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First Negro WAC Officers Integrated In Regular ArmyWASHINGTON, D. C.—The second group of women selected for commissions in the Women's Army Corps, Regular Army, was announced by the Department of the Army last week. The 93 women, including two Negro officers, were recently approved by the President.The Negro officers, who become the first to receive Regular Army commissions in the Women’s Army Corps, are Captain Bernice G. Hughes, 502 E. Market Street, Xenia, Ohio, and First Lieutenant Minnie P. Patterson, 939 Long-wood Avenue, New York City.Captain Hughes, the present commanding officer of Company “B”, first battalion, WAC Training Center at Camp Lee, Virginia, will be sworn into the Regular Army with the rank of major and will become the second Negro field grade officer in the Women’s Army Corps. Major Harriet West is now serving as assistant post inspector at the Kitzingen Training Center in Germany.Major Hughes, a graduate of Ohio University and Ohio State University, was employed in the Dayton, Ohio, school system as a teacher of Romance languages before entering the service in 1942. She received her commission from the WAAC Officer Candidate School at Fort Des Moines, Iowa on May 17, 1943.She went overseas with the 6888th central Postal Directory Unit during the war and was promoted to captain while serving in the European Theatre of Operations. I^fore receiving her present assignment, she commanded a WAC Detachment at Fort Ord, California.Lieutenant Patterson entered the service following her graduation from Virginia State College in Petersburg, Virginia. She received her commission as a Third Officer, the rank equivalent to a second lieutenant, in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, on May 17, 1943. She will return to the Army from civilian lift to accept her Regular Army commission.
Newspaper Details
Phoenix Arizona Sun
Phoenix, Arizona, US
Fri, Apr 15, 1949
Page 1
Full Page
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USA 01 Jan 2025
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