Rachel Summers McGee Collection
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Oral history interview with Rachel Summers McGee
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Documents Rachel Leuella Summers McGee's early life; her service with the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) from 1942 to 1943; and her life after World War II. McGee discusses her decision to join the army and people's reaction to women in the military at great length. She comments on her reasons for enlisting in the army; her patriotism; how men and civilians perceived and judged women in the military; the responsibility she felt to succeed in her job; and why she left the army in 1943." McGee also describes her basic training at Fort Des Moines in Iowa and her work in the communications center at Fort Knox in Kentucky. Topics pertaining to basic training in November 1942 include the weather; WAAC uniforms; KP duty; drilling; and the notion that early WAACs were guinea pigs. Subjects related to the communications center in Fort Knox include McGee's social life; her relationship with her male coworkers; her desire to prove herself as a capable worker; and working with American soldiers who had been AWOL and were then assigned to clean army buildings. McGee also notes that she served in an honor guard at the Kentucky Derby with several WAACs and that her picture was on the cover of Army Life magazine." Personal topics include McGee's work with Western Union and the difficult transition to civilian lifefor the McGees.
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Rachel Summers McGee at Ft. Knox
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Rachel Summers McGee stands beside the sign for the Headquarters, Armored Force, at Ft. Knox in winter 1943. She wears the enlisted second pattern olive drab winter uniform with Hobby hat.
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Rachel Summers McGee outside building
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Rachel Summers McGee stands in front of an unknown building, wearing the WAAC enlisted second pattern olive drab winter uniform and garrison cap, circa 1942.
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Women's Army Auxiliary Corps khaki uniform
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Women's Army Auxiliary Corps second pattern khaki summer uniform with four plastic buttons, two pocket flaps, two slash pockets, enlisted "U.S." disc on right collar, and enlisted Pallas Athene disc on left collar. Does not have belt or passants. Worn with khaki shirtwaist and tie. Worn by Rachel Summers McGee from 1942 to 1943.
