Evening star., 1943-03-30
1000 WAACS Live
In Huge Tent City
AT Daytona Beach
Little Civi|iun Activity
Seen as Troinees
jam Resort City
BY WALTER McCALLUM,
Star Staff Correspondent.

[ otdI Sldll Correspondents.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. March
30.-The WAACS have so completely
taken over Daytona Beach that the
visitor sees little civilian activity
! One sees plenty of the smartly
dressed WAACS, but the civilians
seem in the minority and the play
time beaches of other years aren't
used by the civilians. WAACS drive
i big Army vehicles. WAACS stroll
along Daytona's streets, off duty;
! WAACS stride militarily between
offices, crowd the soda fountains.
One wonders what will happen in
the summer. Daytona in peacetime
was a favored summer resort for
many persons from North Florida,
Georgia and Alabama Perhaps
they won't be able to get hotel ac-
commodations. The Women's Army
Auxiliary Corps has taken over
most of the big hotel units.
A sandy area in South Daytona
Beach, year ago covered with
scrub palmetto. now is occupied by
Tent City. More than 1000 women
live here in tents, in the mild
climate of this east coat resort city
Tent City is reception and staging
area, where the newly arrived
WAACS from Oshkosh. Dodge City,
Cheyenne. Philadelphia, Washing
ton or New York are indoctrinated
after they 60 through the process
ing center uptown for their uniforms
and equipment.
Drill Everywhere.
One sees them drilling every
where, all over the area. One sees
them in downtown buildings. in
civilian clothes of all colors. receiv-
ing their initial instructions in mill
ta,y life and department.. That de-
pertinent angle is important. No SOL
dier in any branch of the Army
carries himself with more military
bearing and has better salutin9
technique than the WAAC who has
been through her four weeks basic
training. Few crack drill platoons
of old-timers In the Army run
through the routine of march drill
with more snap and verve than the
WAACS. who may have been
stenographers or soda clerks a few
weeks ago.
They march impressively. A lump
comes into ones throat as you see
battalion retreat on the 150-yard-
wide beach, where the Atlantic
breakers pound, where a decade
ago automobile speed drivers set
new records. A WAAC battalion
retreat is one of the impressive
sights in an impressive Army. Here
are many companies of we'll trained,
well-drilled women marching be-
hind feminine band, shoulders
back, chins up, as we'll trained as
any old-line Army outfit.
The band plays martial music.
You realize that here is group of
women, some of them erandmothers,
torn by patriotism from ordinary
civilian pursuits to take up lives
such as many of them never dreamed
existed. One realizes that each of
these women can replace man
who can go to the fighting fronts.
All Want to Aid in War.
1t grips one, the spirit that
prompted these women to enroll
and take the long hours, the endless
drill, the confinement, the relentless
routine of military duty. If ever
you want a tingle around the heart
strings. and want to hold up your
head and yell, I'm an American.
These are my countryWomen," see
battalion retreat at WAAC camp.
The one at Daytona Beach, under
the setting of that area, is par
ticularly impressive. but the march,
ing files of well-trained feminine
soldiers would be impressive any,
where.
Here are women, all volunteers,
who have dedicated themselves and
their lives, their ambitions and their
desires, to the cause of winning
war as quickly as possible.
A score Of women were asked
this question, What was your mo-
tive in joining the WAACS?" Few
of them had clearcut answers, but
all had the general theme. Il
wanted to do something to get this
war over as soon as possible was
the usual answer. Some said they
were bored with their civilian work
and felt they could contribute some
thing of real value to the war effort
by joining up. If can replace a
soldier in. job a woman can do as
we'll will feel have done my bit,
many said. why not this instead
Of bomber factory?' few asked.
May Date Army Men.
WAR paint" is optional. An ofh-
Ger said the women can use hpstick
or do little facial decoration, but
I'VE don't want those sunrise effects
on cheeks that ordinarily wouldn't
blush"
| WAACS on official passes with a
date may don civilian clothes. They
are the only Army outfits that can
do so. But they must be in possess
sion of ofncial passes. Ofncers are
supposed to be with officers and
privates with privates, on duty. The
question was posed, How about 4
fWAAC o1Iicer who has a date with
| nA,>a