To Serve My Country, to Serve My Race

January 1, 1996
The deployment of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only group of black WACs (members of the Women's Army Corps) to serve overseas in WWII, marked a significant turning point in the status of racial minorities and women in the armed forces. Drawing on the testimony of former members of the unit, Moore recounts its formation, training and service in the European theater of operations in 1945-46, highlighting the discrimination the women faced because of their race and gender. Many, as the author shows, campaigned actively to change the race-biased policies of the WACs through boycott and direct protest. She examines what civilian life was like for many of them before they entered the military and the various personal, political and economic reasons that impelled them to join up, then discusses how their military experience influenced their postwar life: ``Although they did not gain materially, these women almost invariably said that they benefitted spiritually for having served.'' Her study is an important contribution to African American and gender studies. Moore, who served six years in the Army, is assistant professor of sociology at SUNY-Buffalo. Illustrations.

December 1, 1995
Moore, who has served in the U.S. Army, has written a gender and race study about the status of African American women in the army during World War II. Her academic studies led her to note that African American women have been ignored in major studies about World War II, and in this book she tries to remedy the omission. Moore focuses on the 6888th Batallion, which had the only group of African American Women Army Corps (WAC) who served overseas during the war. Of the 855 women who served, Moore interviewed 51 for this book. Appendixes reproduce the questionnaire and give the names of those interviewed. Chapter notes, a bibliography, and photos are also included. Moore makes frequent comparisons to other studies about military veterans. Her scholarly work will serve as a solid contribution about African American women in World War II.--Dorothy Lilly, Grosse Pointe North H.S. Lib., Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.

January 1, 1996
African American women were virtually excluded from military service until World War II. They received full military status with the establishment of the WAC, Women's Army Corps, in 1943. The WAC was set up in response to social and political pressures and the "critical need for personnel" during the war. The author relies on interviews with members of the 688th Central Postal Directory battalion, for they were the only African American group to serve overseas. Through a well-wrought investigation, Moore distinguishes the challenges faced by these women in regard to both gender and racial influences, forms a cogent background with historical facts to better present the impact of the WAC on the changing military structure and to list battles and victories of the women, and answers the readers' curiosity with coverage of the social cohesion and conflict within the unit and of the women's lives after military service. Those women still remain in contact with one another and sponsor events celebrating the success and memories of World War II. Moore has made an incredible discovery; this book will make a major contribution to military studies, African American studies, and women studies. ((Reviewed January 1 & 15, 1996))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1996, American Library Association.)