Elizabeth Paschel Hoisington (November 3, 1918 – August 21, 2007) was a United States Army officer who was one of the first two women to attain the rank of brigadier general.
Elizabeth P. Hoisington
Brigadier General Hoisington as Director of the Women's Army Corps, circa 1970
During World War II the United States Army expanded opportunities for women beyond nursing by creating the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC).[2] Hoisington enlisted in the WAACs in November 1942 and completed her basic training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. At the time, women were required to serve in units before they could apply to Officer Candidate School (OCS), so Private Hoisington went to a WAAC aircraft early warning unit in Bangor, Maine.[3] The company commander recognized her talents and made her the first sergeant soon after her arrival. She later said that she then sought out the most grizzled male first sergeant she could find and asked him to teach her what she needed to know. She said that he did such a good job that when she reached OCS she never had to open a book.[4]
Hoisington was commissioned in May 1943 as a WAAC third officer. When the auxiliary became the Women's Army Corps (WAC) a month later, its officers changed to standard army ranks, and Hoisington became a second lieutenant. She deployed to Europe, serving in France after D-Day. Hoisington continued her career after World War II and advanced through the ranks to colonel as she commanded WAC units in Japan, Germany, and France and served in staff assignments in San Francisco and at the Pentagon.[5][6]
Hoisington was appointed the seventh director of the Women's Army Corps on August 1, 1965,[7] and served from 1966 to 1971. As director during the Vietnam War she visited WACs serving in Saigon and Long Binh in September, 1967. According to some sources, Hoisington discouraged sending army women to Vietnam because she believed the controversy would deter progress in expanding the overall role of women in the army.[8]
Col. Elizabeth P. Hoisington visits with members of the WAC Detachment, Vietnam, in the unit's courtyard at Long Binh, October 1967.Col. Hoisington meets cadre members of the WAC Detachment, Vietnam, October 1967. Left to right: Sp4c. Rhynell M. Stoabs, Sgt. 1st Cl. Betty J. Benson, Col. Hoisington, Capt. Peggy E. Ready, SSgt. Edith L. Efferson, and Pfc. Patricia C. Pewitt.Upon arriving in Vietnam to inspect WAC units and personnel, Col. Hoisington and her escort, Lt. Col. Leta M. Frank, WAC Staff Adviser, U.S. Army, Pacific, are welcomed by Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Deputy Commander, MACV, 21 September 1967.The first two military women to achieve general officer rank, Brig. Gen. Anna Mae Hays, Chief of the Army Nurse Corps (left), and Brig. Gen. Elizabeth P. Hoisington, Director, WAC (right), with Mamie Eisenhower on their promotion day, 11 June 1970.
On May 15, 1970, President Nixon announced the first women selected for promotion to brigadier general: Anna Mae Hays, Chief of the Army Nurse Corps, and Hoisington.[9] The two women were promoted on June 11.[10] Hays and Hoisington were promoted within minutes of each other.[11] Because they were promoted in alphabetical order, Hays was the first woman in the United States Armed Forces to wear the insignia of a brigadier general. The Hoisington and Hays promotions resulted in positive public relations for the army, including appearances on the Dick Cavett, David Frost and Today shows. Hoisington, who was noted for her quick smile and ebullient personality, also appeared as a mystery guest on the popular game show What's My Line?[12][13]
Hoisington retired from the army on August 1, 1971.[14]
Hoisington shares a moment with her mother at her retirement review, 30 July 1971Grave at Arlington National Cemetery
FamilyEdit
Hoisington's grandfather, Colonel Perry Milo Hoisington I, helped to organize the Kansas National Guard. Her father, Gregory Hoisington, was a graduate of West Point and a colonel in the army. He was a direct descendant of Ebenezer Hoisington, a founder of the state of Vermont and a soldier in the American Revolution.[15]
Hoisington's brother, Perry Hoisington II, was a United States Air Force general. Elizabeth Hoisington's 1970 promotion made them the first brother and sister generals in the United States military.[16]
^Los Angeles Times, Obituaries; Elizabeth P. Hoisington, 88; Pioneering Brigadier General Led the Women's Army Corps, September 3, 2007
^McCardle, Dorothy (August 4, 1966). "New Director Named for WAC". Arizona Republic. Phoenix, AZ. The Washington Post. p. 68 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Obituary, Nancy Hoisington Smith". The Washington Post. Washington, DC. July 25, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2018 – via Legacy.com.
