Women's Army Auxiliary Corps and related media

Replay
Next Video
More Videos

Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (3:13)

May 14, 1943, marked the first anniversary of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC). The Women's Army Corps, a U.S. army organization created during World War II to enlist women as auxiliaries for noncombatant duty in the U.S. army. Before 1943 it was known as the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps. Its first director was Oveta Culp Hobby. During World War II, WACs served as medical technicians, cartography clerks, secretaries, and the like in the United States and in all the theaters of war. Almost 100,000 had joined the WAC by 1945. Enlistment ended with the war's end, and rapid demobilization followed. But by 1946 the War Department asked for reenlistments to meet shortages in army hospitals and personnel centers. In 1948 a bill was passed by Congress formally establishing the WAC within the regular army. The WAC was dissolved in 1978.

Watch Similar Videos

Related Videos (10)

  • Women's Army Auxiliary Corps
    Women's Army Auxiliary Corps

    Video Clip (3:13)

    May 14, 1943, marked the first anniversary of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC). The Women's Army Corps, a U.S. army organization created during World War II to enlist women as auxiliaries for noncombatant duty in the U.S. army. Before 1943 it was known as the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps. Its first director was Oveta Culp Hobby. During World War II, WACs served as medical technicians, cartography clerks, secretaries, and the like in the United States and in all the theaters of war. Almost 100,000 had joined the WAC by 1945. Enlistment ended with the war's end, and rapid demobilization followed. But by 1946 the War Department asked for reenlistments to meet shortages in army hospitals and personnel centers. In 1948 a bill was passed by Congress formally establishing the WAC within the regular army. The WAC was dissolved in 1978.

    Video Clip (3:13)
  • Women in the Cockpit
    Women in the Cockpit

    Video Clip (3:52)

    Dawn Letson befriended a World War II veteran who was a member of the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program, and shares her films from WASP training camp.

    Video Clip (3:52)
  • USS Laffey Under Attack
    USS Laffey Under Attack

    Video Clip (1:47)

    What was it like to be onboard an American military ship under attack during World War II? Find out firsthand with a behind-the-scenes account from a serviceman on the USS Laffey who lived to tell the story. From "Hero Ships."

    Video Clip (1:47)
  • Hollywood Stars Entertain Troops
    Hollywood Stars Entertain Troops

    Video Clip (2:55)

    This USO History Channel video shows Danny Kaye entertaining the World War II soldiers. Other USO show performers mentioned were Dick Powell, Dale Evans, and Yvonne DeCarlo. USO stands for United Services Organization.

    Video Clip (2:55)
  • Battle 360: Floating City of Steel
    Battle 360: Floating City of Steel

    Video Clip (1:50)

    In this Battle 360 video, we get to take a look at the floating city of steel known as the USS Enterprise. In this short, you will realize just how dominant this aircraft holder really is. It has the ability to blast planes out of the sky as well.

    Video Clip (1:50)
  • Killer Balloons of World War II
    Killer Balloons of World War II

    Video Clip (3:05)

    See and hear how the Japanese had a secret weapon in development during WWII that was designed to carry bombs to the US mainland. The Japanese secret weapon was the balloon bomb. Learn more at History.com.

    Video Clip (3:05)
  • Movie Star Clark Gable Enlists
    Movie Star Clark Gable Enlists

    Video Clip (0:42)

    This Clark Gable History Channel video follows his experience after joining the army during World War II. His wife, Carole Lombard, had just died in a plane crash while traveling the country pitching war bonds.

    Video Clip (0:42)
  • Yale's Students of War
    Yale's Students of War

    Video Clip (1:41)

    In this History Channel video, learn how the United States Army took over American Universities. At Yale University, for example, three thousand officer cadets come to complete their training for the Air Force.

    Video Clip (1:41)
  • Aircraft Carrier Joins U.S. Fleet
    Aircraft Carrier Joins U.S. Fleet

    Video Clip (0:41)

    The U.S.S. WASP joins the fleet of active aircraft carriers for the U.S. Navy. The ship shown in the clip was the seventh ship to bear the name WASP for the Navy.

