"I went to Mass one Sunday and the priest asked the mothers to please don't interfere if your daughters are willing to go into the military, to please don't keep them from going, because it's everybody's war." (Video Interview, 3:53)

Eva Romero Jacques

Eva Romero Jacques in uniform [October 1943] War: World War, 1939-1945 Branch: Army Air Forces/Corps Unit: Far East Air Service Command Service Location: Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia; Warrensburg, Missouri; New Guinea, Philippines; Pacific Theater Rank: Staff Sergeant Place of Birth: CO

Eva Jacques came up a bit short when she enlisted to serve in World War II; she was 4'11", one inch short of the minimum height. But she had two great advantages: three years of college and she spoke Spanish and English, so the Army Air Force waived their height requirement. She spent two years in the Pacific Theater, 1944 in New Guinea and 1945 in the Philippines, as an administrative aide. Living conditions in New Guinea were exceptionally primitive, but the camaraderie among the troops made up for the persistent mosquitoes and absence of basic amenities. Though she was far from the action, she did escape disaster once, when a plane on which she was to take on a tour of New Guinea crashed in the jungle.