Note: Women served as Army nurses prior to WWII. During the war, all branches of the military, including the U.S. Coast Guard, created organizations for women, utilizing them in non-combat roles. Other war-time organizations for women included the Army Nurse Corps, Navy Waves, Navy Nurse Corps, Marine Corps Women’s Reserve and Women Air Service Pilots.

Christine Larkins, of Cadiz, has never talked much about her World War II military service. In her words, “It just didn’t seem important.”

But her service was important. Even if her job did not directly affect the outcome of the war, it transformed the roles of women for future generations.

Christine enlisted in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in 1942, at a time when few women worked outside the home. Through WAAC, women filled non-combat roles in the Army for the first time, such as cartography clerks, medical technicians and secretaries. Many served stateside, but some worked in areas of conflict as well. Christine worked as a cook at Ft. Devens, Mass.

Many of the 150,000 women who enlisted did so because their husbands, brothers and fathers had already gone to war. Christine initially signed up for a different reason.

“I was having a horrible cough, and I didn’t know what to do about it. I thought if I enrolled, I would get a complete physical. And that’s what happened,” she said, a hint of irony in her voice. “I got a complete physical. Complete!”

For the rest of this story, see this week's issue of The Cadiz Record or subscribe to our e-Edition by calling 270-522-6605.