Links
Women Veterans
Women in the Military
In the wars of 18th and 19th centuries and during the Civil War, women were hired to provide medical care, be foragers for supplies, cooks, seamstresses, saboteurs, scouts and couriers. Dr. Mary Walker, an Army physician who served during the Civil War, was the first and only woman awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for her work in treating patients.
Women were first recruited as members of the armed services in World War I. More than 35,000 served in roles ranging from nurses to telephone operators to clerks. It was the first war in which American women served overseas.
More than 350,000 women served in World War II and included the first female officers. - More than 200 military women of the Women's Army Corps and Women Airforce Service Pilots died in action overseas or ferrying aircraft and 88 were held as prisoners of war.
In the Gulf War (July 2, 1990 to April 6, 1991), women accounted for 35,000 of the 540,000 U.S. troops. Although they were not assigned to combat by law, these women ferried fuel, food and troops into combat areas. Two women were taken prisoner and 11 died.
Number of Women Who Served in U.S. Military Conflict
Persian Gulf - 41,000 Panama - 770 Grenada - 170 Vietnam - 7,500 Korea - 48,000 World War II - 350,000 World War I - 35,000 Spanish-American War - 1,500Links
Department of Veterans Affairs Links
Women's Organizations
- Women Veterans of America
- Military Woman Home Page
- Women Veterans' Website
- Women Officers Professional Organization
- Women Marines Association
Other Links
Unveiling of Vietnam Memorial, 1993 Smithsonian Institute
Some images on this page can be found at American Women in Uniform. The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs is not responsible for any material on outside Web sites.
Postage Stamps Honoring Women Veterans
1997 Stamp
Jacqueline Cochran, Pioneer Pilot
1952 Stamp