page_title: Mary Louise Rasmuson
section_title: Life and career
hierarchical_section_title: Mary Louise Rasmuson / Life and career
caption_attribution_description: English: From the back of the photo: Milligan was awarded the Legion of Merit for meritorious achievement as director of the first Women's Army Corps (WAC) Training Center from March 1943 to January 1945, and as executive officer of the center from March to August 1945. Picture taken 12/19/46 at the Pentagon.
context_page_description: Mary Louise Milligan Rasmuson was an American army officer, and fifth director of the Women's Army Corps.
context_section_description: Born in East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Milligan graduated with a bachelor's in education from what is now Carnegie Mellon University and received her masters in school administration from University of Pittsburgh. She was one of the first two women who were awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree from Carnegie Mellon. Prior to enlisting in the military, she worked as a secretary, teacher, and assistant principal.
  She enlisted in the United States Army during World War II, where she started as a private in an experiment using women as military professionals.
  She worked up the ranks, and in 1957, President Dwight Eisenhower appointed Milligan director of the Women's Army Corps and in 1961, President John F. Kennedy reappointed her.
   
  She was also instrumental in the integration of black women in the Corps, and was awarded the Legion of Merit award for her work. In five and a half years as director, WAC strength increased from 8,300, on 31 January 1957, to 11,100. The Army had opened twenty-six new military occupational specialties (MOSs) for active duty enlisted women and fifty for WAC reservists. New legislation included a provision to eliminate WAC officer promotion restrictions. Congress had granted active duty credit for WAAC time to women with further military service, and it had corrected inequities for WAC reserve officers. Colonel Rasmuson's public relations efforts enhanced the WAC image and helped convince the public and the Army of the value of WAC service. 
  In 1961, she married Elmer E. Rasmuson, the president of National Bank of Alaska. She was the only WAC director to marry while in office. The following year, she retired from the army and moved to Anchorage, Alaska. 
  After retiring from the army, Rasmuson helped expand her husband's philanthropic efforts, including supporting civil rights, supporting education and cultural life in Anchorage and beyond. She also became a member of several military organizations and boards of the Alaska Crippled Children's Association, American Cancer Society, Anchorage Fine Arts Commission, and Anchorage March of Dimes.
  At age 101, Rasmuson died at her home. She is buried in Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery.
caption: Lt. Col. Mary Louise Milligan receives the Legion of Merit from Maj. Gen. Willard S. Paul, Director of Personnel and Administration, 1946.
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