Elizabeth P. Hoisington
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Paschel Hoisington (November 3, 1918 – August 21, 2007) was an United States Army
officer who was one of the first women to attain the rank of Brigadier General
.
On June 11, 1970, three years after Congress
authorized the promotion of women to the rank of General
, Army officers Anna Mae Hays
and Hoisington became the first two women to be promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in the United States Army. Hoisington also became the first Women's Army Corps
(WAC) officer promoted to that rank. (Hays was with the Army Nurse Corps
).
. Women, with the exception of nurses, were not officially in the Army during WWII. Instead, they were members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC).
Elizabeth Hoisington enlisted 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
.
The company commander recognized her talents and made her the First Sergeant
soon after her arrival.
After Bangor, Hoisington made it to OCS. Her commission in May 1943 was to the rank of WAAC third officer. When the auxiliary became the Women's Army Corps (WAC) a month later, its officers changed to standard Army ranks.
Colonel Elizabeth P. Hoisington was appointed the seventh Director of the Women's Army Corps on August 1, 1965 and served from 1966 to 1971. As the Director of the Women’s Army Corps, Col. Hoisington visited the WACs serving during the Vietnam war in Saigon and Long Binh
in September 1967. According to some sources, Hoisington discouraged sending Army women to Vietnam. She believed that the public controversy over the issue of women in combat zones would deter progress in expanding the role of women in the Army.
, Chief, Army Nurse Corps, and Elizabeth P. Hoisington, effective June 11, 1970. Hoisington retired on August 1, 1971.
; General Elizabeth Hoisington was an alumna of the College of Notre Dame of Maryland
. Her father, Gregory Hoisington, was a graduate of West Point and a Colonel in the U.S. Army. He was a direct descendant of Ebenezer Hoisington, a founder of the state of Vermont
, who served during the American Revolution
.
Her brother, Perry Hoisington II, was also a General. Elizabeth Hoisington’s 1970 promotion made them the first brother and sister Generals in the United States Army
; her nephew served as enlisted in the Marine Corps
. Her grandfather, Perry Milo Hoisington I, helped to organize the Kansas National Guard
.
Upon her death, at age 88, she was survived by a younger brother, Robert, and a sister, Nancy. She never married.
An obituary in the Washington Post dated November 4, 2007, lists four siblings: Major General Perry M. Hoisington, USAF (Ret.), Lt Col Robert H. Hoisington, USA (Ret.), Mary Jo Maertens and Nancy H. Smith; 18 nieces and nephews, numerous great- and great-great nieces and nephews.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
officer who was one of the first women to attain the rank of Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
.
On June 11, 1970, three years after Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
authorized the promotion of women to the rank of General
General (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...
, Army officers Anna Mae Hays
Anna Mae Hays
Brigadier General Anna Mae Hays was the first woman in the U.S. Military to be promoted to a general officer rank.-Biography:...
and Hoisington became the first two women to be promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in the United States Army. Hoisington also became the first Women's Army Corps
Women's Army Corps
The Women's Army Corps was the women's branch of the US Army. It was created as an auxiliary unit, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps on 15 May 1942 by Public Law 554, and converted to full status as the WAC in 1943...
(WAC) officer promoted to that rank. (Hays was with the Army Nurse Corps
Army Nurse Corps (United States)
The United States Army Nurse Corps was formally established by the U.S. Congress in 1901. It is one of the six medical Special Branches of officers which – along with medical enlisted soldiers – comprise the Army Medical Department ....
).
History of Service
Hoisington's Army service goes back to early World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Women, with the exception of nurses, were not officially in the Army during WWII. Instead, they were members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC).
Elizabeth Hoisington enlisted in November 1942 and completed her basic training
Basic Training
Basic Training may refer to:* Basic Training, a 1971 American documentary directed by Frederick Wiseman* Basic Training , an American sex comedy* Recruit training...
at Fort Des Moines
Fort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training School
The Fort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training School in Des Moines, Iowa was where African Americans were trained to be officers for the U.S. Army during World War I. The grounds of Fort Des Moines were used for U.S. Army training beginning in 1901, and the all-Black 25th Infantry Regiment...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. At the time, women were required to serve in units before they could apply to Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School or Officer Cadet School are institutions which train civilians and enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a commission as officers in the armed forces of a country....
