WAC veteran reminisces about her service to her country

7th November 2011   ·   0 Comments

By Kelly Parker
Contributing Writer

As Veterans’ Day approaches, we honor and celebrate the heroism of those who have served our country, both men and women.

The history of women in the military extends many decades into the past, throughout a vast number of cultures and societies, in which women have taken on an array of roles. These roles over the years have changed tremendously. But how many of us know the origin of the journey and how far women have come as members of the armed services?

Edith Nourse Rogers, Congress-woman from Massachusetts, in­tro­duced the first bill to establish a women’s auxiliary in May 1941, and in May 1942, Congress approved the creation of a Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) later known as the Women’s Army Corps.

Over 150,000 American women served in the (WAC) during World War II, making them the first women other than nurses to serve within the ranks of the United States Army.

To better tell the story, one could look to New Orleans resident Luvenia Breaux, who enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps at the age of 24.

“I was a very inquisitive young woman,” Breaux, now 94 years old, told The Louisiana Weekly. “I really joined for the opportunity to see the world and broaden my horizons. My mother and father were not rich people and I had no money to travel, so I saw this as an opportunity to see the world.”

Five training centers were opened within a year. The first at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, the second at Centers that followed were in Daytona Beach, Florida, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, and at Camp Ruston, Louisiana. Breaux was stationed at Fort Des Moines.

“It was pleasant that night,” she recalls of her trip; heading to Des Moines. ‘The temperature (here in New Orleans) may have been around 70 degrees; it wasn’t cold at all.” We got to Des Moines; it was about 15 below and getting colder.”

The first officer candidate training class of 440 women started a six-week course at Fort Des Moines. Of the class, which included Breaux, 40 were African American. Though the women were in a new environment, segregation remained present. Although they attended classes and mess with the other officer candidates, post facilities such as service clubs, theaters, and beauty shops were segregated, despite having similar educational backgrounds as fellow white candidates. Almost 80 percent had attended college, and the majority had work experience as teachers and office workers.

“When went in, there were very few Black women going in and it was loud and clear that (we ) were not wanted.” She recalled. “One requirement was a character reference — from someone like a minister, or attorney; this was something I believed wasn’t necessary for white women who joined.”

Applicants had to be United States citizens between the ages of 21 and 45 with no dependents, be at least five feet tall, and weigh 100 pounds or more. Over 35,000 women from all over the country initially applied for less than 1,000 anticipated positions.

“American servicewomen performed highly technical noncombatant duties, contributing to victory on both collective and individual levels including clerks, typists, radio operators, cryptologists, photographers, stenographers, laboratory technicians, drivers, and contract terminators,” National WWII Museum Senior Director of History and Research, Keith Huxen said. “In 1943, the Women’s Army Corps was officially formed, removing them from auxiliary status and placing them into the regular U.S. Army. “

“We were the women that could do the job,” Breaux says. “We were driving trucks-we did everything. I was trained as a barber and beautician, but I also worked as a cook. I trained for nursing care along with that. We were trained to do many things, and we would often wind up doing much more.”

Though her time as a WAC was brief, it wasn’t short of great memories. During physical training, Breaux was motioned by the company commander to step out of formation and salute a man in a wheelchair. “I stood there, and he gave me a motion to salute, which I did, because I liked doing that,” she laughs. “I didn’t know who the man was, until we broke rank and my company commander told me later on: ‘The man you saluted was your boss-that was President.’ I couldn’t believe it was President Roosevelt.”

As a member of the WAC, she also got the chance to meet one of the Crescent City’s most noted musical ambassadors. While in Louisville, Kentucky, she was called onto the stage during a performance at a ball, by Louis Armstrong.

“I had the privilege of meeting him personally,” she states. “I was introduced to the audience as his ‘homegirl.’ “He was a very nice man; never got out of place or out of line. I thought a lot of him.”

The WAC as a branch was disbanded in 1978. Women serving as WACs at that time converted their branches to whatever Military Occupational Specialty they were working in. Since then, women in the U.S. Army have served in the same units as men, though they have only been allowed in or near combat situations since 1994. This chance may not have been given if it weren’t for trailblazers like Luvenia Breaux, and the members of the Women’s Army Corps.

Breaux returned to New Orleans, married and raised five children, and has no regrets of her choice to join the (WAC). She hopes that young people today see the benefits of life in the military.

“I would recommend the military for any young person that may be confused about life and not know which turn to take,” she says. “It’s a good remedy for discipline in life. I have no regrets whatsoever about joining.”

This article was originally published in the November 7, 2011 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper