HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2022-4658
HR 4658
ByRepresentative Bateman
WHEREAS, The Women's Army Corps (WAC) was the women's branch of the United States Army, created as an auxiliary unit in May of 1942 and converted to full status as the WAC in 1943; and
WHEREAS, These women faced opposition by both the conservative leadership of the Army and general public opinion; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 150,000 American women served in World War II, the first women, other than nurses, to serve in the Army; and
WHEREAS, These groundbreaking women were highly valued by generals such as General Douglas MacArthur and General Dwight Eisenhower who said, "their contributions in efficiency, skill, spirit and determination are immeasurable"; and
WHEREAS, Other branches of the United States military had women's units including the Navy (WAVES), the Coast Guard (SPARS), the (civilian) Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), and Women in Air Force (WAF); and
WHEREAS, The WAC disbanded in 1978, allowing women to serve in the same units alongside the men; and
WHEREAS, Women have only been allowed in or near combat situations since 1994, when United States Defense Secretary Les Aspin ordered the removal of "substantial risk of capture" from the list of grounds for excluding women from certain military units; and
WHEREAS, Women who served our country through these long years deserve our respect and gratitude both for their contributions to our military and for the furtherance of women's rights and equality in the United States; and
WHEREAS, June 12, 2022, will mark the 74th anniversary of the groundbreaking Women's Armed Services Integration Act, signed into law by President Harry S. Truman on June 12, 1948;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives join in acknowledging the anniversary of this day in recognition of the courageous service of women in the military.
I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of
Resolution 4658 adopted by the House of Representatives
February 25, 2022
__________________________
Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk