Inspiring Military of Women’s history: From service without pay to wing vice commander. Read More.
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Less than a year ago, the 55th Wing welcomed their first female vice commander, Col. Sherri LeVan – a historical moment in wing history. Although women were not permitted by law to join the military on a full-time basis until 1948, they have been an important part of recorded U.S. military history dating as far back as the 18th and 19th centuries.
Among the many examples are the women who fought alongside their husbands during the Revolutionary War. In the Civil War, they served as nurses and surgeons for both the North and the South - some volunteering, while others were “contracted” and received pay. In 1917, as many as 230 women were trained by the military as bilingual telephone operators, dubbed “Hello Girls.” They provided communications between headquarters and the front lines in France.
Beginning in December 1941, as World War II began, approximately 350,000 women were called to serve temporarily within the U.S. Armed Forces. These women served without incentives, mainly receiving room and board, unlike their male counterparts. They often endured the same cruelties as the men - across the Pacific, Army and Navy nurses were taken as Prisoners of War. Five Navy nurses were captured and held for five months when Guam fell to the Japanese, 11 Navy nurses were captured in the Philippines and endured 11 months at a Japanese prison camp known as “Los Banos,” and 66 Army Nurses were imprisoned for 33 months in the Philippines prison camp “Santo Tomas,” to name a few.
Locally, non-active-duty, women contributed to World War II efforts through the Glenn L. Martin Company. In line with the “Rosie the Riveter” image, women were recruited to step into jobs in production lines supporting the war so the men could fight.
Today, both civilian and military women work alongside men to support the Department of Defense’s mission. They can be found in what were once male dominated career fields such aircraft mechanics to refitting tires. For women in leadership positions such as LeVan, it has been a lifelong dream, one that was reinforced by two of her biggest supporters, her parents. “I was the only teenage girl around that had airplanes and a space shuttle on her bedroom wall versus boy bands,” said LeVan.
With the support of her family and her determination to reach her goals, LeVan was admitted to the Air Force Academy where she continued to find inspiration from women in history. “Once I was at the Air Force Academy, I would have to say I was inspired by U.S. Air Force Col. Eileen Collins, the first female test pilot and space shuttle commander,” she said. “There was a picture in Arnold Hall of her near the auditorium. When the going got rough during my time at the academy, she was my inspiration, and reinforced that I could do anything. I just needed to be the best at my job.”
Time and time again, women have shown their capacity to become trailblazers and leaders in this country and the armed forces, and women like LeVan will continue to shape women’s history.
Among the many examples are the women who fought alongside their husbands during the Revolutionary War. In the Civil War, they served as nurses and surgeons for both the North and the South - some volunteering, while others were “contracted” and received pay. In 1917, as many as 230 women were trained by the military as bilingual telephone operators, dubbed “Hello Girls.” They provided communications between headquarters and the front lines in France.
Beginning in December 1941, as World War II began, approximately 350,000 women were called to serve temporarily within the U.S. Armed Forces. These women served without incentives, mainly receiving room and board, unlike their male counterparts. They often endured the same cruelties as the men - across the Pacific, Army and Navy nurses were taken as Prisoners of War. Five Navy nurses were captured and held for five months when Guam fell to the Japanese, 11 Navy nurses were captured in the Philippines and endured 11 months at a Japanese prison camp known as “Los Banos,” and 66 Army Nurses were imprisoned for 33 months in the Philippines prison camp “Santo Tomas,” to name a few.
Locally, non-active-duty, women contributed to World War II efforts through the Glenn L. Martin Company. In line with the “Rosie the Riveter” image, women were recruited to step into jobs in production lines supporting the war so the men could fight.
Today, both civilian and military women work alongside men to support the Department of Defense’s mission. They can be found in what were once male dominated career fields such aircraft mechanics to refitting tires. For women in leadership positions such as LeVan, it has been a lifelong dream, one that was reinforced by two of her biggest supporters, her parents. “I was the only teenage girl around that had airplanes and a space shuttle on her bedroom wall versus boy bands,” said LeVan.
With the support of her family and her determination to reach her goals, LeVan was admitted to the Air Force Academy where she continued to find inspiration from women in history. “Once I was at the Air Force Academy, I would have to say I was inspired by U.S. Air Force Col. Eileen Collins, the first female test pilot and space shuttle commander,” she said. “There was a picture in Arnold Hall of her near the auditorium. When the going got rough during my time at the academy, she was my inspiration, and reinforced that I could do anything. I just needed to be the best at my job.”
Time and time again, women have shown their capacity to become trailblazers and leaders in this country and the armed forces, and women like LeVan will continue to shape women’s history.
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