The 32nd and 33rd Post Headquarters Companies were two all-black units of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), later becoming the Women's Army Corps (WAC). The two companies were incorporated by fall of 1942 and consisted of 330 members total. They were the first group of WAACs assigned to a military installation inside the United States during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. The 32nd and 33rd were assigned to

Fort Huachuca Fort Huachuca is a United States Army installation, established on 3 March 1877 as Camp Huachuca. The garrison is now under the command of the United States Army Installation Management Command. It is in Cochise County in southeast Arizona, appr ...

, where there was an all-black division of U.S. Army men.

History

The 32nd and 33rd Post Headquarters Companies started out as Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC). When the WAACs changed to WAC, many of the black women who had joined stayed on as WACs. The black women enlisted in the WAACs started out in Fort Des Moines, Iowa, for training, and where they lived in segregated conditions from the white WAACs. The 32nd and 33rd Post Headquarters Companies arrived at

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

on 4 December 1942. The WAACs arrived by five Pullman cars and were greeted by approximately 10,000 welcomers at the station. A new unit, including six

barracks Barracks are usually a group of long buildings built to house military personnel or laborers. The English word originates from the 17th century via French and Italian from an old Spanish word "barraca" ("soldier's tent"), but today barracks are u ...

, two mess halls, and an administration building, was built in preparation for the women's arrival. A large recreation area for the WAACs was also built. This was about 500 feet long by 60 feet wide and included a

basketball court In basketball, the basketball court is the playing surface, consisting of a rectangular floor, with baskets at each end. Indoor basketball courts are almost always made of polished wood, usually maple, with -high rims on each basket. Outdoor sur ...

and places to play volleyball, softball and tennis. After getting off the train, the WAACs stood in formation for the post commander, Colonel Edwin N. Hardy to review the troops on the parade field. The primary duties of the 32nd and 33rd Post Headquarters Companies were to take over post support duties at Fort Huachuca from the 93rd Infantry Division, releasing them for "possible combat assignments." Jobs that the 32nd and 33rd companies took over included working as typists, stenographers, clerks, messengers,

receptionist A receptionist is an employee taking an office or administrative support position. The work is usually performed in a waiting area such as a lobby or front office desk of an organization or business. The title ''receptionist'' is attributed to ...

s, switch-board operators, librarians, medical technicians, photographers and postal clerks, who were also known to the male soldiers as "postal packin' mamas." The 32nd and 33rd Post Headquarters Companies had several officers, including Corrie Sherard, Frances C. Alexander, Geraldine Bright, Vera Harrison, Natalie F. Donaldson, Mildred L. Osby, and Violet Askins. Alexander was 2nd Lieutenant, and led the 32nd company. Mary Kearney, 2nd Lieutenant was commander of the 33rd. The companies served until late 1945, when they were disbanded.

References

External links

Members of the 32nd and 33rd playing basketball
(image) {{Authority control Numbered companies of the United States Army Sustainment and support units and formations of the United States Army Military units and formations of the United States Army in World War II African-American history of the United States military Military units and formations established in 1942 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945 African-American women's organizations