Excerpt from "Women's Military Bands in a Segregated Army: The 400th and 404th WAC Bands"

Journal of Band Research, 41(2), Spring 2006, 1–35

404th WAC Band

This study is an investigation of two segregated all-women’s military bands during World War II, the 400th and 404th Women’s Army Corps (WAC) Bands.  Focus was on the inception and activities of two separate but equal ensembles as they worked cooperatively to serve their post and communities throughout the United States.  Each band holds a unique place in military history: the 400th was the longest activated all-women’s band lasting 34 years; the 404th was the only all-women’s African-American band.  Primary sources used were U.S. Army documents, WAC documents, personal letters, a diary, personal written histories, oral history transcripts, music recordings, programs, photographs, newspaper articles, and personal artifacts.  This research fills a gap in band history by documenting women’s roles as instrumental musicians during the war.