Catherine L. Bowie

Catherine L. Bowie was born October 18, 1913 in Longview, Texas. Whether she was one of the first African American women to join the Women's Army Corps (WAC) is uncertain. Bowie was living in Dallas, Texas when her three brothers joined the military and went off to fight in the war in 1942. Catherine decided to follow them. A year after her brothers left, she joined the WAC on September 1, 1943. Bowie enjoyed the service enough to stay even after her brothers returned home.

As an administrative specialist Bowie served performing duties in re-enlistment and separations in Okinawa. She also served in Germany and Korea in various administrative duties. At the time of her service, African American enlisted women trained, lived, ate, played and served in segregated units.

Bowie retired from the Army on September 30, 1967. In 1993, she became a resident of the U.S. Soldiers' and Airmen's Home in Washington, D.C. [ [http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=44589 Black WAC Joined to Be What She Wanted to Be] ]

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