\"Women\'s Army Corps\" Colonel Westray Battle Long Signed Postcard COA For Sale

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

---

\"Women\'s Army Corps\" Colonel Westray Battle Long Signed Postcard COA:
$909.99

Up for sale a RARE! "Women's Army Corps" Westray Battle Long Hand Signed Postcard Dated 1945. This item is certified authentic by JG

Autographs and comes with their Certificate of Authenticity.

ES-4306

Colonel Martha Westray Battle

Long (August 10, 1901 – January 31, 1972), more commonly known

as Westray Battle Long, was the second director of the Women's Army Corps and

an early recipient of the Legion of Merit. Before entering the service, Long worked in

her first husband's insurance agency and in various government agencies. She is

best known for her service during World War II, which included serving on the staff of

General Dwight D. Eisenhower. During

her military service her name was Westray Battle Boyce. Westray Battle Long was

born Martha Westray Battle in Rocky Mount, North

Carolina. She was born the daughter to Jacob Battle Jr., and Mattie

Nash Wright. From 1918 to 1919 Long attended the North Carolina College for

Women. From 1921 to 1922 Long attended Pell's Law School. From 1919

to 1934 Long worked in various insurance agencies. Long was married three

times. Her first marriage was to James Stacy Boyce in 1924. From her first

marriage she had a daughter, Westray Battle Boyce (1926-2007), who married

James Roy Nicholas. Her second marriage was to William Leslie in 1948. Her

third and final marriage was to Willie James Long in 1964. In March 1934 Long

began her work for the United States Government in Washington, DC, working for

several different government agencies in various positions. She served as

Administrative Director of Litigation for the National Recovery

Administration in 1934 and 1935 and as Administrative Assistant

to the General Counsel and later as Chief of the Insurance Section in the Rural 1936 to 1940. She also worked as Assistant

Chief in the Federal Works Agency from 1941 to 1942. Long entered military

service in 1942, following her work in the Federal Works Agency. She

began her service as in Officer Candidate School in the Women's Army Auxiliary

Corps (WAAC) at Fort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training School in

Iowa and graduated on September 12, 1942 as a Third Officer (equivalent to 2nd

Lieutenant). In December Long was promoted to First Officer (Captain) within

the WAAC. In July 1943 the WAAC became the Women's Army Corps (WAC). In

September 1942 and served as WAAC staff director at 4th Service Command in

Atlanta, Georgia. In August 1943, Long was transferred to the North African

Theater of Operations as Theater WAC Staff Director. She served as director of

all WAC staff under General Dwight D. Eisenhower. While serving in that

position, she was promoted to Major in August 1943. She was promoted to

lieutenant colonel on February 8, 1944. She became WAC deputy director in May

1945. For

her work on this assignment Long was awarded the European-African-Middle

Eastern Theater ribbon (later converted to Campaign Medal) with campaign star, the Bronze Star Medal and the Legion of Merit. She was the first woman in the United States

Army to receive the Legion of Merit. (A woman, Lieutenant Junior Grade Ann A. Bernatitus, a Navy Nurse, was the first U.S. Armed

Forces recipient of the Legion of Merit in October 1942.) In August 1944 she

transferred to the War Department General

Staff. During her time on the staff she worked as a personnel officer. In May

1945 she was appointed the Deputy Director of the Women's Army Corps. On July

12, 1945 she succeeded Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby and became the second director of the

Women's Army Corps. She was promoted to the rank of colonel. One of Long's

first initiatives while serving as Director of the Women's Army Corps, was

making a tour around the world to arrange for the return to the United States

of Women's Army Corps members who were eligible for discharge. By doing this,

she received the Pacific Theater Ribbon (later converted to the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign

Medal). In 1946, for her accomplishments she made as Director of the

Women's Army Corps and her work done with the problem in the Army known as

psychoneurosis, Long, Colonel Boyce at the time, was awarded an oak leaf

cluster to the Legion of Merit in lieu of a second award. In November 1946 she

became the first woman to receive the Cross of Military Service from

the United Daughters

of the Confederacy. She was a member of the Daughters of

the American Revolution. She remained the Director of the Women's Army

Corps until March 1947, when she was hospitalized and resigned from the Army.  

Women’s Army Combat Uniform Coat Size 33 REGULAR

$24.99

US Army Women's Female Combat Uniform Woodland Camouflage Coat Jacket 36 X-Short

$11.00

"Women's Army Corps" Colonel Westray Battle Long Signed Postcard COA

$909.99

WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS WAC POSING IN ARMY JEEP WW2 WWII 4X6 B&W PHOTO

$7.97

NOS DSCP Women's Army Midnight Blue (Fully Lined) Skirts - See listing for size

$21.95

U.S. Army Women's Army Corps (WAC) Enlisted 1-inch Lapel Pin P10487

$8.95

Korean War WAC Women's Army Corps Jacket Taupe Size 14LA Shade 121 Dated 1952

$182.00

ORIGINAL WWII US ARMY WOMEN'S M1943 M43 FIELD JACKET-SIZE 10R SMALL

$119.96