[1] She attended Hunter College in New York City, and subsequently earned a master's degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh.

[3] Though many African American women sought to enlist, then Secretary of the US Navy Frank Knox refused their admission.

[6][3] Following Knox's sudden death in April 1944, existing pressure from activists was increased, and on October 19, President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized their inclusion in the WAVES - which was to be fully integrated.

In her memoir, Wills would recall:In October 1944 when the Navy said it was ready for me and I said, ‘Take me,’ I was not consciously making a statement about race relations.

[7]Both women were sent to the WAVES training facility in New York City, where Wills became a classification test administrator for the enlisted.