The 150,000 women who served in the Women's Army Corps are now seen as the undersung heroes of the Second World War. This memoir describes the life of a WAC enlistee who would serve in England when it came under attack, France immediately after the Allied invasion, and Germany after VE Day. From her experience in basic training in Daytona Beach to the climactic moment when she saw the Statue of Liberty as her ship approached American shores upon her return home, this work provides a glimpse into the life of a woman in uniform during this crucial time in American history.

With most of the eligible boys in the Army and few to date, Helen (Kogel)Denton joined the Women's Army Corps (WAC). As secretary to the post commander, Helen immediately raised her hand to volunteer when a telegram came in asking for a person to join GEN Dwight Eisenhower's staff in England. Assigned a top secret assignment that she did not talk about for 50 years, Helen spent many days in early 1944 in a closed room, typing the orders for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy, France, known as D-Day. Helen covers her experiences as a soldier and a member of the "Greatest Generation." Read on to learn about Helen's experiences dodging V-2 boms in London, meeting her future husband after she waded ashore on Utah Beach in July 1944, and her experiences as one of the first WACs to enter and work in a liberated Paris. Still going strong at 90, Helen's experiences since her retirement from Delta Airlines, working as a volunteer with the Red Cross, the Federation of Women's Clubs, the Collie Club of America, the VFW, and many other organizations, is a roadmap for those preparing their own journey into their retirement years.

Book 1

When America entered World War II, the surge of patriotism was not confined to men. Congress authorized the organization of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (later renamed Women's Army Corps) in 1942, and hundreds of women were able to join in the war effort. Charity Edna Adams became the first black woman commissioned as an officer. Black members of the WAC had to fight the prejudices not only of males who did not want women in their "man's army," but also of those who could not accept blacks in positions of authority or responsibility, even in the segregated military. With unblinking candor, Charity Adams Earley tells of her struggles and successes as the WAC's first black officer and as commanding officer of the only organization of black women to serve overseas during World War II. The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion broke all records for redirecting military mail as she commanded the group through its moves from England to France and stood up to the racist slurs of the general under whose command the battalion operated. The Six Triple Eight stood up for its commanding officer, supporting her boycott of segregated living quarters and recreational facilities. This book is a tribute to those courageous women who paved the way for patriots, regardless of color or gender, to serve their country.