From the Civil War to today women have volunteered their services to this great nation
and at times with little or no recognition.
History and those who publish this history seem reluntant to record and publish the names, numbers and accomplishments of American women who served, who died, who were imprisoned, or were wounded in military service to this country.

The Women of World War II served under the following female branches of the service:
WAAC - Women's Army Auxiliary Corp, which was never officially established and became
WAC - Women's Army Corps in July of 1943.

WAVES - Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services, which was officially established in 1948.

WASPS - Women Airforce Service Pilots , this branch did not receive offcial recognition until 1979 by the Air Force. Then in 1984 ( forty years later) those that served in this branch of service received the Victory Medal and for those that served more than 1 year in this service branch, they received the American Theatre Medal as well.

The WACS - WAVES - WASPS and several other female service branches no longer exist, as they were eliminated in the mid 1970's.

Women in Uniform Firsts


During the American Revolution a woman by the name of Margaret Corbin fought with her husband at Fort Washington, and in 1779 Congress voted her a disability pension of one half a soldiers pay and one suit of clothes or the equivalent in cash.

The first and only woman to receive the Medal of Honor was Dr. Mary E. Walker, a contract surgeon during the Civil War.

The first woman to receive the Purple Heart was Lt. Annie G. Fox, who was wounded while serving in Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

The First woman to receive the Bronze Star was Lt. Cordelia E. Cook, in W.W.II in Italy while serving in the Army Nurse Corps. Lt. Cook also was awarded the Purple Heart,
making her the first woman to receive two awards.

The Soldiers Medal was awarded to Lt. Edith Greenwood in 1943 for heroism during a fire at the military hospital in Yuma, Arizona.

Lt. Elsie S. Lott was the first woman to receive the Air Medal for her actions as an air evac nurse in 1943.

Barbara O. Barnwell was the first women to receive the Navy-Marine Corps Medal in 1953 for her heroism.

In 1945 the first woman to receive the U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal was also the first Director of the WAC's - Colonel Oveta C. Hobby. Interesting enought Colonel Hobby also had a WAC hat named after her - The Hobby Hat.

The first native american woman to enlist was Madeline Nolan.

In 1918 Opha M. Johnson was the first woman to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps.

The first U.S. Army Nurse to die on foreign soil and receive a military funeral was Ellen May Tower during the Spanish American War. And Aleda E. Lutz was the first woman to die in a combat zone during W.W.II.

TOTAL NUMBER OF MEDALS
AWARDED TO WOMEN

1 Medal of Honor
16 Purple Hearts
                                     565 Bronze Stars

During this month of March the Museum would like to also salute and pay tribute to the millions of women who worked in the factories, who took over the duties of Fire Person, Police Person, who served in the Land Army, Civil Defense, Red Cross, USO and who also served this country when they were called upon to do so!

Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 American Armoured Foundation, Inc.. All rights reserved.
Designed and maintained by AAF Tank Museum