Women have served with the United States armed forces since colonial times. Tales abound of women, some disguised as men, who took up arms to defend their country. Some of the better known of these from the American Revolution are Mary Ludwig Hays, or "Molly Pitcher," and Deborah Samson, who fought under the name of "Robert Shirtliffe." Women's roles during the Civil War have been well documented. Not only did they serve as nurses under the direction of Clara Barton, but in 1864, Dr. Mary Walker received a commission as a doctor in the Union Army and was later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. It is estimated that several hundred women actually served as soldiers while assuming male identities. (Nancy Loring Goldman, 1982)
Women played an important role during the Spanish-American War. Organized by Dr. Anita Newcomb McGee, over 1,500 women served in the U.S. and overseas as nurses. Their important contributions were recognized in 1901, with the establishment of the Army Nurse Corps, followed by the Navy Nurse Corps in 1908. Both corps were auxiliaries of their services and members did not receive benefits equal to men.
It was not until World War I that women received full status as members of the military. In 1917, the Navy became the first of the services to recruit women, with almost 12,000 eventually serving as Yeomen (F). The Marine Corps followed, enlisting 305 women shortly before the end of the war. The Yeomen (F) and Marine Reservists (F) were discharged after the war with the same military benefits as men.
World War II brought manpower shortages so severe that the services were forced to consider filling some positions with women. In 1942, the Army began to accept women in the newly formed Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) to serve with, but not in, the Army............
