Jill Halcomb Smith, who has earned a national reputation as an authority on military uniforms of World War II, is now working on a fifth book, American Women in Uniform, 1893-1945.

The book will be dedicated to an aunt who was in the WAVES.

Ms. Smith lived in Columbia from 1965-1969. She attended Lindsey Wilson Kindergarten and the first four grades at Colonel William Casey.

Her father, Floyd Halcomb, worked with Shamrock Stone. He moved to Albany when Shamrock bought the quarry there. Now retired from the quarry business, Mr. Halcomb lives in Somerset where he operates Security Storage Rental, 234 Office Park Drive.

Jill Smith now lives in Aurora, Colorado.

Her previous books all dealt with World War II German uniforms.

The books are useful both from the historical perspective and as guides for collectors of WWII memorabilia.

The new book, she says, may be her last. "It takes so much work and the research is very expensive," she says. "I think American Women in Uniform will be my swan song."