12 JUNE 1948 - WOMEN'S ARMED SERVICES INTEGRATION ACT
Like its counterparts in the other services, the Women's Army Corps (WAC) had been intended to exist only until six months after the end of World War II.
Like its counterparts in the other services, the Women's Army Corps (WAC) had been intended to exist only until six months after the end of World War II.
Efforts to keep the separate female corps in the services during peace time resulted in passage of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, which was signed into law by President Harry S. Truman on 12 June 1948.
Although women served with the Army since the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) in 1942, and the Women's Army Corps (WAC) in 1943, it was not permanent. When President Truman signed the 1948 legislation, the WAC became a permanent corps of the Regular Army and Army Reserve.
Women finally had most of the benefits men had, except Congress set ceilings on the percentage of women in uniform and the number who could be Army lieutenant colonels and colonels and Navy commanders and captains.
Women officers were prohibited from being generals or admirals until President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Public Law 90-130 on 8 November 1967, which removed the restrictions on promotion of female officers to flag rank.
The U.S. Army promoted the first women officers to brigadier general on 11 June 1970—Anna Mae Hays, Chief of the Army Nurse Corps, and Elizabeth P. Hoisington, Director of the Women's Army Corps.
Women's Army Corps (WAC) members held regular rank, and received the same pay and most benefits as the men. The WAC also became part of the Army National Guard in 1967.
#Armyhistory #USArmy #TRADOC #Equality #WomensHistory #armywomensmuseum
#Armyhistory #USArmy #TRADOC #Equality #WomensHistory #armywomensmuseum
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