Book Reviews

Capturing The Women’s Army Corps: The World War II Photographs Of Captain Charlotte T. McGraw; by Francoise Barnes Bonnell and Ronald Kevin Bullis, foreword by Brigadier General Gwen Bingham; University of New Mexico Press, www.unmpress.com; $39.95; (ISBN: 978-0-8263-5340-5)
Captain Charlotte T. McGraw began her career as a talented studio photographer for MGM but when World War II began—and our country needed her—McGraw bravely walked away from the safety and glamour of Hollywood and joined the Army. She became the official Women’s Army Corps photographer and her assignment was to capture images that would have a positive influence on how American women viewed serving in the military. The Captain’s amazing—and often very dangerous—journey took her through Africa, England, Asia, the Pacific and military hospitals around the USA. Along the way, she met a variety of famous and interesting people from General Eisenhower to war correspondent Ernie Pyle all the while documenting the very real and important role the WACs played in the war effort.

The book, Capturing The Women’s Army Corps: The World War II Photographs of Captain Charlotte T. McGraw features a small collection taken from the Captain’s impressive body of work—serving from July 1942 to August 1946, Captain McGraw submitted more than 73,000 photos to the War Department Bureau of Public Affairs. The images highlight her journey and provide a deeper insight into the daily lives and duties of the WACs both at home and over seas. Each shot is paired with an informative caption that explains that moment in time from the people to their location and what they were doing when the image was so expertly captured. This book is fascinating and educational on many levels and would be a great addition to your personal library.