by Beverly L. Pack
When President Roosevelt issued the first notice to call up National Guard soldiers on 16 September 1940, numerous soldiers from across the State of Georgia found themselves leaving their homes and jobs to answer the call of duty. Over the course of the next several months, all units of the Georgia National Guard were activated into Federal Active Service in World War II.
Communities across Georgia were suddenly without the "home guard" protection they had come to depend upon for over 150 years. Fearing the threat of sabotage, among other needs, the Georgia State Defense Corps was activated to serve as the military defense in the interim. They would later become known as the Georgia State Guard.
With most able-bodied men of military age gone to serve in WWII, it became increasingly apparent that some of the noncombat jobs in the State Guard could be filled by women. Thus arriving out of the need for more personnel to serve in the Georgia State Guard, the Women's Division was authorized in January 1945 to fulfill this need (read the press release). The first woman to volunteer for enlistment was Miss Mildred Day of Fulton County. Being sworn in Wednesday, 24 January 1945, by Lieutenant Colonel Frank Fling, commander of the Fourth Battalion, Miss Day became the first of six women authorized in the Fourth Battalion. (Read more about Miss Day's enlistment.)
Following the enlistment of Mildred Day came the enlistments of women all across Georgia. Marian Roberts and Ouida Toole were the first women to enlist in Macon taking the oath on January 29th in Company D, 8th Battalion (read more about their enlistments), with Mrs. Frances Wall Attaway becoming the first female to enlist in Savannah (read more about Mrs. Attaway's enlistment). Over the course of the next few months, about 100 women would answer the call in the 20 battalions of infantry, a mobile company, and an air squadron. (See photos of the women of the 16th Battalion at Waycross.) (See photos of the women of the 5th Battalion on Maneuvers at Camp Toccoa.)
Prior to the authorization of the Women's Division in January 1945, evidence has been found of women serving in the State Guard. The exact provision for their service, however, is not known at this time. According to an article published in the March 1945 issue of The Georgia Guardsman, Mrs. C. B. Sutton was enlisted in November 1944 into the band of the Headquarters Battalion (read more). In addition, the following photographs indicate the presence of women in Medical Units as early as January 1944. Other similar circumstances have proven that women medical personnel were the precursors to the enlistment of women into noncombat fields other than medical.
 Captain A. E. Siegel, Medical Detachment, 8th Battalion,Macon, and Lieutenant Virginia Olive, R. N., MedicalDetachment, 8th Battalion, rendering first aid to an unidentified Guardsman during mock battle at Macon water Works last month. (source: The Georgia Guardsman, January 1944, Volume 1, Number 5, page 1) |
 Staff Sgt. Lonnie Coley is given First Aid for "bayonet cut," by Pvt. Kathleen Shiflett, standing, while Pvt. Jackie Fuller makes record. After losing 22 men to the Army, Navy and Marines, the outfit opened enlistment to qualified girls. Several responded, and like the two pictured above, are performing like veteran campaigners. (source: The Georgia Guardsman, August 1944, Volume 1, Number 10, page 8) |
"8th Battalion's Booth At Fair In Macon," The Georgia Guardsman, November 1944, Volume 1, Number 12, page 2.
"Fifth Battalion on Maneuvers at Camp Toccoa," The Georgia Guardsman, April 1945, Volume 2, Number 3, page 4.
"First Woman Enlisted in Hdq. Battalion," The Georgia Guardsman, March 1945, Volume 2, Number 2, page 7.
"First Woman Volunteer Sworn Into Guard," The Georgia Guardsman, January 1945, Volume 2, Number 1, page 6.
"Guard to Have Women's Division," Public Relations Office, Georgia State Guard, Press Release, 15 January 1945.
"Guard's 'Minute Women' Face Loss of Jobs Soon," The Georgia Guardsman, May 1946, Volume 2, Number 7, page 7.
"Macon Guard Enrolls Women First Time," The Georgia Guardsman, March 1945, Volume 2, Number 2, page 1.
"Mrs. Attaway Is First Enlistee At Savannah," The Georgia Guardsman, March 1945, Volume 2, Number 2, page 3.
Photos, The Georgia Guardsman, August 1944, Volume 1, Number 10, page 9.
Photos, The Georgia Guardsman, April 1945, Volume 2, Number 3, page 3.
"Time Out For A Little First-Aid," The Georgia Guardsman, January 1944, Volume 1, Number 5, page 1.
