Grace Elizabeth Lucas

During WWII, Grace Elizabeth Lucas and thousands of other Black women answered the call to service by joining the Women’s Army Corps (WAC). However, unlike their white counterparts, these women faced the challenge of performing their duties amidst racism in a Jim Crow military. Despite this, Black WAC soldiers served in a variety of support roles within the U.S. Army, often receiving little to no recognition for their service.

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Lucas served the United States as a Private First Class from January 1944 to March 1946. In 1945, she was among the first African American women to travel across the Atlantic to serve in World War II. She was stationed in Birmingham, England, and Paris and Rouen, France. After her service, she worked as a typist in the Naval Depot and as an administrative assistant in Harrisburg, PA. She left a legacy of persistence and dedication.