Salute to Veteran Mary Louise Rasmuson: Mary Louise Rasmuson, wife of the late Elmer Rasmuson whose legacy is National Bank of Alaska and the Rasmuson Foundation, was an inspiration herself, serving among the first women in the Women's Auxiliary Army Corp. At 95 years old, her message has never wavered, 'It is an honor to serve your country.'.

While the country was still reeling from the attack on Pearl Harbor, more than 100 women began examinations in the Salvation Army building in Pittsburgh, Penn. It was 1942, and across America 35,000 other women were taking the same exam, each hoping for a slot in the newly formed WAACs, Women's Auxiliary Army Corp. Mary Louise Milligan, in her 20s, holding a master's degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a bachelor's degree from Carnegie School of Technology, began her exam.

Those who passed were sent to Harrisburg for a physical, then on to Baltimore for two separate panel interviews. By then, few of the original applicants were left; of the thousands who applied, Mary Louise was one of the 430 chosen.

WACs FORMED

A year earlier, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the taw establishing a Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. In 1943 the "auxiliary" was dropped and the corps became the Women's Army Corps, WACs.

"We were sent to a cavalry post at Ft. Des Moines, Iowa, for basic training and officer candidate school (OCS). We had six weeks of intense schooling, studying military law, leadership skills, things of that sort and a lot of marching and parading," said Mary Louise, now Mary Louise Rasmuson, wife of the deceased Elmer Rasmuson, whose legacy is National Bank of Alaska.

TOGETHER IN SEGREGATION

Each WAC was assigned to one of four companies; Mary Louise was in Company 2. Company 1 was all black girls who were housed in separate dorms. Black and white girls are together and went to school together--"there was a very strong camaraderie between all of us," said Mary Louise. After commissioning, each WAC chose to join either "bakers and cooks, motor pool, clerical or signal." Mary Louise chose motor pool.

ADJUSTMENTS FOR WOMEN

"Remember we were the very first class of women allowed in the Army. Simple things had to be redefined and redesigned," said Mary Louise. "Our own bakers and cooks provided all of our meals at school, but they were given huge heavy pots and pans that our girls couldn't even lift." The Army was used to feeding men large portions of meat and potatoes--the new WACs wanted more salads and less heavy food. Eventually the bakers and cooks were given more manageable pots and pans and WACs smaller-portion meals with salads.

A MEANINGFUL SALUTE

"After commissioning, one of the greatest thrills of my life was walking down the street in Des Moines and being saluted by a male soldier," said Mary Louise. My first job was to assign WACs to positions that came open around the world. More than 150,000 WACs served their country during World War II and were assigned to positions in England, North Africa, the Mediterranean, China, India, Burma and the Middle East. Radio operators, chemical warfare techs, cryptologists, photographers, medical technicians, translators and hundreds of other positions were filled by new graduates. WACs maintained secret files regarding the Los Alamos project, and one WAC ran the cyclotron.

AFTER D-DAY

Just 10 days after D-Day, Mary Louise escorted 400 WACs to a receiving station in Scotland via a troop transport ship. From there, the WACs were sent to their assigned posts in London. "On the train to London 1 met a Colonel who asked me to dinner and I accepted. Once in London, two young lieutenants asked my help in locating some WACs to invite to dinner. Disappointing them, I replied that I had just arrived and didn't know any. Their faces brought to mind my two brothers in the service, close to their age. I decided that these young men needed company more so than the Colonel, so I cancelled dinner with (my date)," said Mary Louise.

In an underground pub, Mary Louise ordered hot tea and was given hot water and lemon in a glass explaining "they had no tea and they had no cups."

Stunned by the rubble of London, Mary Louise said, "I was thinking what the people had been through when suddenly I was thrown to the ground. Seconds later a bomb exploded in front of us. The lieutenants explained that when you quit hearing the whine--you hit the dirt. They had thrown me down and probably saved my life." Months later, she received a postcard from one of those young lieutenants remembering the wonderful evening he had shared with her and his buddy in London. The card was from a German POW camp, severely marked up but mailed.

AWARDS FOR GOOD WORK

Of the 150,000 WACs on active duty during WWII, 65 earned the Legion of Merit Award. Mary Louise was awarded hers along with two Oak Leaf Clusters given for her work in integrating black women into the WACs. "Throughout my career, I worked hard to achieve that goal," said Mary Louise and "I am very proud of the strides I made."

Following the War, Mary Louise was invited to the WAC headquarters in the Pentagon to plan the legislation that would incorporate WACs, Army Nurses Corps and Women's Medical Specialists Corp into the regular Army. Promoted to deputy director of the WACs, she continued to work on that legislation, which was signed into law. Serving four years as deputy director, Lt. Col. Milligan was ordered to Europe as WAC advisor to the Commander in Chief of the Army European Command until her return to the U.S. in 1957. Lt. Col. Mary Louise Milligan was promoted in 1957 to director, the only full Colonel slot in the Corp.

RECEPTION TO NEVER FORGET

As new director of the WACs, Mary Louise attended a reception hosted by the Secretary of the Army with about 100 dignitaries from across the country. "The Director of Nursing, myself, and the Secretary's assistant were the only women there. I was introduced to the Alaskan civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army, Elmer Rasmuson, and the rest is history," said Mary Louise.

Colonel Mary Louise Milligan was married in November 1961 with six months left to finish her 20-year enlistment. "I married Elmer and returned to Washington, D.C., to complete my (tour of duty)," said Mary Louise.

Awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree, her alma mater, Carnegie Mellon University, created a scholarship in her name.

For Mary Louise, serving her country has been one of the pinnacles of her life. "You are a better person when you come out," she said. There is an unparalleled solidness to her. Beauty and grace, aside, Mary Louise Rasmuson's inspiration is mirrored by her words, her life, and her achievements. At 95 years old, her message has never wavered, "It is an honor to serve your country."