Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-25
BY YVONNE CAHOON,
Star Staff Correspondent.

BY YVONNE CAHOON,
Star Staff Correspondent
FORT BELVOIR, Va, July a.
This Army post is sold on the WACS
so much so that it has asked for
more!
That was apparent after I spent
"a hours at the post watching the
WACS at their administrative jobs,
discussing their military efficiency
with their company officers and talk
ing with the Army officers directing
the various administrative stations
to which they have been assigned.
arrived here just in time for
evening mess and was met by Sec
ond 1t. Helen Shimonek, mess officer
and assistant supply officer for the
two WAC companies stationed at
the post. She offered to carry my
suitcase, but I wouldn't let her. II
had come out to prove I could take
it, and I chung to the bag with grim
determination, answering that it
wasn't bit heavy"
II hope you don't mind walking"
she said pleasantly. 1--WE have COM
Wandered a staff car for a short
time in the morning so you can see
what our girls are doing at the far
stations of the post. The rest of
the time. however, I am afraid you
will have to walk and there is much
we want you to see."
oh, I love to walk" I answered
bravely but blindly. and I'm all
geared out for it," added, pointing
to my low-heeled shoes.
The WAC area, located in a cool.
wooded plot not far from post
headquarters, is surrounded by a
rail fence. Two barracks have
been constructed in the area. one
Tor each company, the officers
quarters, in which is located a
beauty parlor. the supply room, the
day room and a mess hall.
was assigned to a private room
IN the officers quarters. The fur
nishings are of unfinished wood.
with the exception of the regula-
tlon Army iron cot. There was a
table, chair, a closet without a
door, one window and no rug
Everything was as neat as a pin.
There I met Second 1t. Dorothy
Smallwood, supply officer for the
Two companies. The two officers
then took me to meet the company
commander, First 1t. Faith Conk-
lin, and the executive officer for
the WAC contingent, First 1t. Rose
Shaley.
Every girl in the two companies
gets K. P. duty one day out of about
every nine.
This causes us great deal of diff
nculty," 1t. Conklin explained, "and
we have to be careful that only one
girl from each Office on the post is
taken for KIP duty at time. Often
L receive calls from the officers in
charge OF the various sections de-
clarlng that they can't possibly
spare the girls for KIP. MY only
answer is that there is no way to
release the girls from that duty"
In the kitchen, two girls washing
dishes were pointed out to me as
typical examples of the cross Sec
ton Of American women who have
been attracted to the soon-to-be
Womens Army Corps. One girl was
a recent graduate of Wellesley Col
lege and the other was a grand
mother whom everyone calls Ma"
Service In the mess hall is cafe
terra style. We had hardly begun
our meal when terrific storm be-
gan, lasting just long enough for
the ground to become a slushy
| mire.
The WAC officer fixed me up in
an Army raincoat and 1t. Shimonek.
1t. Smallwood and I started out
for Chapel No. to watch rehearsals
for the performance of Gilbert and
Sullivan's "Pinafore," scheduled
for the latter part OF September.
After observing the rehearsal in
which both WACS and soldiers
were participating, we went to one
OF the service clubs where q dance
was being held. I noticed very few
WACS present and wondered why.
Most of the WACS here are
either married or have their own
boy friends by now" 1t. Shimonek
explained. I'VE have been here since
the middle Of March and with 2e,-
600 men on the post and only 300
WACS, that's not strange. When
company of soldiers calls and in
vites 100 WACS to attend a dance,
we have hard time getting Is girls
to CO."
When we had retired to our quar-
tiers, 1t. Shimonek said, Would you
like to get up for reveille and watch
us practice for the retreat parade
Friday night? You'll have to get
up at $50 though"
heard the alarm at $50 but de-
cided I needed a little more rest.
When the lieutenant came into my
room, I didn't open my eyes but lay
there wondering just how she would
try to wake me up. Suddenly the
lights went on. I opened my eyes |
rather startled as she said, This is
how we do it in the Army"
An Army lieutenant was out on
the field to drill the girls. For 20
minutes he barked orders at them
and after they had gone to mess, he
came up to us rather proudly and
exclaimed, They're doing all right,
aren't they?"
1t. Shimoney then took me
through the barracks. 1t was sheet
day and the bedding was rolled up
for airing and new linen. In one of
the barracks two auxiliaries sat with
the most woe-begone faces I have
ever seen