Carmen Contreras-Bozak
| Carmen Contreras-Bozak | |
|---|---|
Tech4 Carmen Contreras-Bozak
First Hispanic to serve in the U.S. Women's Army Corps |
|
| Birth name | Carmen Contreras Torres |
| Born | December 31, 1919 Cayey, Puerto Rico |
| Died | January 30, 2017 (aged 97) Land O' Lakes, Florida |
| Allegiance |
 United States Women's Army Auxiliary Corps
|
| Years of service | 1942-1945 |
| Rank |
 Technician Fourth Grade (Tech4) |
| Unit | 149th WAAC Post Headquarters Company |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 2 Battle Stars |
| Other work | Founder - chapter of WAC Veterans Founder - chapter of the Society of Military Widows |
Tech4 Carmen Contreras-Bozak, (December 31, 1919 – January 30, 2017) was the first Hispanic to serve in the U.S. Women's Army Corps (WAC) where she served as an interpreter and in numerous administrative positions.
Contreras (birth name: Carmen Contreras Torres ) was the oldest of three siblings born and raised in the town of Cayey, Puerto Rico, located in the central mountains of the island. In Cayey, she received her primary education.
Her parents divorced and her mother, Lila Baudilia Lugo Torres, moved the family to New York City. In New York, Contreras attended Julia Richman High School and after she graduated, she went to work for the National Youth Administration. Contreras worked for the War Department in Washington, D.C. as a payroll clerk after taking and passing a Civil Service test.
The Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was established during World War II on May 15, 1942, "for the purpose of making available to the national defense the knowledge, skill, and special training of the women of the nation." During this period, the Army was looking for bilingual Hispanic women to fill assignments in fields such as cryptology, communications and interpretation. In 1942, Contreras joined the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) and was sent to Fort Lee, Virginia for training. Contreras volunteered to be part of the 149th WAAC Post Headquarters Company the first to go overseas, setting sail from New York Harbor for Europe on January 1943. She was the first person of Hispanic heritage and the first of approximately 200 Puerto Rican women who would serve in the Women’s Army Corps during World War II.
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