Leesburg in Lake County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

WAVES / WAC

— Leesburg Veterans Memorial Park —

Photographed By Brandon D Cross

1. WAVES / WAC Memorial

Inscription.

WAVES, also, WAC. . WAVES Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service. The woman’s branch of the United States Navy was established on 30 July 1942 by President Roosevelt this authorized the U.S. Navy to accept women into the Naval Reserve as commissioned officers and at the enlisted level effective for the duration of the war plus six months the purpose of the law was to release officers and men for sea duty and replace them with women in shore establishments., Mildred McAfee, President of Wellesley College became the first director of the WAVES. She was commissioned a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy on 3 August 1942 and later promoted to captain., The age for officer candidates was between 20 and 49, with a college degree, or two years of college and two years of equivalent professional or business experience. The Navy’s indoctrination for officers was held at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts and enlisted members were trained at Hunter College in the Bronx, New York., Waves served at 900 shore stations in the United States. The Territory of Hawaii was the only overseas station staffed with WAVES on a permanent basis. Many officers entered fields previously held by men such as doctors and engineers. Enlisted women served in jobs from administrative and clerical to parachute riggers. The WAVES peak strength during the war was 86,291 members., WAC Women’s Army Corps. Over 150,000 American women served in the women’s Army Corps (WAC) during World War II. Members of the WAC were the first women other than the nurses within the ranks of the United States Army., Early in 1941 Congress Woman Edith Nourse Rogers of Massachusetts met with General George C. Marshal, the Army’s Chief of Staff and informed him that she intended to introduce a bill to establish an Army Woman’s Corps, separate and distinct from the existing Army Nurse Corp. The Army, however, did not want to accept women directly into it’s ranks., However, this was finally resolved and the original name was the Women’s Auxiliary Corps (WAC). This was later changed to the name WAC’s. They served all over the world and during world war two the Army acknowledged their contributions by issuing the following awards., Three WAC’s received the Air Medal. Ten women received the Soldiers Medal. Sixteen received the Purple Heart awarded during the V-1 bombings in London and the Bronze Star was awarded to 565 women for Meritorious Service overseas. A total of 657 WAC’s received medals and citations at the end of the war.

WAVES
Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service
The woman’s branch of the United States Navy was established on 30 July 1942 by President Roosevelt this authorized the U.S. Navy to accept women into the Naval Reserve as commissioned officers and at the enlisted level effective for the duration of the war plus six months the purpose of the law was to release officers and men for sea duty and replace them with women in shore establishments.

Mildred McAfee, President of Wellesley College became the first director of the WAVES. She was commissioned a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy on 3 August 1942 and later promoted to captain.

The age for officer candidates was between 20 and 49, with a college degree, or two years of college and two years of equivalent professional or business experience. The Navy’s indoctrination for officers was held at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts and enlisted members were trained at Hunter College in the Bronx, New York.

Waves served at 900 shore stations in the United States. The Territory of Hawaii was the only overseas station staffed with WAVES on a permanent basis. Many officers entered fields previously held by men such as doctors and engineers. Enlisted women served in jobs from administrative

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and clerical to parachute riggers. The WAVES peak strength during the war was 86,291 members.

WAC
Women’s Army Corps
Over 150,000 American women served in the women’s Army Corps (WAC) during World War II. Members of the WAC were the first women other than the nurses within the ranks of the United States Army.

Early in 1941 Congress Woman Edith Nourse Rogers of Massachusetts met with General George C. Marshal, the Army’s Chief of Staff and informed him that she intended to introduce a bill to establish an Army Woman’s Corps, separate and distinct from the existing Army Nurse Corp. The Army, however, did not want to accept women directly into it’s ranks.

However, this was finally resolved and the original name was the Women’s Auxiliary Corps (WAC). This was later changed to the name WAC’s. They served all over the world and during WWII the Army acknowledged their contributions by issuing the following awards.

Three WAC’s received the Air Medal. Ten women received the Soldiers Medal. Sixteen received the Purple Heart awarded during the V-1 bombings in London and the Bronze Star was awarded to 565 women for Meritorious Service overseas. A total of 657 WAC’s received medals and citations at the end of the war.

Erected by The Noon Rotary Club

WAVES / WAC Memorial (on left) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon D Cross

2. WAVES / WAC Memorial (on left)

of Leesburg.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: War, World II • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is July 30, 1942.

Location. 28° 48.824′ N, 81° 52.715′ W. Marker is in Leesburg, Florida, in Lake County. Memorial is at the intersection of Orange Avenue and West Line Street, on the right when traveling north on Orange Avenue. The marker is located in Veterans Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 600 W Meadow St, Leesburg FL 34748, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Nurse Corp[s] in WW II (here, next to this marker); Women Marines / Rosie the Riveter (here, next to this marker); Medal of Honor Recipients (within shouting distance of this marker); F. Brown Gregg (within shouting distance of this marker); Battlefield Cross (within shouting distance of this marker); Lake County Fallen Heroes (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Veterans of All Wars (approx. 3.7 miles away); The Casino (approx. 3.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Leesburg.

Also see . . .
1. Veterans Memorial at Fountain Park - Leesburg. (Submitted on May 14, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service: The WAVES Program in World War II

Veterans Memorial Park Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon D Cross

3. Veterans Memorial Park Sign

. (Submitted on May 14, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
3. Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC). (Submitted on May 14, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 14, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 47 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 14, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.