To: The Massachusetts State House, The Massachusetts State Senate, and Governor Charlie Baker
Give Official Recognition to the WWII Mass. Women's Defense Corps
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts should extend full recognition to the service of the volunteers of the Massachusetts Women's Defense Corps during WWII and treat them as the veterans they are.
Why is this important?
The Massachusetts Women’s Defense Corps (MWDC) was authorized on 2 April 1941 as a state force under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Committee on Public Safety; a state govt. agency that coordinated civil defense during World War II. The initial concept of the MWDC was that it would conduct training for women to serve as volunteers in local Civil Defense agencies. Approximately, 18,000 women were trained for duty as air raid wardens, drivers, communications personnel, canteen workers, medics, chemical detection personnel and as emergency fire fighters.
In 1942 graduates of the MWDC School were formally enlisted into the Corps and assigned ranks. MWDC personnel wore brown military-type uniforms purchased at their own expense. Personnel were assigned to companies that were organized into eight geographic battalions around the state. The average strength of the Corps was 1,600 women.
The only recognition that Corps personnel received was the award of a ribbon for three years service. The story of the WDC and its service to the Commonwealth is virtually unknown.
In 1942 graduates of the MWDC School were formally enlisted into the Corps and assigned ranks. MWDC personnel wore brown military-type uniforms purchased at their own expense. Personnel were assigned to companies that were organized into eight geographic battalions around the state. The average strength of the Corps was 1,600 women.
The only recognition that Corps personnel received was the award of a ribbon for three years service. The story of the WDC and its service to the Commonwealth is virtually unknown.