Mary Louise Rasmuson | |
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| Birth name | Mary Louise Milligan Rasmuson |
| Born | (1911-04-11)April 11, 1911 |
| Died | July 30, 2012(2012-07-30) (aged 101) |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Service years | 1942–62 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Commands | Women's Army Corps |
| Conflicts | World War II |
| Awards | Legion of Merit |
Mary Louise Milligan Rasmuson (April 11, 1911 – July 30, 2012) was an American army officer, and fifth director of theWomen's Army Corps (WAC).[1]
Born inEast Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Milligan graduated with a bachelor's in education from what is nowCarnegie Mellon University and received her masters in school administration fromUniversity of Pittsburgh. She was one of the first two women who were awarded an honorarydoctor of laws degree from Carnegie Mellon. Prior to enlisting in the military, she worked as a secretary, teacher, and assistant principal.
She enlisted in theUnited States Army duringWorld War II, where she started as a private in an experiment using women as military professionals.
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She worked up the ranks, and in 1957, PresidentDwight Eisenhower appointed Milligan director of theWomen's Army Corps and in 1961, PresidentJohn F. Kennedy reappointed her.
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She was also instrumental in the integration of black women in the Corps, and was awarded the Legion of Merit award for her work. In five and a half years as director, WAC strength increased from 8,300, on 31 January 1957, to 11,100. The Army had opened twenty-six new military occupational specialties (MOSs) for active duty enlisted women and fifty for WAC reservists. New legislation included a provision to eliminate WAC officer promotion restrictions. Congress had granted active duty credit for WAAC time to women with further military service, and it had corrected inequities for WAC reserve officers. Colonel Rasmuson's public relations efforts enhanced the WAC image and helped convince the public and the Army of the value of WAC service.[2]
In 1961, she marriedElmer E. Rasmuson, the president ofNational Bank of Alaska. She was the only WAC director to marry while in office.[2] The following year, she retired from the army and moved toAnchorage, Alaska.
After retiring from the army, Rasmuson helped expand her husband's philanthropic efforts, including supporting civil rights, supporting education and cultural life in Anchorage and beyond. She also became a member of several military organizations and boards of the Alaska Crippled Children's Association,American Cancer Society, Anchorage Fine Arts Commission, and AnchorageMarch of Dimes.
At age 101, Rasmuson died at her home.[3] She is buried inAnchorage Memorial Park Cemetery.
She was the first guest contestant on the February 3, 1957 episode ofWhat's My Line? With one answer left,Dorothy Kilgallen correctly identified her occupation. "Are you head of the whole thing?" she asked.[4]
The Rasmusons were influential in establishing and greatly expanding theAnchorage Museum. Her stepdaughter is Connecticut state representativeLile Gibbons.[1]
The Colonel Mary Louise Rasmuson Campus of the Alaska VA Healthcare System was renamed in her honor in 2023.[5]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.| International | |
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This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theUnited States Army Center of Military History.
