American women at war
| • | Military women edging closer to combat roles |
Associated Press
Women have been a part of American wars since the Revolution:
• American Revolution: Margaret Corbin took over her fallen husband's cannon in the Battle of Fort Washington and was hurt, becoming the first woman awarded a disability pension by Congress for military wounds.
• War of 1812: Two women served as nurses aboard a ship.
• Civil War: Women disguised as men served on both sides. They also served as spies and nurses. Dr. Mary Walker earned the Medal of Honor.
• Nurse Corps: Women served in the American armed forces since 1901 when the Army Nurse Corps was established. The Navy Nurse Corps followed in 1908.
• World War I: Women who were not nurses were first enlisted in the Navy and Marine Corps during the war. Only nurses served in the Army during the war; but the Army did hire about 200 civilian women who were fluent in English and French to serve as telephone operators and were later given veterans' status.
• World War II: 432 American women were killed and 88 taken prisoner of war. They did cryptology and clerical work, among other duties.
• Korean War: More than 500 women in the Army Nurse Corps served in Korea, some in Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals (MASH units). The Marines mobilized Women Reserves for the first time. The Air Force and Navy also fielded nurse corps.
• Vietnam War: About 7,000 of the 2.6 million military personnel were women. Most were nurses, but others were air traffic controllers, aerial reconnaissance photographers, intelligence and language specialists and in security and administrative positions. Seven died in the line of duty.
• Persian Gulf: Women served in many roles, including as administrators, air traffic controllers, logisticians, engineers equipment mechanics, ammunition technicians, communicators, radio operators, drivers and guards.
• Afghanistan: Women have deployed with infantry as military police, served on warships and flown refueling and fighter planes.
