SENATE RESOLUTION

8653

BySenators Randall and Nobles

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, The Executive Board of the Retired Public Employees Council of Washington has designated June 12th Women Veterans Day as a way to recognize the groundbreaking service of women in the military;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate, in recognition of the courageous service of these women, join the Retired Public Employees Council of Washington in celebrating the day.

I, Sarah Bannister, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8653,

adopted by the Senate

February 17, 2022

SARAH BANNISTER

Secretary of the Senate