The Pittsburgh Press (October 30, 1941)
Women in the Army
By Mrs. Walter Ferguson
Women will soon be able to join the Army. If they are good at it, they may even get to be colonels. Lt. Gen. Delos C. Emmons, commander of the Air Force Combat Command, has announced that such recommendations have been made to Congress by the Air Corps through the War Department, and as many as 25,000 young women may become buck privates at least.
This war is beginning to make some sense. The movement for feminine freedom will take a tremendous surge if Congress does agree to the General’s proposals, and when has Congress opposed a General? Not for a long time, anyway.
If you are interested, girls, you may be glad to know that beauty and glamor are not necessary requirements. We have it from the General himself that while there are certain standard specifications, sex appeal will have no pull – at least on the application papers.
You must be in good health, able to speak plainly, and have a high school education. Your weight will have to be down and kept that way, and you should be fitted to work under intensive war conditions. Also watch out for your feet, because you’ll be using them a lot.
And – goody! – you’ll have a uniform. Already the dress designers are at work creating plans. And you will live in barracks and get paid, just as the boys do. Oh, yes. The General also says the uniforms are going to be very, very attractive.
The old girls must go on with volunteer jobs and no pay, but I’m glad to see the end of talk about women and children being protected by wars. It’s a trite lie, too often repeated in the history books and patriotic speeches.
In their wildest dreams of equality, I’m sure the pioneers of the feminist movement didn’t expect this. It marks a new high in woman’s power, and I trust the generals won’t live to regret their generosity.