lost and damaged aircraft. Junior aide to Gen. Eisenhower was Lt. Kay Summersby. Other generals were assisted by able WAC personnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the leave center in Brussels opened, a team of WAC mess sergeants organized and set up the two huge Army messes, instructed mess personnel and Belgian cooks in the preparation and serving of food. Sgt. Constance Delahoyde, Bath, N.Y., and Sgt. Margaret McCance, Palo Alto, Calif., worked in advisory capacities in scores of Army messes throughout France, Belgium and Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

W
ITH Army headquarters established in Germany, Wacs moved in with files and typewriters. Nine Wacs with the I Tactical Air Force, veterans of England and France, were the first to \u00ab\u00a0occupy\u00a0\u00bb Germany. They were Lt. Juanita S. Goold, Madison, Wis.; Sgt. Billy Utecht, Houston, Tex.; S\/Sgt. Loleta B. Moon, Atlanta, Ga.; S\/Sgt. Odessa Dilbeck, Tulsa, Okla.; Sgt. Olga Kentro, Los Angeles; Sgt. Martha M. Hubbard, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Cpl. Gertrude L. Pearson, Bronx, N.Y.; Cpl. Emily G. Nichol, Mount Fern, N.J.; and Pfc Grace G. Lawles, Copenhagen, N.Y.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Germany collapsed, additional personnel were assigned to headquarters of armies and to reinforcement jobs designed to speed redeployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

V-E Day brought a pause in the long grind. On May 14, 1945, Wacs and Allied service women stationed in Paris observed the third anniversary of the Women’s Army Corps. Led by Maj. Mary Moynahan, San Antonio, Tex., approximately 2000 Wacs paraded down the Champs Elysees to the Place de la Concorde as they were reviewed by Lt. Gen. John C. H. Lee, CG, Communications Zone The colorful spectacle followed a simple ceremony at which Lt. Col. Wilson placed a floral wrath on the tomb of France’s Unknown Soldier.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

D\u00e8s le d\u00e9but du printemps 1945<\/strong>, les Wacs occupaient tous les postes imaginables. Elles conduisaient des v\u00e9hicules militaires, transmettaient des photographies par radio, \u00ab dirigeaient \u00bb des camps pour les prisonni\u00e8res ennemies, et organisaient des atterrissages d\u2019urgence pour les avions perdus ou endommag\u00e9s. Le lieutenant Kay Summersby \u00e9tait l\u2019aide de camp junior du g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Eisenhower. D\u2019autres g\u00e9n\u00e9raux \u00e9taient assist\u00e9s par du personnel WAC comp\u00e9tent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lors de l\u2019ouverture du centre de permission \u00e0 Bruxelles, une \u00e9quipe de sergents Wacs responsables de la restauration organisa et mit en place les deux immenses mess militaires, forma le personnel de cantine et les cuisiniers belges \u00e0 la pr\u00e9paration et au service des repas. Le sergent Constance Delahoyde, de Bath (New York), et le sergent Margaret McCance, de Palo Alto (Californie), travaill\u00e8rent en tant que conseill\u00e8res dans des dizaines de mess militaires \u00e0 travers la France, la Belgique et l\u2019Allemagne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avec l\u2019installation des quartiers g\u00e9n\u00e9raux de l\u2019arm\u00e9e en Allemagne<\/strong>, les Wacs s\u2019y \u00e9tablirent avec leurs dossiers et leurs machines \u00e0 \u00e9crire. Neuf Wacs de la I Tactical Air Force<\/strong>, v\u00e9t\u00e9ranes d\u2019Angleterre et de France, furent les premi\u00e8res \u00e0 \u00ab occuper \u00bb l\u2019Allemagne. Il s\u2019agissait du lieutenant Juanita S. Goold, de Madison (Wisconsin) ; du sergent Billy Utecht, de Houston (Texas) ; du sergent-chef Loleta B. Moon, d\u2019Atlanta (G\u00e9orgie) ; du sergent-chef Odessa Dilbeck, de Tulsa (Oklahoma) ; du sergent Olga Kentro, de Los Angeles ; du sergent Martha M. Hubbard, de Cedar Rapids (Iowa) ; du caporal Gertrude L. Pearson, du Bronx (New York) ; du caporal Emily G. Nichol, de Mount Fern (New Jersey) ; et de la soldat Grace G. Lawles, de Copenhague (New York).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lors de l\u2019effondrement de l\u2019Allemagne, du personnel suppl\u00e9mentaire fut affect\u00e9 aux quartiers g\u00e9n\u00e9raux des arm\u00e9es et \u00e0 des missions de renfort destin\u00e9es \u00e0 acc\u00e9l\u00e9rer le red\u00e9ploiement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Le jour de la Victoire en Europe (V-E Day)<\/strong> marqua une pause dans cette longue \u00e9preuve. Le 14 mai 1945<\/strong>, les Wacs et les femmes militaires alli\u00e9es stationn\u00e9es \u00e0 Paris c\u00e9l\u00e9br\u00e8rent le troisi\u00e8me anniversaire du Women\u2019s Army Corps<\/strong>. Men\u00e9es par le major Mary Moynahan, de San Antonio (Texas), environ 2 000 Wacs<\/strong> d\u00e9fil\u00e8rent sur les Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es jusqu\u2019\u00e0 la place de la Concorde, pass\u00e9es en revue par le lieutenant-g\u00e9n\u00e9ral John C. H. Lee, commandant de la Zone des Communications<\/strong> *. Ce spectacle color\u00e9 suivit une c\u00e9r\u00e9monie simple au cours de laquelle le lieutenant-colonel Wilson d\u00e9posa une couronne florale sur la tombe du Soldat inconnu fran\u00e7ais.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n

