World War II Honoree

Theresa Nichols

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Indiana

Honored By

Joseph & Biagio Arsena

WAS ONE OF THE FIRST WOMEN TO BE DISPATCHED INTO A COMBAT ZONE. WAS SENT TO THE NORTH AFRICAN HEADQUARTERS OF GENERAL EISENHOWER. JOINED THE WOMEN'S ARMY AUXILIARY CORPS (WAAC) ON SEPTEMBER 7, 1942. TRAINED AT FORT DES MOINES, IOWA AND THEN WENT TO DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA TO AWAIT ORDERS. SHORTLY AFTER THE INVASION OF NORTH AFRICA, SHE EMBARKED IN EARLY JANUARY 1943 WITH THE 149TH WOMEN'S ARMY AUXILIARY CORPS (WAAC) POST HEADQUARTERS COMPANY ABOARD THE SS SANTA PAULA. IN JULY 1943, THE WOMEN'S ARMY AUXILIARY CORPS WAS CONVERTED TO THE WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS WITH FULL MILITARY STATUS. ON AUGUST 17, 1943, EISENHOWER PERSONALLY SWORE IN HER AND OTHERS AS OFFICIAL U.S. SOLDIERS. HER UNIT WAS MOVED TO ITALY LATER THAT YEAR.