    Video Clip (0:41)
  • Kenneth M. Taylor at Pearl Harbor
    Kenneth M. Taylor at Pearl Harbor

    Video Clip (4:02)

    During the attack on Pearl Harbor WWII veteran Kenneth Taylor led an air assault against the Japanese.

    Video Clip (4:02)

Related Speeches & Audio (10)

  • Eyewitness Account of Hiroshima Bombing
    Eyewitness Account of Hiroshima Bombing

    Audio Clip (3:34)

    In an interview for the United States Strategic Bombing Survey in December 1945, Kaleria Palchikoff Drago, a Russian immigrant living in Japan, gives an eyewitness account of August 6, 1945, when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

    Audio Clip (3:34)
  • U.S. Goals in World War II
    U.S. Goals in World War II

    Audio Clip (0:31)

    In his speech delivered July 23, 1942, Secretary of State Cordell Hull explains the aims of the United States in World War II.

    Audio Clip (0:31)
  • War Report on B-29 Use
    War Report on B-29 Use

    Audio Clip (2:36)

    Brig. Gen. H.S. Hansell delivers a report in June 1944 on American B-29 bomber strikes against Germany and Japan.

    Audio Clip (2:36)
  • FDR War Report to Congress
    FDR War Report to Congress

    Audio Clip (1:58)

    See this moving video of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech to Congress describing the United State's circumstance and the Nazi's eventual downfall.

    Audio Clip (1:58)
  • Allies Liberate Bastogne
    Allies Liberate Bastogne

    Audio Clip (1:27)

    In a broadcast on December 29, 1944, Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe recounts the 101st Airborne’s victory against overwhelming odds at Bastogne, Belgium.

    Audio Clip (1:27)
  • U.S. Celebrates Liberation of Paris
    U.S. Celebrates Liberation of Paris

    Audio Clip (1:29)

    On August 25, 1944, Germany surrenders Paris, ending four years of occupation. In a radio broadcast, Jennings Randolph, a West Virginia congressman, sends his congratulations to the French people.

    Audio Clip (1:29)
  • General Patton's Homecoming
    General Patton's Homecoming

    Audio Clip (0:35)

    On June 9, 1945, Los Angeles honored Gen. George S. Patton with a homecoming parade upon his return from Europe after Germany’s surrender. In an address at the City Hall ceremonies, Gen. Patton, in his trademark colorful language, describes the destruction wrought by the Eighth Air Force and Third Army.

    Audio Clip (0:35)
  • Douglas MacArthur Receives the Japanese Surrender
    Douglas MacArthur Receives the Japanese Surrender

    Audio Clip (1:21)

    On September 2, 1945, aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay, World War II comes to a close when Japanese officials sign the unconditional surrender. Gen. Douglas MacArthur presides over the signing and delivers a short speech on the momentous occasion.

    Audio Clip (1:21)
  • Reagan Speaks on 40th Anniversary of D-Day
    Reagan Speaks on 40th Anniversary of D-Day

    Audio Clip (0:41)

    On June 6, 1984, in Normandy, France, President Ronald Reagan honors the heroes of D-Day, a pivotal moment during World War II.

    Audio Clip (0:41)
  • General MacArthur Dismissed
    General MacArthur Dismissed

    Audio Clip (1:30)

    In the April 27, 1951, episode of the radio program "Hear It Now," Edward R. Murrow relays the story of Gen. Douglas MacArthur's dismissal and the resulting arguments in Congress. Many Republicans claimed MacArthur was the victim of a smear campaign, including Sen. Richard Nixon, who is heard making accusations against the Pentagon.

    Audio Clip (1:30)

Most Popular Videos on History.com

More videos

Newest Videos on History.com

More videos

Related Multimedia

Shop HISTORY

See More