World War II Honoree

Lucille Velma Ford Windham

Hometown

Erick, Beckham County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

Relationship

Relationship Not Determined

WENT TO NURSING SCHOOL IN ENID, OKLAHOMA. DURING THE WAR, SHE WORKED AT THE PENTAGON IN WASHINGTON, D.C. IN THE ARMY SPECIALIZED TRAINING DIVISION, IN THE WAR DEPARTMENT WHICH IMPLEMENTED THE ARMY SPECIALIZED TRAINING PROGRAM (ASTP). THE (ASTP) WAS A MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAM INSTITUTED DURING WORLD WAR II TO MEET WARTIME DEMANDS FOR A COLLEGE-TRAINED POOL OF MEN FOR JUNIOR OFFICER POSITIONS AND TECHNICAL SPECIALTY FIELDS. IT WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE ARMY HAD SUSPENDED PARTS OF THE RESERVE OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS (ROTC) PROGRAMS, WHICH HAD PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED NEEDED OFFICER MANPOWER FROM AMERICAN LAND-GRANT COLLEGES. ASTP WAS CONDUCTED AT MORE THAN 222 AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES, AND PROVIDED TRAINING IN SUCH FIELDS AS ENGINEERING, FOREIGN LANGUAGES, AND MEDICINE. RECRUITS WERE EXPECTED TO BECOME OFFICERS UPON COMPLETION. THE PROGRAM WAS IMPLEMENTED IN DECEMBER, 1942. WHEN THE WAR DEPARTMENT CALCULATED THAT MORE INFANTRYMEN WOULD BE REQUIRED IN ADVANCE OF THE PLANNED INVASION OF EUROPE, ASTP STUDENTS BEGAN TO BE TRANSFERRED TO COMBAT UNITS TO MEET PROJECTED MANPOWER DEMANDS. ONCE COMPLETED, THE ASTP PROGRAM WAS DEPLETED OF MANPOWER AND TERMINATED. AFTER THE WAR, SHE SERVED AS THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA.