Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-03
BY RUTH DEAN

nate of the Women's Army
Corps.
Five-feet-two 1t. Col. Mary
Louise Milligan will take over
her new duties on January 3.
On that date, the lieutenant
colonel will be sworn in as di-
rector of approximately 5000
Army women, succeeding Col.
Irene o. Galloway, who is
completing the usual four
year tour of duty in that post.
Even short meeting with
Col. Milligan reveals she must
not only be an easy person to
work for and with, but one
who commands respect as well.
She moves with a swift step
and economy of motion. Her
conversation, even when in a
serious vein, is punctuated
with smiles and anecdotes that
reveal her love of people and
her adaptability to the de-
mands of service life.
The 45-year-old former
Pittsburgh school principal
whose present career dates
from 1912 when the Women's
Auxiliary Army Corps was
activated at Fort Des Moines,
Iowa, sees her future duties
divided between manning a
Pentagon desk and inspec-
ton trips to WAC attachments
in the United States. Europe,
Hawaii, Japan and OkinaWa.
FavOrs of Field Trips
Her job will be an advisory
one ito see how WACs are be-
ing utilized, housed and adj
minstrel" which it will be
her duty to report to the
Army's top command. FIRE.
quent field trips she thinks are
imperative because to give
the wiseSt advice. you must
know them (the WACs under
her commando and know what
they are doing"
Col. Milligan is no stranger
to Washington. She was dep
uty WAC director here from
1947 to 1852.
For the last four years. she
has been WAC staff officer
for the United States Army in
Europe. with headquarters in
Heidelberg. Germany. More
recently, she has been sta
toned at Continental Army
Command headquarters at Fort
Monroe. Va, in the replace
ment training division of
operations, doing a job that
affects both the men and
women in the Army.
The fact that her more re-
cent job recognizes her ability
not Just as a woman officer
but as an Army officer, Col.
Milligan says, illustrates the
most significant trend she has
noted in her 14-year service
career.
Women have now become
an integral part of the Army"
she pointed out. recalling how
different it was during World
War II. when we were con-
sidered only as an auxiliary"
Accepted Now
1.-THE biggest thing I've seen
is the actual acceptance by the
men in the Army of women in
the Army" she observed. THE
fact that womanpower can be
utilized and is being utilized
well is accepted. It's not a
question now of asking, shall
we see if a woman can do
this type of work?' 1t is an
accepted fact that she can
and does work side by side
with the men in the same job
classification"
The preSent-day WAC is no
different from her wartime
sister. in that both were mo-
tivated to Join by a desire to
serve their country, Col. Milli-
gan pointed out. But whereas
the wartime WAC in a good
many instances was the older
woman who returned to family
or school when the emergency
was over, today's WAC is the
younger woman who picks the
Army as a career.
A percentage of WACs
marry and leave the service
after the first years enlist
ment. Col. Milligan added, but
there are also those who, if
they marry Army men, stay in
the WAC to make the Army a
double family career.
Col. Milligan recalled one
such couple she knew in Ger
many. Married eight years,
they kept an unusual pact.
once each year, he would ask
his wife If she wanted to get
out Of the service. The answer
was always no and the sub
ject was never brought up