AMERICAN W.A.C.’S

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 198, 19 May 1944, Page 6

AMERICAN W.A.C.’S

Welcomed In Sydney The first contingent of enlisted members of the United States Women’s Army Corps has arrived in Sydney. The hundreds of AV.A.C.’s, representing a crosssection of American women of all types and ages, consist mainly of clerks, stenographers, postal assistants, and some transport drivers, states the “Sydney Morning Herald.” Hundreds more will follow this contingent. Many of the AV.A.C.’s w’ore two rtbbbns—those of the Good Conduct Medal, and the medal awarded because they were original members of the AVomen’s Auxiliary Army Corps. Officers aud enlisted personnel alike—who have the same grade and rank,, and receive the same paj’ as U.S. Army men —disembarked wearing their full field ufliform. Over their uniforms, on which is the AV.A.C. insignia of the head of Pallas Athlene —Goddess of AVisdom and Victory—as well as the insignia of the branch of the army to which they are assigned, W.A.C.’s wore their waterproof greatcoats. They also wore their battle helmets and carried musette bags, canteen kits, water bottles, gas masks aud utility bags, most of the oddments being attached to the pistol belt. They wore soft tan leather lace-up ankle field boots, with rayon stockings rolled over the tops of the boots. The W.A.C.’s seem shorter and Stockier than Australian girls, and bowed down under the equipment thej’ seemed shorter still. Some of the enlisted personnel from Pennsylvania were only 4ft. lOin. in height, and were generally known as the "peewits.” The average age seemed about 28-30, and about 25 per cent, of the personnel is married. In addition to their Army uniforms aud gear, the girls brought with them, among other things, a valuable cargo of lipsticks; as rnanj’ stockings as they could carry in addition to their issue of eight pairs of rayon and four pairs of cotton; steel wool to clean their aluminium mess kits; starch to stiffen their collars; coat bangers; solid ean-de-colognc ("and we’ve left orders back home for 51b; blocks to be sent if possible”); and photographs galore.