Similar observances were held at WAC installations in Belgium, Germany and England. Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth of England, visited Wacs in London and at 8th Air Force Headquarters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gen. Eisenhower, in tribute, cabled Col. Oveta Culp Hobby, then WAC Director:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the time I have had Wacs under my command, they have met every test and task assigned them. I have seen them work in Africa, Italy, England, here in France — at Army installations throughout the European Theater. Their contribution in efficiency, skill, spirit, and determination is immeasurable. In three years the Women’s Army Corps has built for itself an impressive record of conduct and of service, and given the womanhood of America every right to be proud of their accomplishments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gen. Carl A Spaatz, CG, USSTAF, echoed Gen. Eisenhower: \u00ab\u00a0The Women’s Army Corps has been of inestimable value to our Air Forces operating against Germany. Its members have worked devotedly, undertaking arduous tasks requiring exceptional performance. Their success as a part of the team is a matter of pride to all of us.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shortly after V-E Day it was revealed that 3000 Wacs had 44 discharge points or more. In July, the first group having upwards of 70 points was flown to the States to be discharged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those remaining in the ETO carried on. In Berlin, a detachment of secretaries, typists, telephone and teletype operators became part of headquarters personnel administering the American occupied section of the city. The detachment formerly was assigned to the First Allied Airborne Army.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Pres. Truman, Prime Minister Churchill and Marshal Stalin met at Potsdam in mid-July, 1945, 27 Wac telephone operators of the 3341st Signal Service Bn. were assigned to handle the multitude of telephone calls. S\/Sgt. Edith Royer, Library, Pa., was chief operator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lt. Col. Anna W. Wilson left the Theater July 8 for an assignment with the War Department and Lt. Col. Mary A. Hallaren, became Theater WAC Staff Director.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Des c\u00e9r\u00e9monies similaires eurent lieu dans les installations WAC en Belgique, en Allemagne et en Angleterre. Sa Majest\u00e9, la reine \u00c9lisabeth d\u2019Angleterre, rendit visite aux Wacs \u00e0 Londres et au quartier g\u00e9n\u00e9ral de la 8th Air Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

