Waterloo's First Woman Officer
Graduated with 435 others, Miss Marion C. Lichty, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Burr G. Lichty, 1481 Newell street, Saturday earned her commission as third officer in the Women's Army Auxiliary corps after six weeks training at Fort Des Moines, Ia. Only five other Iowans graduated: Clara C. Han and Helen E. Hanson, Des Moines; Dorothy A. Tomhave, Estherville; Helen Lloyd-Jones, Mason City and Mary S. Bell, Cedar Rapids.
Source: The Courier, August 30, 1942 (photo included)
All dressed up with plenty of places to go but these Iowans, first from the Hawkeye state to be graduated as officers in the newly formed Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, don’t know where until they receive their assignments, after two more weeks of specialized training at Fort Des Moines.
These WAACS—from left in the photo:
Miss Mary S. Bell, Cedar Rapids, former dean of women at Coe college;
Miss Marion C. Lichty, Waterloo;
Mrs. Clara G. F. Han, Des Moines;
Miss Dorothy Tomhave, Estherville—
Were among the first 436 to be graduated as third officers, equivalent to the rank of second lieutenant, at the Army post Saturday.
Their basic training over, the WAACS will be assigned to active duty to relieve soldiers for the fighting fronts, after completing two weeks of specialized training.
Actually two other native Iowans, Helen Lloyd-Jones, Mason City, and Helen E. Hanson, Des Moines, also were graduated, but they were inducted from corps areas outside the seventh, in which Iowa is located.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, August 31, 1942 (photo included)
Marion Lichty Promoted to First Officer
Word was received Friday by Mr. and Mrs. Burr G. Lichty, 1491 Newell street, that their daughter, Marion Lichty, stationed with the headquarters staff of the Women's Army Auxiliary corps at Fort Hayes, Columbus, O., has been promoted from second officer to first officer, a rank corresponding to that of captain in the regular army. Captain Lichty is in charge of the WAAC recruiting of the Fifth service command, which includes the states of Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. She enlisted July 19, 1942 and Aug 29 was commissioned a third officer. At Christmas time she was promoted to second officer.
Source: The Courier, Waterloo, IA - April 16, 1943 (photo included)
11 IOWA WAACS ARE ADVANCED
Washington, D.C. -- Promotions for eleven Iowans in the women's army auxiliary corps were announce Tuesday night.
The following officers were advanced to the rank of first officer, the WAAC equivalent of captain: Clara G. Han, 1063 Twenty-first st, Des Moines; Marion C. Lichty, Waterloo; Kathleen McClure, Iowa Falls, and Helen E. Hanson, 726 Guthrie st, Des Moines.
Promoted from the rank of third officer to second officer, WAAC equivalent of first lieutenant: Clara J. Courson, Belmond; Elizabeth L. Flanagan, Cedar Rapids; Kola S. Gallagher, Council Bluffs; Vera E. Stiver, 4309 Allison ave., Des Moines; Jeanne E. Hardie, Dubuque and Marcella M. McCue, Greeley.
Source: The Des Moines Register, April 21, 1943
The visit to Fort Des Moines Friday of Col. Oveta Culp Hobby (center), WAC director, was the occasion for a reunion of four Iowa majors, members of the first WAC officers training class. From left they are Jean Melin, Osage, Marion Lichty, Waterloo; Mary S. Bell, Cedar Falls; and Kathleen McClure, Iowa Falls. Colonel Hobby is wearing a new style jacket.
Source: The Des Moines Register, February 17, 1945 (photo included)
The first Waterloo woman to join the Waac, the first Waterloo woman officer and now the first Waterloo woman to head a veteran's personnel division of national selective service headquarters to aid returning service men and woman in postwar problems, Wac Maj. Marion C. Lichty, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Burr G. Lichty, 1481 Newell street, will this summer complete three years of army service.
Source: The Courier, Waterloo IA -- April 22, 1945 (photo included)
