The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 93, July 1989 - April, 1990 Page: 63
598 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
WAACs in Texas
with the outlines of a hay loft. This structure, now to be "home," in
peacetime had been the boys gym, which had been divided horizontally
allowing for an additional floor to house us.
Open wall-shelving had been installed to hold our smaller belong-
ings; there were free-standing clothing racks for our uniforms and iron
beds for our nighttime comfort. The rooms were barn-like in size, with
one bathroom serving two bedrooms.
We had six women to a room. When four of the women in my dor-
mitory were reassigned, it left me and a friend, Virginia McLaughlin,
in spacious luxury until she was lodged elsewhere and I was alone. On
Sundays I tossed my clothes and accessories helter skelter in careless
delight, for on Monday morning the room had to look strictly G.I.!
With the glow of a gracious reception and a view from the campus of
graceful plantation-style homes, there was an atmosphere of wealth,
spaciousness, and lush greenery. The general look of the town, in con-
trast to Fort Oglethorpe and Chattanooga, suggested that this was a
private school for the pampered offspring of oil millionaires. We found
that we were not required to do KP, our laundry was taken care of for
us, there were civilian cooks, and male college students were to serve
our meals. We ate from tin army trays but enjoyed the luxury of paper
napkins! Napkins? We hadn't seen any since leaving New York!
In my initial communication from Nacogdoches to my family I re-
layed all this news and the fact that, after Fort Oglethorpe, this was all
too rich for my blood! My new title and address were: Auxiliary First
Class Clarice M. Fortgang, Company B. WAAC Branch #1, Army Ad-
ministration School, Nacogdoches, Texas.
The course at Administration School consisted of fifty-two subjects
that required from one to twelve hours each of instruction. My nose
was going to be to the grindstone since I had neither a photographic
mind nor a methodical style. I had a system of study in which I com-
mitted the answers to memory by repetition or association while in lone
retreat. We were cautioned that even-with hard work not everyone
would make the grade, and in that case there were other occupational
needs to be filled in the service.
The teaching staff at Nacogdoches included an assortment of color-
ful personalities on campus and in class. Their habits of expression
were highly individual. For instance, Lieutenant Harrington read all
his lessons to us from a notebook, which kept him one page ahead of
us. With the delivery of a Boy Scout leader giving instructions to an
eager troop, he shouted his lessons phrase by phrase from his notes.
When he misread, he called out "Hold the phone!" or "Wait a minute!"
and recounted the correct version of the message with one arm raised
in the air, index finger pointing at the stars!
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 93, July 1989 - April, 1990, periodical, 1990; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101213/m1/89/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.