Molly Sampson—“Efficiency, Skill, Spirit, and Determination:” Eisenhower and the Women’s Army Corps in World War II

Hear the stories of American women who served in the Women’s Army Corps during World War II, and how they played a crucial role in General Eisenhower’s Headquarters. This program takes place at the Eisenhower NHS Speakers’ Tent.

In May 1942, the U.S. Army undertook a grand experiment—enlisting women. The Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps was created to solve a looming manpower crisis, its members filling critical support roles within the Army. 

This presentation will examine the shared history of General Eisenhower and the Women’s Army Corps, exploring how their partnership shaped the wartime experience, expanded opportunities for women in the military, and left a lasting legacy on the U.S. Army and American society.

Molly Sampson is a passionate World War II historian and museum leader whose research explores the intersections of gender, social, and military history, with a particular focus on the Women’s Army Corps and its vital contributions during World War II.