External linksEdit
"Marching on – Three Generations of Army Women" by Lt. Col. Randy Pullen
Timeline Dates for Women in the Military Officially
Washington Post obituary – source: The American Family Hoisington, by Harry Hoisington, 1934
Women in the U.S. Army
Promotion ceremony for Anna Mae Hays and Elizabeth P. Hoisington on YouTube
The short film "Retirement Ceremony for Brigadier General Elizabeth P. Hoisington: Part I (1971)" is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive.
The short film "Retirement Ceremony for Brigadier General Elizabeth P. Hoisington: Part II (1971)" is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive.
October 20, 2023
elizabeth, hoisington, elizabeth, paschel, hoisington, november, 1918, august, 2007, united, states, army, officer, first, women, attain, rank, brigadier, general, brigadier, general, hoisington, director, women, army, corps, circa, 1970born, 1918, november, 1. Elizabeth Paschel Hoisington November 3 1918 August 21 2007 was a United States Army officer who was one of the first two women to attain the rank of brigadier general Elizabeth P HoisingtonBrigadier General Hoisington as Director of the Women s Army Corps circa 1970Born 1918 11 03 November 3 1918Newton KansasDiedAugust 21 2007 2007 08 21 aged 88 Springfield VirginiaBuriedArlington National CemeteryAllegianceUnited StatesService wbr branchUnited States ArmyYears of service1942 1971RankBrigadier generalCommands heldWomen s Army CorpsBattles warsWorld War IIAwardsArmy Distinguished Service MedalLegion of Merit 2 Bronze Star MedalRelationsColonel Perry M Hoisington grandfather Colonel Gregory Hoisington father Major General Perry M Hoisington II brother Contents 1 Early life 2 Military career 3 Family 4 Death and burial 5 Decorations 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksEarly life EditBorn in Newton Kansas on November 3 1918 Elizabeth Hoisington was a 1940 graduate of the College of Notre Dame of Maryland 1 Military career EditDuring World War II the United States Army expanded opportunities for women beyond nursing by creating the Women s Army Auxiliary Corps WAAC 2 Hoisington enlisted in the WAACs in November 1942 and completed her basic training at Fort Des Moines Iowa At the time women were required to serve in units before they could apply to Officer Candidate School OCS so Private Hoisington went to a WAAC aircraft early warning unit in Bangor Maine 3 The company commander recognized her talents and made her the first sergeant soon after her arrival She later said that she then sought out the most grizzled male first sergeant she could find and asked him to teach her what she needed to know She said that he did such a good job that when she reached OCS she never had to open a book 4 Hoisington was commissioned in May 1943 as a WAAC third officer When the auxiliary became the Women s Army Corps WAC a month later its officers changed to standard army ranks and Hoisington became a second lieutenant She deployed to Europe serving in France after D Day Hoisington continued her career after World War II and advanced through the ranks to colonel as she commanded WAC units in Japan Germany and France and served in staff assignments in San Francisco and at the Pentagon 5 6 Hoisington was appointed the seventh director of the Women s Army Corps on August 1 1965 7 and served from 1966 to 1971 As director during the Vietnam War she visited WACs serving in Saigon and Long Binh in September 1967 According to some sources Hoisington discouraged sending army women to Vietnam because she believed the controversy would deter progress in expanding the overall role of women in the army 8 nbsp Col Elizabeth P Hoisington visits with members of the WAC Detachment Vietnam in the unit s courtyard at Long Binh October 1967 nbsp Col Hoisington meets cadre members of the WAC Detachment Vietnam October 1967 Left to right Sp4c Rhynell M Stoabs Sgt 1st Cl Betty J Benson Col Hoisington Capt Peggy E Ready SSgt Edith L Efferson and Pfc Patricia C Pewitt nbsp Upon arriving in Vietnam to inspect WAC units and personnel Col Hoisington and her escort Lt Col Leta M Frank WAC Staff Adviser U S Army Pacific are welcomed by Gen Creighton W Abrams Deputy Commander MACV 21 September 1967 nbsp The first two military women to achieve general officer rank Brig Gen Anna Mae Hays Chief of the Army Nurse Corps left and Brig Gen Elizabeth P Hoisington Director WAC right with Mamie Eisenhower on their promotion day 11 June 1970 On May 15 1970 President Nixon announced the first women selected for promotion to brigadier general Anna Mae Hays Chief of the Army Nurse Corps and Hoisington 9 The two women were promoted on June 11 10 Hays and Hoisington were promoted within minutes of each other 11 Because they were