This original authority for a unit of seventy-five members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps was soon filled.  The volume of work had increased; also the number of Manhattan District Area offices in which Women's Army Corps members were used, and as a result allotments were increased progressively until the Manhattan District had authority for a total of 425 enlisted women.

     During 1944 and 1945 all WAC recruits who entered the Army under general assignment at Fort Des Moines, Iowa and Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, were interviewed to determine their eligibility in meeting the strict requirements of the District.

     The first enlisted woman assigned to the Manhattan District WAC Detachment on June 25, 1943 was Myrtle L. Hayes who served as First Sergeant for more than two years.  Among the first twenty-five enlisted women to report to the Manhattan District were Minnie L. Barclay, Shirley A. Sherman, and Elizabeth E. Young.

     The first Commanding Officer, 1st Lieutenant Frances W. House, was appointed in June 1943.  Captain, then 1st Lieutenant, Arlene G. Scheidenhelm was assigned to the District in September 1943, and succeeded Lieutenant House as Commanding Officer of the WAC Detachment in March 1944.  The District office at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, also served as WAC Headquarters for enlisted women stationed at Pasco, Washington (Hanford); Chicago, Illinois (Met Lab); New York, New York (SAM Lab at Columbia Univ.); Washington, DC (Grove's Office); and, Los Alamos, New Mexico.

     Even before the WAC Detachment was authorized for the Manhattan District, and as early as April 1943, there were WAC's stationed at Los Alamos, New Mexico, as part of the 4817th SCu, Eighth Service Command.  These WAC's later became part of the District WAC Detachment.  After February 1, 1945, the entire military complement of the Manhattan District was designated by the Chief of Engineers as the 9812th TSU-CE.

     Quarters for Manhattan District WAC's were varied.  In Pasco, Washington and Oak Ridge, Tennessee, government dormitories were utilized; enlisted women at Los Alamos, NM were housed in comfortable barracks; and those in New York and Chicago were assigned hotel space under government contract.

Maximum strength for the detachment was reached in August 1945 when the roster included 422 enlisted women, representing every state in the union. 

Members of the Women's Army Corps Detachment constituted a specialized group of chief clerks, stenographers, telephone operators, scientific technicians, clerks general, and teletype and cryptographic technicians. Stationed in numerous isolated locations, to them was assigned the task of handling detailed records, technical reports, and secret information pertaining to the development of the Atomic Bomb. 

A number of enlisted women developed new skills in various fields as a result of assignments with the Manhattan District. Enlisted women became skillful in technical duties as follows: metallurgy technician, entailing work in ceramics, plastics, and powdered metals; electronics technicians, pertaining principally to the construction of electronics equipment; photography, dealing mainly with metallurgy, entailing a knowledge of metals; and spectroscopist technician, covering advanced work with the spectroscope. 

In recognition of the superior performance on an especially difficult task, the 9812th TSU-CE was awarded the Meritorious Service Unit Award [now called Meritorious Unit Citation]. The members of the detachment receiving individual awards include twenty women who have been presented with the Army Commendation Ribbon, and one who has received the Legion of Merit. 

Upon release of the information on 6 August 1945, that stated the mission of the Manhattan District, a number of congratulatory messages were received, one of which is presented below.

The above information covering the role of women in the development of the Atomic Bomb is from the Historical Manuscripts Collection (HMC), Historical Resources Branch, US Army Center of Military History. Persons using it should cite it by both title and call number: 2-2.1 BD.

War Department

WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS

Office of the Director

Washington 25

6 September 1945

It is certainly with pride, and a deep feeling of gratitude to each one of you that I send this message.

The security measures that still involve the Manhattan District Project, the great responsibility that each one of you will always have, set you apart as very special and honored heroines in World War II.

Your devotion to duty, the sacrifices you have made, the daily soldier privileges that you have forfeited and your loyalty to the security measures necessary, will be proudly recorded in the history of the Women's Army Corps. You have established a very enviable record, and you may justly feel that, in selflessly serving your country, you have made a valuable contribution to the struggle that brought Victory to our Cause.

My warmest greetings to you all.

s/Westray Battle Boyce

WESTRAY BATTLE BOYCE

Colonel, GSC

Director, Women's Army Corps