European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 14, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Friday november 14, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 3 profile women have come a Lont Way in he last 40 years and in la next 401 expect thai we can look Forward to a woman chief of staff retired col. Mary a. Hallaren says sex wac Leader marvels at today s army b Betty Bell staff writer Frankfurt Mary a. Hallaren is living his tory thai women in the military have come a Long Long Way in a Short Lime. H Alia run a ret Rcd colonel is a Grandc Dame of the former women s army corps a highly decorated Servic woman and a key Force in migrating the wac into the regular army and reserves in 1948. In Observance of National women veterans recognition week Hallane was selected by the Federal women s program equal employment Opportunity As this year s keynote speaker to Germany. Hallaren who needs to stand on a Box behind the podium to been seen turns 80 in May. The Silver haired woman has always been ahead of her time. In 1942, after 15 years of teaching school and at 35 years of age she decided to join the army. There was a War on she said surprised thai anyone would ask Why. I used 10 Fly. A Small plane. When Hying came in that was the thing to do. They weren t using women pilots at thai Lime out i thought if they Ever grew Short of men they might use women in the civil air she first discussed the matter with her pastor. My pastor had been a chaplain in world War 1, so i asked him what he thought of my joining. He said it will be whatever you make it Hallaren became a member of the first women s officer candidate school. We were the first wonders " she mused. After pcs i went into recruiting in Baltimore As a second lieutenant but i was told to be prepared for a change. Shortly thereafter she was promoted w Uptain and named commander of the 1st women s army auxiliary corps separate in in England the finl women s unit in Europe in world War ii. 1 completely passed Over first lieutenant she said. By 1947, she had achieved the rank of colonel. There were Only four occupations for women in the corps in those Days Hallaron said. Clerk typist Telephone operators Cooks and Drivers. Other jobs became available As the need would arise cryptographers and radio operators. 1 became a wac staff adviser for the air Force which was part of the army in May 1947 she became the third director of the women s army corps and held that position until january 1953. Hallaren retired in 1960 after 18 years of Active service which earned her three legion of Merit medals. I was thrown out on my age not because i wanted to go the spirited Hal Iaron said in an inter View. The women s army corps was to be disbanded six months after the end of world War ii but Gener Al of the army Dwight d. Eisenhower had other ideas she said. Hallaren helped write the Bill to put women in the regular army. The Senate was of about the idea but the House armed services committee had made up their minds Long before the Bill was introduced that women would t be for two years from 1946 to 1948. She worked on the leadership of the armed services was behind the Bill most Large women s organizations were be Hind it. The joint services committee argued Hal the Cost of allowing women in the military would be stupendous but we showed them the Cost for women was cheaper than men. They argued age issues. They said that women of a certain age and used a few Oiher descriptive phrases would t be Able to perform due to physical and emotional her voice took on the Edge of indignation Well i passed through thai More than 40 years ago so i can speak from experience. But the Navy surgeon general at that Lime said men also go through that certain age and that ended Hallaren laughed. Their strongest argument was Over the idea Hal a Man would have to take a command from a woman. They just about had apoplexy Over the House armed services committee voted against the Bill. Federal employees weren t allowed to lobby in those Days but we called the constituents of the dissenting members our friends former was and servicemen and Lold them to Contact their Congress men expressing their Hallaren said thai Effort proved so successful that a staff member for the committee Lold us to Call off the letter writing they did t have enough staff to read and answer All the Hallaren s Blue eyes sparkle and dance at the Retel Ling of the moment when the Bill finally passed con Gress. We worked our tails off. We had done everything possible made phone Calls written Leuers talked to everyone we knew but it did t look like we were going to make it. When the Bill finally passed we could not gel to the Hill from the Pentagon fast enough. It was an experience i would t want to have missed but i would t want to do it again either. I be always argued for women to be placed in the non traditional occupations. Each time the door of Opportunity opened for women it was because of a shortage of men she said. The Only limitation should be one s physical and mental ability not one s