promoted in alphabetical order Hays was the first woman in the United States Armed Forces to wear the insignia of a brigadier general The Hoisington and Hays promotions resulted in positive public relations for the army including appearances on the Dick Cavett David Frost and Today shows Hoisington who was noted for her quick smile and ebullient personality also appeared as a mystery guest on the popular game show What s My Line 12 13 Hoisington retired from the army on August 1 1971 14 nbsp Hoisington shares a moment with her mother at her retirement review 30 July 1971 nbsp Grave at Arlington National CemeteryFamily EditHoisington s grandfather Colonel Perry Milo Hoisington I helped to organize the Kansas National Guard Her father Gregory Hoisington was a graduate of West Point and a colonel in the army He was a direct descendant of Ebenezer Hoisington a founder of the state of Vermont and a soldier in the American Revolution 15 Hoisington s brother Perry Hoisington II was a United States Air Force general Elizabeth Hoisington s 1970 promotion made them the first brother and sister generals in the United States military 16 Death and burial EditHoisington died in Springfield Virginia on August 21 2007 at the age of 88 She is buried at Arlington National Cemetery 17 She was survived by a younger brother Robert d 2020 and a sister Nancy d 2012 18 19 20 Decorations Edit nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 1st Row Army Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit w Oak Leaf Cluster2nd Row Bronze Star Medal Army Commendation Medal Women s Army Corps Service Medal3rd Row American Campaign Medal European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal w one service star World War II Victory Medal4th Row Army of Occupation Medal National Defense Service Medal w Oak Leaf Cluster Croix de guerre 1939 1945 France w StarSee also EditList of female United States military generals and flag officersReferences Edit Evelyn Monahan Rosemary Neidel Greenlee A Few Good Women 2010 page 29 M Michaela Hampf Release a Man for Combat The Women s Army Corps During World War II 2010 page 31 Association of the United States Army Army magazine Volume 24 1974 page 22 Association of the United States Army Brig Gen Elizabeth P Hoisington Dies Archived 2008 05 16 at the Wayback Machine August 23 2007 Debbie Elliott Pioneer Soldier Brig Gen Elizabeth Hoisington August 26 2007 Bettie J Morden Center of Military History The Women s Army Corps 1945 1978 1990 page 217 Associated Press New WAC Head Acts Like Recruit The Tuscaloosa News June 26 1966 Kay Bailey Hutchison Leading Ladies American Trailblazers 2008 page 34 Associated Press Nixon Nominates Women to Wear Stars May 16 1970 Robert A Dobkin Associated Press 2 Women Generals Win Stars Schenectady Gazette June 12 1970 Associated Press 2 Women Become Generals The Spokane Spokesman Review June 12 1970 Matt Schudel Pioneering Brig Gen Elizabeth P Hoisington August 24 2007 What s My Line featuring Elizabeth P Hoisington on YouTube The New York Times 1st Woman General Hailed On Retirement From Army August 1 1971 Frances Spatz Leighton Work is Motto of Army s Newest Stars Pittsburgh Press Gazette July 8 1970 Washington Post Obituary Air Force Gen Perry M Hoisington II May 3 2006 Arlington National Cemetery Los Angeles Times Obituaries Elizabeth P Hoisington 88 Pioneering Brigadier General Led the Women s Army Corps September 3 2007 McCardle Dorothy August 4 1966 New Director Named for WAC Arizona Republic Phoenix AZ The Washington Post p 68 via Newspapers com Obituary Nancy Hoisington Smith The Washington Post Washington DC July 25 2012 Retrieved January 11 2018 via Legacy com External links Edit Marching on Three Generations of Army Women by Lt Col Randy Pullen Brigadier General Anna Mae Hays 13th Chief Army Nurse Corps by Mary T Sarnecky History of Army Women Significant Dates 1966 1975 Timeline Dates for Women in the Military Officially The Women s Army Corps during the Vietnam War by Colonel Bettie J Morden U S Army Retired Women in the United States Military History In Vietnam Washington Post obituary source The American Family Hoisington by Harry Hoisington 1934 Museum of Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame Col Perry M Hoisington her father Women in the U S Army Promotion ceremony for Anna Mae Hays and Elizabeth P Hoisington on YouTube The short film Retirement Ceremony for Brigadier General Elizabeth P Hoisington Part I 1971 is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive The short film Retirement Ceremony for Brigadier General Elizabeth P Hoisington Part II 1971 is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Elizabeth P Hoisington amp oldid 1175462666, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
