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1 Introduction We had classes in military organization, how t o salute , how t o march . "Tak e 3 0 steps, " barke d th e dril l ser geant . "Fal l in! Dress right! Fall out! Dress right dress! Clean the latrine! Polish the shoes! Make the cot! Police the area ! Reveille ! Retreat ! Mes s Call ! Mai l Call ! Straighten those shoulders! Belly in! Hut two! Whatever made you blankety blankety women think you could be soldiers ?" — Gertrude LaVigne World Wa r I I marke d a turnin g poin t i n th e statu s o f racia l minorities an d wome n i n th e U.S . armed services . The natur e o f the conflict challenge d existin g forms o f social stratification i n th e Army, as well as in other American institutions. Previous militar y restrictions place d o n rac e wer e lifte d a s a resul t o f th e Selectiv e Service Trainin g Ac t o f 1940 , an d Africa n America n me n wer e recruited fo r th e wa r effor t i n greate r number s tha n i n previou s wars. They also served in a greater variety of military assignments. Opportunities fo r wome n were also expanding, beginning wit h the establishment of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC ) in Marc h 1942 . Th e WAA C wa s converte d t o th e WAC , o r Women's Arm y Corps , in 1943 , giving women ful l militar y bene fits . Th e Wome n Accepte d fo r Voluntee r Emergenc y Servic e (WAVES) wa s institute d i n Jul y 1942 , an d th e Marin e Corp s enrolled wome n i n Februar y 1943 . Ther e wa s n o separat e ai r force in the American military during World War II, but rather a n Army Air Corps, which was part of the War Department. Indeed , 1 2 Introduction the fortie s witnesse d a movemen t launche d b y th e U.S . War De partment t o recrui t larg e number s o f wome n int o th e militar y t o contribute to the war effort . Until Worl d Wa r I I Africa n America n wome n wer e virtuall y excluded fro m militar y service . Althoug h severa l attempte d t o participate i n World Wa r I , only eightee n wer e accepte d fo r dut y in th e Arm y Nurse s Corps. 1 Durin g Worl d Wa r II , b y contrast , African America n wome n wer e accepte d int o th e Women's Arm y Auxiliary Corp s a s soo n a s i t wa s founded , largel y becaus e o f pressure placed on the War Department b y black political organi zations demandin g racia l equality . Blac k activist s monitore d closely th e Wa r Department' s plan s fo r developin g a women' s corps; thus , whe n i t wa s reveale d tha t a Texan , Ovet a Cul p Hobby, wa s appointe d a s directo r o f th e WAAC , the y proteste d the appointmen t o n th e ground s tha t Hobby , becaus e o f he r southern background , woul d discriminat e agains t African Ameri can women. After Hobb y allocated forty o f the first officer traine e slots t o Africa n America n women , blac k oppositio n t o he r ap pointment tapere d off.2 Independent o f the efforts o f black political organizations , Africa n America n wome n als o participate d i n feminist venture s to gain public acceptance of a women's militar y corps. (Example s o f thes e effort s ar e discusse d a t lengt h i n chapters 2 and 3. ) Most Africa n America n wome n wh o serve d i n th e militar y during th e wa r joine d th e U.S . Army, becaus e th e othe r service s categorically refuse d t o admi t them . The Navy , fo r example , di d not begi n...

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