(OCS), so Private Hoisington went to a WAAC aircraft early warning unit in Bangor, Maine
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
.
The company commander recognized her talents and made her the First Sergeant
First Sergeant
First sergeant is the name of a military rank used in many countries, typically a senior non-commissioned officer.-Singapore:First Sergeant is a Specialist in the Singapore Armed Forces. First Sergeants are the most senior of the junior Specialists, ranking above Second Sergeants, and below Staff...
soon after her arrival.
"From private to first sergeant, that was my greatest promotion in the Army." ~General HoisingtonShe then sought out the most grizzled male first sergeant she could find and asked him to teach her what she needed to know. She claims that he did such a good job that when she reached OCS she never had to open a book.
After Bangor, Hoisington made it to OCS. Her commission in May 1943 was to the rank of WAAC third officer. When the auxiliary became the Women's Army Corps (WAC) a month later, its officers changed to standard Army ranks.
Colonel Elizabeth P. Hoisington was appointed the seventh Director of the Women's Army Corps on August 1, 1965 and served from 1966 to 1971. As the Director of the Women’s Army Corps, Col. Hoisington visited the WACs serving during the Vietnam war in Saigon and Long Binh
Long Binh
Long Binh is a ward, in District 9 of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.-Long Binh Post:During the Vietnam War, Long Binh Post was located near Bien Hoa, Dong Nai province. Vietnam, 33km from Saigon . The base functioned as a U.S. Army base, logistics center, and major command headquarters for United...
in September 1967. According to some sources, Hoisington discouraged sending Army women to Vietnam. She believed that the public controversy over the issue of women in combat zones would deter progress in expanding the role of women in the Army.
Promotion/Retirement
On May 15, 1970, President Nixon announced the first women selected for promotion to Brigadier General: Col. Anna Mae HaysAnna Mae Hays
Brigadier General Anna Mae Hays was the first woman in the U.S. Military to be promoted to a general officer rank.-Biography:...
, Chief, Army Nurse Corps, and Elizabeth P. Hoisington, effective June 11, 1970. Hoisington retired on August 1, 1971.
The Other First: General Anna Mae Hays
According to the Army Nurse Corps Association, "on 11 June 1970, Colonel Anna Maye Hays was promoted to the grade of general and became the first woman in the United States Armed Forces to wear the insignia of a brigadier general."Biography
Born in Newton, KansasNewton, Kansas
Newton is a city in and the county seat of Harvey County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 19,132. Newton is located north of Wichita and is included in the Wichita metropolitan statistical area...
; General Elizabeth Hoisington was an alumna of the College of Notre Dame of Maryland
College of Notre Dame of Maryland
Notre Dame of Maryland University is an independent, Catholic-affiliated, liberal arts college located in Baltimore, Maryland, United States, that primarily serves female students.-History:...
. Her father, Gregory Hoisington, was a graduate of West Point and a Colonel in the U.S. Army. He was a direct descendant of Ebenezer Hoisington, a founder of the state of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, who served during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
.
Her brother, Perry Hoisington II, was also a General. Elizabeth Hoisington’s 1970 promotion made them the first brother and sister Generals in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
; her nephew served as enlisted in the Marine Corps
Marine corps
A marine is a member of a force that specializes in expeditionary operations such as amphibious assault and occupation. The marines traditionally have strong links with the country's navy...
. Her grandfather, Perry Milo Hoisington I, helped to organize the Kansas National Guard
Kansas National Guard
The Kansas National Guard, is the component of the United States National Guard in the U.S. state of Kansas. It comprises both the Kansas Army National Guard and the Kansas Air National Guard. The Governor of Kansas is Commander-in-Chief of the Kansas National Guard when in state use...
.
Upon her death, at age 88, she was survived by a younger brother, Robert, and a sister, Nancy. She never married.
Primary sources
An obituary in the Washington Post dated November 4, 2007, lists four siblings: Major General Perry M. Hoisington, USAF (Ret.), Lt Col Robert H. Hoisington, USA (Ret.), Mary Jo Maertens and Nancy H. Smith; 18 nieces and nephews, numerous great- and great-great nieces and nephews.
Additional Sources
- "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