En hommage, le g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Eisenhower envoya un c\u00e2ble \u00e0 la colonel Oveta Culp Hobby, alors directrice des WAC :<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00ab Pendant tout le temps o\u00f9 j\u2019ai eu des Wacs sous mon commandement, elles ont relev\u00e9 chaque d\u00e9fi et accompli chaque mission qui leur \u00e9tait confi\u00e9e. Je les ai vues travailler en Afrique, en Italie, en Angleterre, ici en France \u2014 dans toutes les installations de l\u2019arm\u00e9e \u00e0 travers le th\u00e9\u00e2tre europ\u00e9en. Leur contribution en termes d\u2019efficacit\u00e9, de comp\u00e9tence, d\u2019esprit et de d\u00e9termination est inestimable. En trois ans, le Women\u2019s Army Corps s\u2019est forg\u00e9 un impressionnant bilan de conduite et de service, offrant \u00e0 toutes les femmes am\u00e9ricaines le droit d\u2019\u00eatre fi\u00e8res de leurs r\u00e9alisations. \u00bb<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Le g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Carl A. Spaatz, commandant de l\u2019USSTAF<\/strong>, fit \u00e9cho aux propos du g\u00e9n\u00e9ral Eisenhower : \u00ab Le Women\u2019s Army Corps a \u00e9t\u00e9 d\u2019une valeur inestimable pour nos forces a\u00e9riennes engag\u00e9es contre l\u2019Allemagne. Ses membres ont travaill\u00e9 avec d\u00e9vouement, entreprenant des t\u00e2ches ardues exigeant des performances exceptionnelles. Leur succ\u00e8s en tant que membres de l\u2019\u00e9quipe est une source de fiert\u00e9 pour nous tous. \u00bb<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peu apr\u00e8s le jour de la Victoire en Europe, il fut r\u00e9v\u00e9l\u00e9 que 3 000 Wacs<\/strong> avaient accumul\u00e9 44 points de d\u00e9mobilisation ou plus<\/strong>. En juillet, le premier groupe, totalisant plus de 70 points<\/strong>, fut rapatri\u00e9 aux \u00c9tats-Unis pour \u00eatre d\u00e9mobilis\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celles qui rest\u00e8rent en ETO<\/strong> poursuivirent leur mission. \u00c0 Berlin, un d\u00e9tachement de secr\u00e9taires, dactylos, op\u00e9ratrices t\u00e9l\u00e9phoniques et t\u00e9l\u00e9typistes devint une partie du personnel du quartier g\u00e9n\u00e9ral administrant la zone am\u00e9ricaine de la ville. Ce d\u00e9tachement \u00e9tait auparavant affect\u00e9 \u00e0 la First Allied Airborne Army<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lors de la rencontre du pr\u00e9sident Truman, du Premier ministre Churchill et du mar\u00e9chal Staline \u00e0 Potsdam en mi-juillet 1945<\/strong>, 27 op\u00e9ratrices t\u00e9l\u00e9phoniques Wacs<\/strong> du 3341st Signal Service Bn.<\/strong> furent charg\u00e9es de g\u00e9rer la multitude d\u2019appels t\u00e9l\u00e9phoniques. Le S\/Sgt Edith Royer, de Library (Pennsylvanie), \u00e9tait l\u2019op\u00e9ratrice en chef.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lt. Col. Anna W. Wilson quitta le th\u00e9\u00e2tre d\u2019op\u00e9rations le 8 juillet<\/strong> pour une nouvelle affectation au War Department <\/strong>, et le lieutenant-colonel Mary A. Hallaren devint la directrice du personnel WAC pour le th\u00e9\u00e2tre d\u2019op\u00e9rations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n

The record of the Women’s Army Corps in the ETO is not one of any single branch of service or special group. It is a story of all the Wacs who wear the patch of the Ground Forces, the star of the Services of Supply, the wings of the Air Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wherever the armies went the Wacs went with them — London, Marseilles, Paris, Brussels, Frankfurt. Wacs lived in villages, in camps, woods and fields, witnessed the devastation of war. They shared in the hardships of the soldier, rejoiced in his advances against a stubborn, fanatical foe. Theirs was a stirring story of American women who worked to help fighting men achieve a complete and smashing victory in Europe. They accomplished their mission.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

