Women’s History Month: Serving and Protecting since the Nations Inception

2022-03-03T12:56:55-05:00

It’s understandable that since the beginning of time, women have been sheltered and protected. Without them, the human race would cease to exist. But we aren’t cave people anymore. Women have proven to be strong, independent, capable and worthy of equal rights and opportunities that extend beyond being vessels for the continuity of the human race.

Women became “citizens” of the United States and given the right to vote in 1920. Yet they served in the military LONG before they were even allowed an opinion regarding their commander in chief.

During the Revolutionary war, many women dressed as men and fought alongside their husbands in combat. Some served as spies. Rumor has it that over 1,000 women dressed as men and fought in the Civil War. Another 20,000 women served their country as nurses for both the Union and Confederate armies. Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, obtained an exceptional “military pass” allowing her to enter battlefields to treat wounded soldiers.

WWI marked women’s official entry into the military ranks. Eleven thousand women joined the Navy as yeomen serving in stateside roles such as clerics, radio and telegraph operators and torpedo assemblers. WWII saw the enlistment of women across all military branches; 350,000 female soldiers served in non-combat roles but with increasing responsibility: test-flying aircraft, training male counterparts in air combat strategy and still serving the front lines as nurses. Colonel Ruby Bradley of the US Army Nurse Corps was held captive for over three years in an internment camp in the Philippines and still managed to perform 230 major surgeries and deliver 13 babies as a POW.

Women were given the permanent opportunity to serve in the military in 1948. They fought in the Korean War. They were promoted to Generals during Vietnam and allowed to command units that included men, an opportunity that did not exist before 1972. Retired Captain Rosemary Mariner of the US Navy was the first woman to earn her pilot's wings (1972), first to fly a tactical fighter jet (1975) and first to command a naval aviation squadron (1990). In 2005, Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester was the first woman awarded a Silver Star for direct combat action in Iraq.

It wasn’t until just seven years ago that the ban on women in combat was officially lifted. Over 50 women have since graduated from the US Army Ranger School. In 2020, the first woman was assigned to a Green Beret team after successfully completing the Army Special Forces Qualification Course. Only one other woman ever completed the training, then Captain Kathleen Wilder in 1980. After completing the course, she was denied the right to graduate which she fought with a sex discrimination complaint. She won and was officially graduated and permitted to wear the prestigious tab when it was created in 1983. However, she was never assigned to a team since there was a ban on women in combat.

It wasn’t until 2016 that the first woman was granted the prestige of being the highest ranking woman in the US military. General Lori Robinson of the US Air Force was given command of NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) and NORTHCOM (US Northern Command). Last year, on International Women’s Day (March 8th), President Biden nominated the only active-duty female to hold the rank of four-star General to head the US Army Transportation Command. General Jacqueline Van Ovost currently serves as the Commander for USTRANSCOM. That same day, Biden also nominated General Laura J. Richardson to be Commander of the US Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) who was then given her fourth star and is currently serving that role.

It’s taken hundreds of years for women to be recognized as the brave, capable and honorable soldiers they have always been. Share your stories about courageous women you know in the military below. They deserve the recognition and women’s history month is just the excuse we need to call out their exemplary service.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Mar 3 at 2022 1:07 PM

2022-03-03T13:07:48-05:00

Thanks for sharing, much informational.

Response by PO2 Marco Monsalve made Mar 3 at 2022 1:37 PM

2022-03-03T13:37:55-05:00

High time to provide the level of recognition that was earned by these women.

Response by SP6 Ricky Cortez made Mar 3 at 2022 5:56 PM

2022-03-03T17:56:07-05:00

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2022 6:21 PM

2022-03-03T18:21:16-05:00

Women didn't need sheltered and protected in early civilization and there are examples that women weren't "protected and sheltered."

Technically yes by law all women were granted the right to vote in 1920; however, millions of women (and even men) were excluded from voting. Many people of color were denied their right to vote for years after the passing of 15th and 19th Amendments.

I'm curious who wrote this because it's just dripping with sexism and misogyny...

Response by SFC(P) Larry Nahalea made Mar 3 at 2022 9:28 PM

2022-03-03T21:28:31-05:00

The actions of these courageous women have underrated way too long and recognition is in order.

Response by SPC Brent Melton made Mar 8 at 2022 9:41 AM

2022-03-08T09:41:50-05:00

"It’s understandable that since the beginning of time, women have been sheltered and protected. Without them, the human race would cease to exist. But we aren’t cave people anymore. Women have proven to be strong, independent, capable and worthy of equal rights and opportunities that extend beyond being vessels for the continuity of the human race."

This has got to be one of the most sexist things I believe I've ever read, and what's worse, is it wasn't intentionally written that way.

Response by LCpl Richard Sirianni made Mar 10 at 2022 7:19 AM

2022-03-10T07:19:35-05:00

This is a joke. Women were once regarded as head of household while men hunted and gathered. Women were the medicine holders, healers, guides, and centers of the communities and villages. Poorly researched and demonstrates the problems of the VA, ignores our history and continues to diminish womens true role in our history and how women have shaped the past until this modern society created this nonsense and it's sickening to see this come from the organization that is supposed to care for veterans. You just shamed the entire female populace with toxic masculinity placing women back in the kitchen. No wonder stigma cannot change. Biased language from the first words.

Response by A1C Theresa Hemphill-Arison made Mar 10 at 2022 1:33 PM

2022-03-10T13:33:28-05:00

Joined the Air Force in 1961. Absolutely loved it. Desk job in air operations. Got married, got pregnant and was Honorably Discharged in 1962 for "The Convenience of the Government." There are many. many women out there that were discharged even though they would have been an asset to the Government. Having a baby should not have been a reason the take away what we signed up for.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2022 12:43 PM

2022-03-15T12:43:04-04:00

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2022 12:29 PM

2022-03-16T12:29:56-04:00

Thanks for the share.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Apr 21 at 2022 7:31 PM

2022-04-21T19:31:55-04:00

Thanks for sharing.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Apr 21 at 2022 7:33 PM

2022-04-21T19:33:17-04:00

Thanks for sharing.