Gladice Venita White
W.A.A.C,s Nov 9 1942
History and links of the women that served.


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American Campaign

Their country called and they served!
100,000 WACs, 86,000 WAVES, 18,000 women Marines, 11,000 SPARS, 57,000 Army nurses and 11,000 Navy nurses on active duty.

The Women 's Army Auxiliary Corps

Early in 1941 Congresswoman Edith Nourse Rogers of Massachusetts met with General George C. Marshall, the Army's Chief of Staff, and informed him that she intended to introduce a bill to establish an Army women's corps, separate and distinct from the existing Army Nurse Corps.

The Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was established to work with the Army, "for the purpose of making available to the national defense the knowledge, skill, and special training of the women of the nation." The Army would provide up to 150,000 "auxiliaries" with food, uniforms, living quarters, pay, and medical care. Women officers would not be allowed to command men. The Director of the WAAC was assigned the rank of major. WAAC first, second, and third officers served as the equivalents of captains and lieutenants in the Regular Army, but received less pay than their male counterparts of similar rank. To learn more please visit The Women's Army Corps.

At the end of WW II there were approximately 12 million people in the US armed forces including 280,000 women. By the summer of 1945 there were nearly 100,000 WACs, 86,000 WAVES, 18,000 women Marines, 11,000 SPARS, 57,000 Army nurses and 11,000 Navy nurses on active duty. More than 350,000 women had served in the military during the war.
American Women and the Military





Gladice Venita White during the 2nd WW enlisted in the W.A.A.C,s Nov 9 1942. She was first stationed at Des Moines, Iowa for further training where she was attached to the Manhatten Engineers. The next move was to Oak Ridge, Tenn and finally was transfered to Los Almas, New mexico. During her services she required the rank of Sargent.

She was sighted the Good Conduct Medal, Victory Medal, American Theater Medal, W.A.A.C Service Ribbon and the Mentorious Service Award.

She was discharged from the service Nov 9 1945 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

As reported in Wynnewood Newspaper:

Miss Venita White, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. H. White, was sworn in as a member of the woman's auxillary army corps Wednesday in Oklahoma City, will be sent to Fort Des Moines, Iowa, for her training. The Great Granddaughter of Cyrus Harris, first Governor of the Chickasaw nation, Miss White is one-eight Chickasaw.

One of the main reasons why she offered her services in the WAACd, Miss White says, is because she had two nephews in the battle for the Phillippnes. Homer Bailey, Ardmore, US Coast Artilery, who was wounded in action May 2 during the fall of Corregidor, and Major Young Parker of the U.S. Air Corps, who was stationed at Nichois field at the out break of the war. When last heard from Feb 7 was on the island of Cebu, in the Phillippines.

Nephew of Miss Venita White:

James Young Parker graduated from the United States Military Academy West Point in June 1937. Continous military career untill May 1967. James Parker was serving in the United States Air Corps at Nichols Field, Phillippines Islands at the outbreak of WW 2. He was taken prisoner by the Japenese in May 1942. Returned to the U.S. from Japan in October 1945.

He retired from the U.S. Air Force, Carswell A.F.B. Ft. Worth, Texas May 1, 1967. He held the rank of Colonel with the Legion of merit with 1 oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart, Asia Pacific Campaign Ribbon, Phillippine Defense Campaign Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation with 3 oak leaf clusters and numerous other ribbons.

Links and Information

For information on the Victory Medal and the American Campaign Medal...
US Army Awards and Decorations

For information on the WAAC Service Ribbon..
WW2 U.S. Campaign Medals

Fort Des Moines Memorial Park