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How Four Black Women Took On the Army During World War II: A Story of Courage, Discrimination, and Triumph

Bernard Powell

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Published in Glory In Their Spirit: How Four Black Women Took On The Army During World War II (Women Gender And Sexuality In American History)

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The four women were:

Charity Adams Earley: A 20-year-old from North Carolina who served as a clerk typist.
Gladys Davis Waddles: A 22-year-old from Virginia who served as a medical technician.
Elizabeth Jennings Graham: A 20-year-old from Georgia who served as a dental assistant.
Harriet Ida Pickens: A 23-year-old from Tennessee who served as a dietitian.

The four women joined the Army in 1942, when the United States was facing a shortage of manpower. They were assigned to the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC),which was a separate branch of the Army for women.

The WAAC was not without its challenges. The women faced discrimination from white soldiers and officers. They were often assigned to menial tasks and were not given the same opportunities for promotion as white women.

Glory in Their Spirit: How Four Black Women Took On the Army during World War II (Women, Gender, and Sexuality in American History)

by Misty M. Beller

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	7053 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	258 pages

Despite the challenges, the four women persevered. They worked hard and proved that they were just as capable as their white counterparts. They served in a variety of roles, including clerks, typists, medical technicians, dental assistants, and dietitians.

In 1943, the WAAC was merged into the U.S. Army. The four women became the first African American women to serve in the regular Army.

They continued to face discrimination, but they also gained the respect of their fellow soldiers. They served with distinction until the end of the war.

The four women who served in the Army during World War II paved the way for other African American women to serve in the military. They showed that women of color were just as capable as white women of serving their country.

Their story is a reminder of the courage and determination of African American women in the face of discrimination and prejudice. It is a story that should be told and remembered.

African American women in World War II, Women in the military, Discrimination against women in the military, Courage and determination of African American women, History of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC)

Glory in Their Spirit: How Four Black Women Took On the Army during World War II (Women, Gender, and Sexuality in American History)

by Misty M. Beller

4.7 out of 5