Helen VanGuilder WWII WAAC
Shared by Sandy Chamberlain

The Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was a group of women who served in the United States Army during World War II. The WAAC was created to free up men for combat by taking on administrative duties.

Formation

The WAAC was established in 1942 in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor

The WAAC was created as an auxiliary unit, but was later converted to an active duty branch of the Army in 1943

The WAAC's first training center was located at Fort Des Moines, Iowa

Roles

WAACs performed a variety of roles, including aircraft spotting, mail sorting, and printing V-mail cards

WAACs were deployed all over the world

Challenges

The WAAC faced opposition from some quarters, including the defense industry and those who thought women shouldn't serve in uniform

Black WACs faced additional challenges, including being given menial jobs and court-martialed

Legacy

The WAAC's contributions were recognized with the passage of legislation that established a lasting presence of women in the Armed Services

The Women's Army Corps (WAC) was the women's branch of the United States Army before 1978. It was created as an auxiliary unit, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), on 15 May 1942, and converted to an active duty status in the Army of the United States as the WAC on 1 July 1943. Its first director was Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby. The WAC was disbanded on 20 October 1978, and all WAC units were integrated with male units.

Tioga Point Museum has been gifted some letters written by Sgt. Helen Van Guilder while she served in the WAAC during WWII. Helen was from Sayre, Pennsylvania. She shared interesting thoughts and feelings as she served her country. From her excitement of entering training to her excitement about being able to come home to the U.S. again is palpable to the reader of her letters.

On March 23rd in 1943 she was “on her way”, leaving from Penn Station, NY. On March 24th her father received word that she had arrived safely at Fort Oglethorp, Georgia and would be undergoing processing for the next 2 days. After that she would be assigned to basic training and able to send her address for those 4 weeks.

In May of 1943, she wrote of having a large piece of chocolate cake but assured her mother that it was only “almost as good” as hers. She talked about celebrating her birthday and lamenting that her grades weren’t as good as she’d hoped. She said the WAAC’s couldn’t complain about food, that they ate well. She mentioned how much they enjoyed potatoes as they often had “substitutes” like rice or macaroni. She said they sure couldn’t complain because they were all putting on weight!

One letter of interest from June, 1944 shared that her boss was “in a peck of trouble.” She couldn’t elaborate but expressed her utmost sympathy for him! She also added a p.s. to this letter requesting some things from home, including Arrid, a garter belt, starch , soap and gum. She commented more than once about soap being hard to get.

By August of 1945 Helen was anxious to get home and mentioned the “red tape” of the military. A letter from September 29th, 1945 from England mentions not being sure when she would actually get to the U. S. but “will see you again. Loads of love to all. Helen”

More can be learned about Helen’s time in the WAAC by visiting Tioga Point Museum website. To view the letters on website scroll down to Virtual Collection then choose Archives and enter Helen Van Guilder.

The Tioga Point Museum is open Tuesday and Thursday all year but hours are seasonal so please check our web page or Facebook page for current hours or call at 570 888 7225.

From Our Archives…..At Tioga Point Museum - Stephen Foster

January 13th marks Stephen Collins Foster Memorial Day. Stephen was born on July 4th, 1826 in a white cottage on a knoll, two and a half miles above Pittsburgh. On the day he was born, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died. Some thought the baby boy should be named after one or both of them. Stephen’s mother did not agree. She had a friend who had lost a son named Stephen Collins and in honor of him, the new baby was named.

Stephen wasn’t much interested in school as a young boy, but it was said he never forgot any music he heard. At age 9, he and neighbor boys fitted up a theater in the carriage house. The other boys advanced money for a curtain and some benches and for printing tickets. Stephen, however advanced no money-he was paid money for singing Negro songs. The troupe held three entertainments a week.

Stephen Foster’s family didn’t want him to be a musician. When Stephen was 14, he was sent to live with his brother, William in Towanda. William was the chief engineer working on the North Branch Canal. It was agreed Stephen could obtain a good education there. As nearly as can be determined, he stayed with his brother about a year and a half, from January 1840 until late spring 1841. It is assumed he attended school in Towanda for the first term of 1840 and Athens Academy after. He boarded with the Herrick family who lived across the street from the Academy and paid $2/week board.

On the eve of April 1st, 1841, Stephen Foster was probably happier than he had ever been in his life. The commencement of Athens Academy was being held in the Presbyterian Church. He was 14. He was not graduating, but had a part in the program. There were no preprinted programs, so Stephen’s contribution came as a surprise.

Stephen and his two friends rose and walked forward, he in the middle. They played The Tioga Waltz, composed specifically for the flute by Stephen. When they finished, there was a pause, then wild hand clapping.

In 1941, during a Foster Centennial Program, E.E. Crediford, supervising principal at Athens School, spoke these words: “Remembering the 14 year old boy, who moved 300 miles from home, braved out a year and a half of separation from his parents, the boy who asked for more studies to be added to his schedule, and though no one perhaps, suspected the genius we were entertaining unaware, produced an original composition for school entertainment a hundred years ago.”

From a newspaper article dated August 1st, 1974, people gathered to celebrate the third annual Stephen Foster Festival. Some men and women were in period dress on the lawn of the Tioga Point Museum and Spalding Memorial Library, who sponsored the event. There were antique cars to view, including two fire engines from Dr. King’s collection. Benches and chairs were loaned by local businesses and members of the library and museum association were busy selling tickets for ice cream, while Athens Rotary manned the soda stand. Homemade cake and ice cream was served to over 500 visitors, who then listened to bands playing Foster songs. It was said Stephen Foster would have been proud to hear his songs played that day. Some of his familiar works include: Oh, Susannah! My Old Kentucky Home and Camptown Races.

There is much information housed in the archives of the Tioga Point museum about Stephen Foster. To learn more, please visit!

The Tioga Point Museum is open from 12-8p on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the year. You are invited to come and explore!

-Sandy Chamberlain