Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia

Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Home of the Third Women’s Army Corp Training Center. Between 1 January 1943 and 15 July 1945, Fort Oglethorpe was the home of the Third Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (later Women’s Army Corps) Training Center. Approximately 53,000 women entered basic training here and, after graduation, many stayed for additional training in specialist courses to become clerks, typists, cooks, bakers, military policewomen, drivers, medical technicians and medical clerks at Army posts around the world. Overseas training for WACS was conducted here between February 1943 and March 1945. The WAC Officer Candidate School was located at Fort Oglethorpe between August 1943 and February 1945, commissioned 876 women as Second Lieutenants in the WAC, Army of the United States. Lt. Col. Elizabeth C. Strayhorn, the first woman to command an Army training center, held the title of commandant of the Third WAC Training Center from 22 April 1944 until the center closed in 1945., Women from all over the United States who trained and served at Fort Oglethorpe enjoyed and admired Chickamauga Park and the nearby communities where they were received with hospitality and friendship.