The Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps
The Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was established to work with the Army, "for the purpose of making available to the national defense the knowledge, skill, and special training of the women of the nation." The Army would provide up to 150,000 "auxiliaries" with food, uniforms, living quarters, pay, and medical care at Fort Des Moines, Iowa.
Lt. Col. Charity Adams Earley — Commanding with Grace, Leading with Power
In 1942, a brilliant young woman from Wilberforce University made history at Fort Des Moines, answering the call to serve her country and her community. That woman was Charity Adams Earley, the first African American woman commissioned as an officer in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC).
She trained at Fort Des Moines, then went on to become the highest-ranking Black woman in the Army during World War II. Lt. Col. Adams Earley led the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion—the only all-Black, all-women battalion deployed overseas—tasked with clearing a massive backlog of mail to boost morale on the front lines. She did it in half the allotted time.
As a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Charity Adams embodied excellence, service, and sisterhood. Her leadership challenged racism and sexism at every level, and her legacy still teaches us what it means to break barriers with brilliance and courage.
Lt. Col. Harriet M. Waddy — A Trailblazer at Fort Des Moines
During World War II, when the military questioned the role of women and race, Lt. Col. Harriet M. Waddy stood firm as a force for equity, leadership, and change. As one of the highest-ranking Black women in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), she began her military service right here at Fort Des Moines, the first training site for WAAC officers.
Waddy advocated tirelessly for the inclusion and fair treatment of Black women in the military. She served as an aide to WAAC director Oveta Culp Hobby and traveled the country addressing racial tensions in training camps. Her words and presence affirmed what so many knew to be true: that patriotism, service, and excellence knew no gender—and certainly no color line.
Lt. Col. Waddy not only trained at Fort Des Moines—she redefined what was possible for generations of women to come.
Her legacy lives on in every uniformed woman who serves with dignity and purpose.
The Six Triple Eight, an all-Black female WWII unit, receives Congressional Gold Medal
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Updated: April 29, 2025
The Women’s Army Corps A Commemoration of World War II Service By Judith A. Bellafaire
