Evening star., 1942-07-21
WAACs
Continued From First Page.)

at Fort DeS Mo1neS Is happening 70
thousands of men inductees at
countless reception centers through
out the country. The only differ
ence here Is the sergeants haven't
learned how to bark at women-yet.
"Give us time," one OF them
grinned. School begins Thursday.
It won't take long to train this
American womens army to drill
and march like veterans. Col. Don
c. Faith, commandant Of this post,
has no worries on that score. He
is the best booster the WAAC Army
has today.
These WAACs have proved them
selves in this short time to be
adaptable women. They are a seri-
Gus lot for the most part but 4
friendly lot. quick to realize they
are all sisters in one big, happy
family. Or 50 it seems. They IKE
Fort Des Moines and Its stan OF
instructors lust fine" and Fort Des
MONIES likes them. ~
s.nne~ hagd-boiled non com who
couldn't reconcile himself at once
to this new order" in the Army
admitted to me later in the day
that he rguess he'll get along with
'em somehow" ).
I guess he will at that, for 1t
wasn't long before he was to be
seen carrying DUNE bags for two
young WAACs. and he was getting
along lust fine"
Company Reviewed.
But to 60 back to that other SER
geant who was having a little trou-
BILE with his detail. When the first
selective service men Of 1910 were
indicted into Army life I saw the
processing and initial instructions
! in formations at Fort Bliss, Fort
Benning, Fort Sam Houston and
other camps. They didn't learn bit
quicker than these women are do
ing now in the WAAC army. Two OF
three hours of contact and prelim-
| mary instructions work wonders ir
both cases.
In the late afternoon of the first
day in the WAAC Army, Director
Oveta Culp Hobby and Col. FAITH
reviewed a company of about 12(
women. The company marched
onto the parade ground in gooc
formation, with scracely any one
out OF step. They halted at com.
mand and left faced" At another
command, they knocked elbows and
Strengthened out the lines. Mrs
Hobby, looking very soldierly in .
smart khaki uniform and service
cap, walked 'gravely down the lint
and what she saw seemed to please
her.
With Col. Faith, she had put ir
hard day looking after the enroll
ment of 800 women, making short
wave broadcasts to China and Eng
land, inspecting barracks and deal
ing with the press and photog
raphers.
Anything I say will sound ef
fusive," Mrs. Hobby said after tn
review OF her troops at retreat. I"
could not have been more pleased
with that fine group Of women, O
the location Of the training school
Location Called Ideal.
THE grounds OF the weu-estab'
lished fort are lovely. The building
more than meet my expectations
in short this is an ideal location
for WAAC training. OF course,
am familiar with the women OF
paper, and can say I'm not disap
pointed in single one Of them"
The parents, the husbands ant
next of kin" should feel no concern
that their own particular WAA(
is not in good hands.
1t was a busy first day for tn
WAACs, for the inquiring re
porters, and for the approxi
mately 200 women filters, help
ers and seamstresses engaged from
Des Moines department stores t.
do the uniforming job right. 1
takes a WAAC about 40 minute
to enter and emerge from the issu
and fitting rooms newly uniforme'
from head to feet. Alterations tax
longer
After tomorrow, the military phas
Of the training school will begin. !
already has begun so far as the -
am. reveille and other calls ar
concerned. The WAACS take it il
stride.
Many of these women here, n
doubt, are asking whether tn
Womens Army Auxiliary Corps
destined to become feminin
AEF. The question arose at pres
conference. but neither Mrs. Hobh
nor Col. Faith could give a definit
yes" Nor did they venture to sa
no"
Mrs. Hobby'x Message.
But Mrs. Hobby in radioing
message to the women OF Chin
made this significant statement
This Is the beginning OF an Amer
lean women's army that will servic
In noncombat duties at home an