Posted on Jan 28, 2015
Does anyone recognize these relatively rare branch insignia?
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I always thought the WAC was a WWII organization . . . but I recently met a Vietnam ERA WAC on RP!!! :)
The WAC had its own branch insignia (the Bust of Pallas Athena) . . . worn by "Branch Immaterial" personnel (those unassigned to a Branch of Service). US Army policy decreed that technical and professional WAC personnel should wear their assigned Branch of Service insignia to reduce confusion.
The first WAC officer assigned to Vietnam in March 1962 was Major Anne Marie Doering. Two WAC advisors to the Vietnam Women's Army Forces Corps were next to arrive in January 1965 - Lt. Col. Kathleen I. Wilkes and master Sergeant Betty L. Adams. They were replaced annually. A WAC detachment with an average strength of 90 enlisted women was located at HQ, US Army, Vietnam, Long Binh, approximately 20 miles from Saigon. The detachment remained there from January 1967 until October 1972 when all US troops began to withdraw form Vietnam. Many enlisted women and WAC officers also served at General Westmoreland's headquarters in Saigon throughout this same period.
Warmest Regards, Sandy
o http://www.armywomen.org/award.shtml
o http://www.armywomen.org/wacHistory.shtml
o http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_Army_Corps
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-NI8JQW8bQ
The WAC had its own branch insignia (the Bust of Pallas Athena) . . . worn by "Branch Immaterial" personnel (those unassigned to a Branch of Service). US Army policy decreed that technical and professional WAC personnel should wear their assigned Branch of Service insignia to reduce confusion.
The first WAC officer assigned to Vietnam in March 1962 was Major Anne Marie Doering. Two WAC advisors to the Vietnam Women's Army Forces Corps were next to arrive in January 1965 - Lt. Col. Kathleen I. Wilkes and master Sergeant Betty L. Adams. They were replaced annually. A WAC detachment with an average strength of 90 enlisted women was located at HQ, US Army, Vietnam, Long Binh, approximately 20 miles from Saigon. The detachment remained there from January 1967 until October 1972 when all US troops began to withdraw form Vietnam. Many enlisted women and WAC officers also served at General Westmoreland's headquarters in Saigon throughout this same period.
Warmest Regards, Sandy
o http://www.armywomen.org/award.shtml
o http://www.armywomen.org/wacHistory.shtml
o http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_Army_Corps
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-NI8JQW8bQ
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Women in the Military
Edited 11 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 24
Great share 1LT Sandy Annala! There is a rich history of women in the military and each day it seems another piece of our/their contribution becomes known.
There were WACs at Ft Jackson when I was there in the sixties but not very many. Mostly they worked in administrative jobs. There was also a WAC training unit on base.
They changed that insignia to a different one in 1978 when I was trained at fort McClellan. The one they gave me looked like this one it was called the pallas of athena. If you look at the far left you will see the Pallas of Athena went threw a round flat piece of brass like the other ones.( Guess I need to buy some brasso) Our group was told we would be the last ones given those when I first got there. And then we were informed that we would be doing basic training to be integrated with men and we were pushed very hard to be sure women could do it. We did the M16 & M60's grenades the law and all. To carry packs that weighed up to 60lbs into the Ft McClellan, Alabama mountains. I was asked to give my cress to the library museum but my children want them and what my family has dealt with they deserve them.
CPT Vera Larry
I was also a WAC in 1978 and received the Pallas Athene insignia when I completed basic training at Ft. McClellan. We were told we would be some of the last WACs. I had planned on keeping my insignia by it was stolen along with a couple of other unit crests from some deactivated units from my household goods during one of my PCS moves. I have never been able to acquire another because they are so rare now.
1LT Sandy Annala, I put this narrative and these photos on another discussion thread, but as they pertain particularly to the Women's Army Corps, I thought this would be another good discussion thread in which to include them.
At Fort McClellan, AL (home of the Women's Army Corps) is Clarke Park, named for MG Mary E. Clarke, who was last director of the Women's Army Corps (WAC) and was the first woman to attain the rank of major general in the United States Army. Photos taken on 21AUG11 (but for MG Clarke's official photo).
At Fort McClellan, AL (home of the Women's Army Corps) is Clarke Park, named for MG Mary E. Clarke, who was last director of the Women's Army Corps (WAC) and was the first woman to attain the rank of major general in the United States Army. Photos taken on 21AUG11 (but for MG Clarke's official photo).
While others have firmly answered the question, I just have to say that Athena is the symbol is brilliant.
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