Slander
(Courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society)
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However, perhaps the worst rumor was that WAACs were recruited and issued prophylactics for “keeping male soldiers sexually happy”*.
The disparagement became so serious that families became ashamed of their WAACs. “[Fathers were] afraid of what the neighbors would say.” - Soldier Violet Caudle, 1999
The disparagement became so serious that families became ashamed of their WAACs. “[Fathers were] afraid of what the neighbors would say.” - Soldier Violet Caudle, 1999
On June 8, these rumors were published in the well-known column “Capitol Stuff”, which even referenced First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt as a supposed encourager of this prophylactic distribution.
This lead to Colonel McCoskrie delivering an editorial to assure WAACs they were appreciated and should “continue to be good soldiers, come hell or high water”**. Secretary Stimson, the Roosevelts, and Director Hobby also publicly dismissed these fallacies. “Sinister rumors aimed at destroying the reputation of the WAACs are absolutely and completely false. Anything which would interfere with their recruiting or destroy the reputation of the Corps, and by so doing interfere with increase in the combat strength of our Army; would be of value to the enemy. The repetition of any unfounded rumor . . . is actually an aid to the enemy.” - Secretary of War Stimson, 1943 The rumors finally began to subside, and a new era for women in the military began. *Quote from a letter from a male soldier writing back home **Quote from the editorial |
(Courtesy of the U.S. Archives)
(Courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society)
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SOLDIERS
In January 1943, before the slander campaigns became a national scandal, Congresswoman Rogers and Director Hobby drafted a bill to incorporate WAAC into the Army. However, due to the vilification of WAAC, the bill remained unacknowledged by the House. Once the slander campaigns abated, however, it was considered and approved. On July 1, Roosevelt formalized the elimination of WAAC’s auxiliary status. The Women’s Army Corps (WAC) was established.
As WACs, women received the same rank, pay, and benefits as male soldiers. “No longer will the misses be known as ‘Auxiliaries’. From now on, the WAC and EM (enlisted men) will be known by the same nomenclature of rank and draw similar pay according to rank.” - Newspaper article, “Girls in Khaki Draw Same Pay, Ratings as Enlisted Men Now” , 1943 This paved the path for the passage of yet another bill, the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, which enabled women to serve as permanent members of the official Army ranks. After a long battle, women were finally in the organization that once wouldn’t even consider having them. |
(Courtesy of The Roy Rosenzweig Center For History, The George C. Marshall Foundation, and The Women of World War II)
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“It wasn’t just my brother’s country, or my husband’s country; it was my country as well. And so this war wasn’t just their war; it was my war, and I needed to serve in it.” -WAC Soldier Beatrice Hood Stroup, 1943