Brigadier General Mildred C Bailey was appointed Director, United States Women’s Army Corps, on 1 August 1971. She entered the military service as an officer candidate in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in August 1942 and was commissioned a Third Officer (Second Lieutenant) in September 1942 at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. She received a Regular Army commission in April 1949.
General Bailey was raised in Kinston, North Carolina. She graduated from the Women’s College, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1940. She subsequently did post graduate work in languages at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
During her career, General Bailey had a wide variety of assignments in the United States and overseas. Following graduation from OCS, she commanded a unit at the Second WAAC Training Center, Daytona Beach, Florida. From September 1943 through July 1945, she was a member of the French Training Program at Craig Field, Alabama. In 1945 she went to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, for duty in vocational education and guidance counseling, followed by a tour as a personnel staff officer in Miami, Florida. From 1946 through 1957, she served in intelligence staff positions in the United States and Europe. While in Europe she also served a tour as Commander of the WAC Detachment at the 98th General Hospital, Munich, Germany.
From 1958 to 1961, General Bailey was the Chief of WAC Recruiting for “Third United States Army.” From 1961 to 1963, she commanded the Corps’ largest detachment at Fort Myer, Virginia to which were assigned the enlisted women working at installations in the Washington DC area, including the Pentagon. For five years, General Bailey was in charge of the Women’s Army Corps Team, “Serving with Pride and Dignity.” Following its national premiere in Washington DC on the WAC 21st Anniversary, May 14, 1963, the Team toured throughout the United States. In 1968, she was assigned to the Office of Chief of Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Army, as a Congressional liaison officer to the US Senate.
She was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army commendation Medal. Her service ribbons are the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal for Germany, and the National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.
General Bailey became the second Women’s Army Corps officer to be promoted to the grade of Brigadier General, serving as the eighth Director of the United States Women’s Army Corps.
