Anna Mac Clarke The first African-American woman to become a commander among white soldiers in the US Army Women's Army Corps Date of Birth: 20.06.1919 Country: USA

Biography of Anna Mac Clarke

Anna Mac Clarke was born on June 20, 1919, in Lawrenceburg, a small town located 48 km west of Lexington, Kentucky. Her mother, Nora Mitchel, worked as a cook, and her father, Tom Clark, was a laborer from Harrodsburg. Anna's parents never legalized their relationship, and after Nora passed away from cancer, Anna and her three siblings were taken in by their grandmother, Lucy Medley.

Under her grandmother's guidance, Anna learned the importance of education and diligently pursued her studies, attending additional courses. In her hometown, Anna earned a reputation as a daredevil, enjoying playing sports with boys and caring for animals. It became evident that she was destined for something greater than a quiet life in a small town.

On May 28, 1937, Anna graduated from Lawrenceburg High School, which was referred to as a "colored school" at that time. She then enrolled in Kentucky State College, a "colored" institution, where she graduated in 1941 with a bachelor's degree in sociology and economics. However, she faced significant difficulties in finding employment, as no one was willing to pay her a fair wage.

When the United States entered World War II on December 7, 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Anna saw an opportunity to not only serve her country but also make a name for herself. In 1942, she underwent military training and was accepted into the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) in Cincinnati. From there, she traveled by train to the first women's training center, where she completed a four-week specialized training course.

On November 30, 1942, the racial segregation policy was abolished at the Fort Des Moines Officer Candidate School in Iowa, where Anna was stationed. She outperformed other African American candidates in her class and became the only one to successfully graduate on February 16, 1943. By the end of February, she was transferred to the 4th Platoon, 3rd Battalion, where she served as a platoon leader. This made her the first African American from the WAAC to command a platoon consisting entirely of white soldiers.

On February 7, 1944, Anna Mac Clarke became the commanding officer of the first Women's Army Corps (WAC) detachment at Douglas Airport Military Base in eastern Arizona. In this area, unofficial racial segregation persisted, and Anna and other African American soldiers were expected to remain secluded. Together with other African American women, she protested against the forced segregation, and their complaint reached Colonel Harvey E. Dyer, the commanding officer. On February 21, 1944, Dyer issued an order to his officers, instructing them to properly educate all personnel to treat any new African American or white servicemen, whether male or female, with respect, courtesy, and tolerance.

Unfortunately, Anna's life was cut short. In March 1944, she was hospitalized with acute abdominal pain. Doctors diagnosed her with appendicitis and decided to perform surgery. Initially, the operation was considered successful, but it was later discovered that an infection had been introduced during the procedure, leading to gangrene. Anna passed away on April 19, 1944, at the age of 24.

A commemorative plaque honoring Anna Mac Clarke is installed near the courthouse in Lawrenceburg.