Mary Hallaren American soldier Date of Birth: 04.05.1907 Country: USA

American soldier and director of the Women's Army Corps

Mary Hallaren was an American soldier and the director of the Women's Army Corps (WAC) during its integration into the United States Army. As the leader of the WAC, she became the first woman to officially join the American Army. Born on May 4, 1907, in Lowell, Massachusetts, Mary Hallaren was the daughter of John Joseph Hallaren and Mary Kenney Hallaren. She graduated from Lowell High School in 1925 and went on to attend Boston University, where she later completed her education at Lowell State Teachers College, now known as the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Dedicated educator and adventurous traveler

For 15 years, Hallaren worked as a teacher in Lexington, Massachusetts, spending her summers embarking on energetic hiking trips that she called "rambling." Through these journeys, Mary Hallaren explored many miles across the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Europe.
Service in the Women's Army Corps

In 1942, Hallaren joined the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, which later formed the basis of the Women's Army Corps. Despite her petite stature (just over 5 feet tall), she impressed the recruiters with her determination and intellect. She emphasized that one did not need to be six feet tall to contribute to the army. In 1943, as a captain, Hallaren commanded the first female battalion deployed overseas. She served as the Director of Personnel for the Women's Army Corps, assigned to various units of the Army Air Forces. By 1945, as a lieutenant colonel, Hallaren commanded all WAC personnel in Europe.
Leadership and recognition

By 1947, Hallaren had risen to the rank of colonel and was appointed as the head of the Women's Army Corps. On June 12, 1948, when the WAC officially became part of the US Army, she became the first woman to hold a permanent commissioned officer rank (women had been part of the Army Medical Corps since 1947). She served as the director of the corps until 1953 before retiring from the army in 1960. During her military career, Hallaren received numerous awards, including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and Army Commendation Medal.
Later life and legacy

Following her retirement, Hallaren worked at the United States Department of Labor as the head of the division overseeing women's employment in public works. She retired in 1978 but continued to provide consulting services for some time. In 1990, she became a prominent advocate for the establishment of the Women's Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, which was inaugurated in 1997. In 1996, Hallaren was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York. Additionally, she was featured as one of the heroines in Tom Brokaw's book "The Greatest Generation" (1998). Mary Hallaren passed away on February 13, 2005, at the Arleigh Burke Pavilion, a retirement home for military veterans in McLean, Virginia.