Carmen Contreras Bozak
The pioneering Puerto Rican woman who broke barriers as the first to serve in the U.S. Women's Army Corps during World War II.
1919–2017 (age 98)·Puerto Rican soldier·Birthday: December 31·The Greatest Generation
Biography
When Carmen Contreras Bozak enlisted in the newly formed Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in 1942, she wasn't just joining up; she was making history. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York, she became the first Puerto Rican woman to wear a WAAC (later WAC) uniform. Assigned to the Army's Signal Corps in North Africa and later Italy, her fluency in Spanish, English, and French made her a vital interpreter and administrative specialist, handling sensitive communications far from the front lines but essential to the war effort. Her service paved the way for thousands of Latina women in the military, proving their capability and patriotism. After the war, she continued to serve in civil service roles, her quiet competence having already written her into the annals of American military history.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Carmen was born in 1919, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Carmen Was Born
The biggest hits of 1919
Carmen's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1919Born
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1924Started school
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1932Became a teenager
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1935Could drive
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1937Could vote
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1940Turned 21
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1949Turned 30
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1959Turned 40
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1969Turned 50
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1979Turned 60
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1989Turned 70
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 80
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2017Died at 98
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
Key Achievements
- Recognized as the first Puerto Rican woman to serve in the U.S. Women's Army Corps (WAC).
- Served with the Army Signal Corps in key Allied headquarters in North Africa and Italy during WWII.
- Used her multilingual skills as an interpreter and in critical administrative roles supporting the war effort.
Did You Know?
She was part of the first contingent of WAACs deployed overseas, arriving in North Africa in 1943.
Her technical rank was Technician Fourth Grade (Tech4), a specialist rank.
She lived to be 97, witnessing immense change in the role of women in the military.
“I joined to serve my country, and they gave me a switchboard in North Africa.”
