The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-11-24
EDITH ]. ROGERS
AIR WAC AT, YALE
State Street Resident Lat
est to Join WOmen'S
Army Air Forces

New Haven, Nov. 24-Critcs Of the
willingness OF American women TO-
go about for the war effort are be-
ing answered in New England
homes.
When IL girls joined the Women's
Army corps here last week, and ex-
pressed a preference for service rs
Air-Wacs. all reported that not
only were they eager to help but
also that they encountered no par
entail opposition to their decision 70
go to war.
At the start Of the war, parents
relinquished their sons for military
service with Understandable human
reluctance. They didn't think then
that their daughters, too, wouio
soon be justifying their existence
in world at war. At first they were
adamant at the suggestion. In
creased knowledge of the work being
done by women in the service and
their valuable contribution to the
winning of the struggle, seems to
have brought realization of the
necessity for patriotic sacrifices. The
general attitude now Is: Connecti-
cut women did it in other wars
they can and should do 1t In this
one.
New Air Wac Edith j. Rogers, of
43 State ST., Waterbury, Conn,
makes typical report on the new
attitude. Her parents are Mr.. and
Mrs. Charles H. Rogers.
When I told them I had decided
to enter the Army Air Forces" she
says, they offered no opposition at
all. They said their feelings were not
important compared with the emer-
gency and the part I want to play
in it,"
Two other outstanding examples
Of the unity of the Connecticut
home on the problem of women in
the service are furnished by Mary
Whitney, of Silver Mine Ave-, Nor
walk, and Mary Theriault, of 29O
Bond ST., Bridgeport.
my parents were no problem at
ALL" said Miss Whitney, whose par
ents are Mr.. and Mrs. William H.
Whitney of Norwalk. my brother,
Cpl. Wayland Whitney, who is in
the Army Air Forces at Patterson
Field, O., was the one who took a
little time. Finally he came through
with swell letter telling me to go
ahead and that he was proud about
it. So, here I am"
Mrs. Theriault, who has been
married four years, arrived at the
recruiting station with the complete
approval of her mother, Mrs. Mary
Angesk of Bridgeport. And, to make
the picture complete. she was ac-
companied by her husband, Theo-
dore.
my husband decided to enlist in
the Navy" she said, land I told
him to go ahead and more power
to him. Then I told him I wanted
to become an Air-Wac and he re-
turned the compliment"
The splendid record which has
been made by WACS wherever they
have been employed in the service,
and new opportunities, such as
those offered in the Air-Wac re-
cruiting program, are believed to be
large factors in the willingness of
women to be in uniform. Mothers,
for instance, have founded q WACS
club in New Haven and they testify
enthusiastically that their daugh-
tiers have found happiness in the
service.
Many, too, are anxious for their
daughters to become Air-Wacs who
are members of the Women's Army
Corps serving exclusively In the
Army Air Forces. Offering a great
variety of important duties in the
service of Americas wings, the AAF
now offers any woman between 20
and SO chance to wear the wings
and star.
When daughters march off to the
colors, war truly has completely in
vaded the home. But Connecticut
women are rising to the patriotic
and emotional demands of the
emergency.