When most people think of veterans and heroes, they think of men in uniform. But Memorial Day is for the others who served, too.
So, why am I writing about women in service on a men’s website?
Because while words like “veteran”, “war hero”, “military dead”, and “combat service” tend to conjure up images of men, men were able to succeed in many areas of combat due to the service of women.
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In WWII, more Marines were needed for service than were available. The solution? The “Be a Marine, Free a Marine to Fight” campaign. Women were enlisted in the Marine Corp, presumptively to work at clerical and other office type jobs to “free a man” for combat. In reality, they worked as mechanics, engineers, cooks, metalsmiths, parachute riggers, aerial gunnery instructors, over 200 positions, and came to be a vital part of the war effort.
The role of women as nurses in wartime military service dates back to the Revolutionary War, but the numbers swelled in the 20th century. Although not formally allowed to serve in forward combat zones, by necessity women were alongside men in field hospitals from the Civil War, with their numbers swelling during the Vietnam War. During WWII, more than 70 serving in the Phillipines were taken as POWs. Their work was vital to saving the lives of countless men who would continue to serve. Despite this service and sacrifice, they were not granted full military status and benefits until 1948.
In WWII, male pilots for combat flight were in short supply, and there were few to spare for ferry and supply missions, target towing, and similar non-combat jobs. The solution? Bring in women. Their roles expanded to include test and safety pilots, flight instructors (for male pilots), simulated stafing, and towing for aerial gunnery and anti-aircraft (essentially, they pulled targets for males pilots to shoot at). But they were considered civilians, and the 38 who died received no benefits, no burial, no right to an American flag on their coffin. All WASPs were officially recognized as veterans in 1979.
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Currently, roles for women in the military are expanding as the mostly male leadership is recognizing not only the abilities of women, but the necessity of allowing for flexibility in roles to maintain a ready and adaptable force.
But from the more than 35,000 women who served during WWI to free up men for combat missions to the Women’s Army Corp (WAC) officers involuntarily recalled to active duty during the Korean Conflict to countless others, women have served our country with and alongside men, for many years unrecognized.
That’s why I’m writing about women in service on a men’s website on Memorial Day.
Because we’d be remiss in not including them in our gratitude for Those Who Served.
—Photo Tim Evanson/Flickr