L\u2019histoire du Women\u2019s Army Corps<\/strong> en ETO<\/strong> n\u2019est pas celle d\u2019une branche sp\u00e9cifique de l\u2019arm\u00e9e ou d\u2019un groupe particulier. C\u2019est l\u2019histoire de toutes les Wacs qui portaient l\u2019insigne di Ground Forces<\/strong>, l\u2019\u00e9toile des Services of Supply<\/strong>, ou les ailes de l\u2019Air Force<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Partout o\u00f9 les arm\u00e9es allaient, les Wacs les suivaient \u2014 \u00e0 Londres, Marseille, Paris, Bruxelles, Francfort. Elles v\u00e9curent dans des villages, des camps, des bois et des champs, et furent t\u00e9moins des ravages de la guerre. Elles partag\u00e8rent les difficult\u00e9s des soldats et se r\u00e9jouirent de leurs avanc\u00e9es face \u00e0 un ennemi obstin\u00e9 et fanatique. Leur histoire est celle, \u00e9mouvante, de femmes am\u00e9ricaines qui \u0153uvr\u00e8rent sans rel\u00e2che pour aider les combattants \u00e0 remporter une victoire totale et \u00e9crasante en Europe. Elles ont accompli leur mission.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

THE TEAM —<\/p>\n\n\n\n

L\u2019\u00c9QUIPE \u2014<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wacs in the ETO have served or are on duty with the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Les Wacs en ETO ont servi ou sont en service au sein des unit\u00e9s suivantes :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hq. USSTAF
Air Tech. Serv. Command of Europe
Base Air Depot Area
302nd Transport Wing
70th Reinforcement Depot
I Tactical Air Force
Hq. 8th Air Force
Hq. Eighth Fighter Command
Eighth Air Force Service Command
Hq. 1st Air Division
Hq. 2nd Air Division
Hq. 3rd Air Division
Hq. 9th Air Force
Hq. Ninth Air Service Command
Hq. Ninth Bombardment Division
U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey
Ninth Base Air Depot Area
U.S. Component Air Staff, SHAEF
Supreme Headquarters, AEF
Hq. Command, ETOUSA
29th Traffic Regulating Group
%3341st Signal Service Bn.
Hq. Seine Section
1408 AAF Base Unit, EDATC
12th Army Group
Normandy Base Section
4th Port
Oise Intermediate Section
Assemby Area Command
Delta Base Section
Civil Censorship Detachment
First Allied Airborne Army
Channel Base Section
U.S. Group Central Council<\/td>		     <\/td>23rd Base Post Office
6888th Central Postal Directory
Riviera District, Delta Base
16th Reinforcement Depot
WAC Detachment, MIS
United Kingdom Base
1400 AAF Base Unit, EDATC
1402 AAF Base Unit, EDATC
1406 AAF Base Unit, EDATC
1407 AAF Base Unit, EDATC
Office of Strategic Services
1st Base Post Office
Army Airways Communications Service
Eighth Bombardment Division
Eighth Air Force Composite Command
Air Disarmament Command
1st Advance Air Depot Area
Central Base Station
Hq. Southern Base Station
SOLOC
The Rookery, Detachment \u00ab A \u00bb
Hq. Third Army
Hq. Seventh Army
Hq. 6th Army Group
116th General Hospital
Bremen Port Command
Hq. USFET
Hq. USFA
Theater Service Forces
Chanor Base Section
Hq. and Hq. Sqdn. 42nd Air Depot Group
97th Airdrome Sqdn.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Les \u00ab\u00a0Wacs\u00a0\u00bb (Women’s Army Corps) command\u00e9es par le Lieutenant colonel Anna W. Wilson sur l’avenue des Champs-Elys\u00e9es
Mus\u00e9e de la Lib\u00e9ration de Paris<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Le WAC\u202f\u00bb est un petit livret retra\u00e7ant l\u2019histoire du Women’s Army Corps dans le th\u00e9\u00e2tre d\u2019op\u00e9rations europ\u00e9en (ETO). Ce livret fait partie de la s\u00e9rie G.I. Stories publi\u00e9e par Stars & Stripes \u00e0 Paris en 1944-1945. THIS is your story — a record of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7120,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[75,194,192,152,193,99],"class_list":["post-7105","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wac-nurse","tag-75","tag-eto","tag-he-story-of-the-wac-in-the-eto","tag-us","tag-waac","tag-wac"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eto44.ovh\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7105","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eto44.ovh\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eto44.ovh\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eto44.ovh\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eto44.ovh\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7105"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/eto44.ovh\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7105\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7145,"href":"https:\/\/eto44.ovh\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7105\/revisions\/7145"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eto44.ovh\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eto44.ovh\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7105"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eto44.ovh\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7105"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eto44.ovh\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}