Show W Graduate C Commissions 0 S S G Get eu FORT DES MOINES Iowa Aug 29 IP In In In traditional commencement commencement com corn day atmosphere augmented by the presence of many beaming parents and a husband or two members of the first W A A C officer candidate class were commissioned Saturday General George C. C Marshall chief of staff sent W A A C Director Director Director Di Di- rector Oveta Culp Gulp Hobby a message message message mes mes- sage welcoming the first group of officers of the women's army auxiliary auxiliary auxiliary aux aux- corps into the army Their rec record rd of the first few weeks gives me great confidence in the future of the corps and the tremendous assistance they will wiH willbe willbe be to the armed forces General Marshall said Only the Beginning We need their enthusiasm their talents and high purpose This is only the beginning of a magnificent magnificent magnificent mag mag- war service by the women of America the message con con- eluded Following the official commissioning commissioning commis commis- ceremonies Saturday the graduates and Director Hobby were to be guests of honor at a dinner given by the Des Moines retailers' retailers war activities committee Mrs Hobby described d the six- six week training period of this first officer candidate class as a saga of women determined to pay their debt to freedom determined to mortgage their futures and their lives if need be for the future I freedom of all men and women of goo good l will All of the women were commissioned commissioned commis commis- third officers which is the theW W V A A C equivalent of army second second sec see ond lieutenants You will be soldiers You will wiH measure up to the honor You have a great responsibility dec decia declared de- de c cia 1 a r red e d Representative Edith Nourse Rogers R. R Mass in her address prepared for the commissioning commissioning commissioning commis commis- ceremony Recalling her experiences in France and England working with women auxiliaries during World War I Mrs Rogers who sponsored sponsored sponsored spon spon- legislation creating the theW theW W A A Cs cited Saturdays Saturday's ceremony ceremony ceremony cere cere- mony as a realization of a dream of 25 years You Belong to America You are no longer ladies of this or that town she charged You are soldiers and belong to America Your life Ufe is yours to give to your country A review of most of the 1700 W v A A Cs now at the post preceded preceded preceded pre pre- ceded the commissioning which was witnessed by Director Hobby Major General J. J A. A Ulio adjutant adjutant adjutant tant general of the army adminIstered administered administered admin admin- the oath to the new officers officers officers cers while Major General Frederick Frederick Fred Fred- erick crick Uhl UbI commanding general of the Seventh service command handed diplomas and commissions to the women Commissioning of the women gave them the right to wear gold shoulder bars showing their rank and entitling them to the salutes of W A A C auxiliaries as well as I soldiers They are scheduled for another two weeks' weeks training training they they began their schooling July 20 as 20 as officers officers officers cers before assignment to posts Some will go into aircraft warning warning warn warn- ing 52 will wiH go to major recruiting offices more will remain at the school to train other classes and andS some may go overseas S |