Drag performances have long been a part of America’s history, including its military, tracing back to the late 1800s. Drag performers were especially popular during World War I and II. Both on and off military bases, drag performers raised millions of dollars for the Army Emergency Relief Fund, and President Franklin Roosevelt even attended performances and raved about them. Women soldiers (WACS) held workshops to teach the soldiers how to dress in drag with lessons in makeup and how to dress in female clothing. Interestingly, because the Armed Services were racially segregated, there would be two ongoing shows separately performed by Black and white drag performers.

(SOURCE) https://www.advocate.com/voices/drag-queens-kings-fuel