User:Sludovissy/Irene O. Galloway

Irene O. Galloway (1908-1963) was an American Army soldier and the fourth commanding officer of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corp   (WAAC).

Early Life and War Service
Colonel Galloway of Carroll County, Iowa attended Boyles Business College in Omaha, Nebraska. Galloway joined the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps in June of 1942. In September of 1942 Galloway was graduated from WAAC Officer Candidate School at the WAAC Training Center at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. When asked why she was compelled to join the Army, Galloway replied that she was inspired to join because of her brother who was serving in the Pacific during WWII and that an article in the New York Times brought opportunities for women in the Army to her attention.

Galloway served in the WAAC through WWII and witnessed many changes of the roles women played in the military throughout the Cold War, one of which was the loss of women's status as "auxiliary" units that changed the name of the WAAC to WAC. Upon completing her training, Galloway served at the WAC headquarters at the Pentagon, the headquarters for the Army Services Forces, and with the G-1 Career Management Group until she was assigned as WAAC Staff Advisor for the U.S. Army in Europe in 1948. In November of 1952 Galloway was selected as a replacement for commander of the WAC Training Center in Fort Lee.

Just two weeks after reporting for duty as Commander of the WAC Training Center, Galloway was notified of her selection as Director of the WAC and was sworn in on January 3, 1953. At the time of her appointment as director, Colonel Galloway had served 10 years in the WAC, and won the Commendation Ribbon from the Army of Occupation WAAC, and the American Theater and European Theater Ribbons during World War II. During her tenure as WAC Director, Colonel Galloway played an instrumental role in increasing military pay and reenlistment bonuses. Colonel Galloway also implemented the Military Occupational Services (MOS) for enlisted personnel, and oversaw the establishment of a new WAC training facility in Fort McClellan in Alabama.

In 1963 Colonel Irene O. Galloway died of cancer. As a result of her role in moving the WAC training facility to Fort McClellan, the North Gate entrance and North Gate Road, both of which led through the WAC Training Facility, were renamed Galloway Gate and Galloway Gate Road.