From the Collection: 2nd Lieutenant Catherine G. McGuire
by Aidan Sigmund
The WWII Veterans History Project recently acquired the photo archive of 2nd Lieutenant Catherine G. McGuire, who served in the Women's Army Corps during the final years of the war. The collection includes dozens of original photographs documenting her military service, officer training, and life on Army posts across the United States, providing a firsthand glimpse into the experiences of a WAC officer during World War II.
Catherine G. McGuire was born in Toledo, Ohio, on July 17, 1906, the daughter of Dr. Charles W. McGuire and Gertrude M. McGuire (née Matt). Following her graduation from Toledo's Waite High School in 1924, Catherine enrolled at Ohio State University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in political science and history in 1930.
After graduating, Catherine entered the workforce, serving as a clerk for the Ohio State Division of Insurance and the Ohio Department of Commerce. She soon returned to Ohio State University to attend its School of Law. During her studies, she served on the staff responsible for compiling the university's monthly Law Journal. She graduated in 1938 as one of only four women in a class of seventy-four students. Shortly thereafter, she passed the Ohio Bar Examination and was admitted to the Ohio Bar on February 10, 1939.
Catherine wasted no time establishing herself in private practice, becoming one of the first female attorneys in Franklin County, Ohio. On December 7, 1940, she married William L. Bevier at Seventh Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. A native Ohioan, William was a member of the United States Navy Reserve and was called to active duty just two weeks after their wedding. Undeterred, Catherine continued her legal career while living in Columbus, Ohio.
On July 5, 1944, Catherine volunteered for service in the Women's Army Corps at Fort Hayes, Ohio. Entering as a private, she was sent to Fort Des Moines, Iowa, where she was assigned to the 1798th Service Command Unit as a legal clerk. She remained in this position for several months, performing the administrative duties that helped keep the Army functioning efficiently during a critical period of the war. Catherine was eventually selected as a candidate for officer training. After completing a rigorous twelve-week course, she graduated with the 58th Officer Candidate School class on July 21, 1945, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant.
During the remainder of the war, Catherine served in several administrative assignments, most notably at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and in Washington, D.C. At the conclusion of her military service, she was assigned as an administrative officer with the Separation Section of the Adjutant General's Office, where she handled matters relating to the discharge of U.S. Army officers following the end of World War II. Catherine McGuire was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on December 27, 1945, with the rank of second lieutenant. Having both returned home from a war that had dramatically altered their lives, Catherine and William separated shortly thereafter.
Following her military service, Catherine resumed her private law practice and, in 1947, completed graduate studies in taxation and accounting. Several years later, she partnered with Robert Fast to establish the law firm of Fast and McGuire. Active in her community, Catherine launched a campaign for the Ohio House of Representatives in 1954 but was defeated by Jacob Myers in the Democratic primary. Beyond her legal and political pursuits, she was an accomplished musician and an active member of the American Legion.
Catherine G. McGuire passed away on November 30, 1994, at the age of 88. She is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo, Ohio.