Women's Armed Services Integration Act -Women Veterans Day ♀️ 🪖
Today, we honor our Women Warriors
Women Veterans Day on June 12 recognizes the anniversary of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act being signed into law.
I know I may have missed some outstanding women warriors from our military history. If I overlooked someone who should be mentioned, please email me so I can include them next year. I wanted to include as many stories as possible of women who have served across the various conflicts our nation has experienced.
In your service,
Edward W. Hood
Commanders Coalition
Learn more about the service and sacrifices of the women who have served at the Military Womens Memorial.
Captain Lacie Hester (Iranian Attack on Israel, 2024)
Role: F-15E Weapon Systems Officer, U.S. Air Force
Notable Achievements: On April 13–14, 2024, Capt. Lacie “Sonic” Hester, as airborne mission commander, directed coalition forces and shot down over 80 Iranian drones and missiles targeting Israel, the largest air-to-air engagement in over 50 years. Facing aircraft emergencies and hostile fire, she depleted all missiles and used the F-15E’s Gatling gun to engage low-altitude drones. Awarded the Silver Star on November 12, 2024, by Gen. James Hecker at RAF Lakenheath, she became the first Air Force woman and 10th female service member to receive this valor decoration.
Impact: Hester’s historic achievement shattered gender barriers in combat aviation, proving women’s critical role in high-stakes air defense and inspiring future generations of airmen.
Colonel Allison Black (Ret.) (War in Afghanistan)
Role: AC-130H Spectre Gunship Navigator, U.S. Air Force
Notable Achievements: Black, the first woman to earn the Air Force Combat Action Medal, coordinated lethal strikes from an AC-130H in 2001 over Kunduz, Afghanistan, saving Special Forces and Northern Alliance allies. Her radio calls, dubbed the “Angel of Death” by allies, demoralized Taliban forces. She later commanded the 1st Special Operations Wing (2022–2024), leading 8,600 personnel, and received the Bronze Star, Air Medal with 15 oak leaf clusters, and the 2024 Margaret Cochran Corbin Award.
Impact: Black’s trailblazing combat role and leadership shattered gender barriers in special operations aviation, inspiring women in the military and advocating for veterans through the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester (Iraq War)
Role: Military Police
Notable Achievements: In 2005, Hester became one of the first women to receive the Silver Star for combat actions. Leading a squad in Iraq, she repelled an ambush, directing fire and engaging enemies with grenades and an M203 launcher, saving her convoy. Her actions demonstrated women’s combat effectiveness in modern warfare.
Impact: Hester’s award highlighted women’s contributions in Iraq, where over 250,000 served, and supported arguments for fully integrating women into combat roles.
Senator Tammy Duckworth (Iraq War)
Role: Helicopter Pilot, Illinois Army National Guard
Notable Achievements: Duckworth, a Black Hawk pilot, lost both legs and partial use of an arm when her helicopter was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in 2004. Awarded the Purple Heart and Air Medal, she became a prominent advocate for veterans and women in the military. Elected as a U.S. Senator from Illinois, she continues to influence policy on military and gender equity.
Impact: Duckworth’s resilience and political career have made her a role model for wounded warriors and women veterans, amplifying their voices in Congress.
Margaret Corbin (Revolutionary War)
Role: Artillery operator (unofficial)
Notable Achievements: During the 1776 Battle of Fort Washington, Corbin took over her wounded husband’s cannon, firing until she was severely injured. She became the first woman to receive a military pension from Congress, awarded half a soldier’s pay and disability benefits in 1779 for her actions. Her bravery earned her recognition as a symbol of women’s contributions to the Revolutionary War.
Impact: Corbin’s story highlights women’s early involvement in combat roles, despite not being formally enlisted, and she is commemorated at West Point near the battle site
Dr. Mary E. Walker (Civil War)
Role: Surgeon, medic
Notable Achievements: The only woman to receive the Medal of Honor in U.S. history, awarded in 1865 for her service at the First Battle of Bull Run and other engagements. Walker volunteered as a civilian nurse, later becoming the first female U.S. Army surgeon. She crossed battle lines to treat wounded civilians and soldiers, was captured by Confederates as a suspected spy, and continued advocating for women’s rights post-war.
Impact: Her Medal of Honor (briefly rescinded but restored in 1977) and medical service paved the way for women in military medicine.
Sarah Emma Edmonds (Civil War)
Role: Union soldier, spy
Notable Achievements: Disguised as a man under the alias Frank Thompson, Edmonds enlisted in the 2nd Michigan Infantry in 1861. She served as a field nurse and spy, participating in major battles like Antietam and the Second Battle of Manassas. Her espionage missions involved disguising herself across enemy lines, and she maintained her male persona for years before her identity was revealed due to illness.
Impact: Edmonds’ service demonstrated women’s ability to serve in combat roles covertly, challenging gender norms of the era. She was later granted a pension for her service.
Cathay Williams (Civil War, Post-Civil War)
Role: Buffalo Soldier
Notable Achievements: The first documented African American woman to enlist in the U.S. Army, Williams served as “William Cathay” in the 38th U.S. Infantry (Buffalo Soldiers) from 1866 to 1868. Disguised as a man, she endured smallpox and other hardships while serving in the post-Civil War frontier. Her identity was discovered during a medical examination, leading to her discharge.
Impact: Williams’ enlistment broke racial and gender barriers, highlighting the contributions of African American women in military history.
Colonel Ruby Bradley (World War II, Korean War)
Role: Army Nurse Corps
Notable Achievements: One of the most decorated women in U.S. military history, Bradley served as a surgical nurse in the Philippines during WWII, where she was captured by the Japanese and spent 37 months in a POW camp, assisting in over 200 surgeries and 13 births. In the Korean War, she narrowly escaped enemy fire and continued serving as a combat nurse, earning multiple awards, including two Bronze Stars, two Legion of Merit awards, and the International Red Cross Florence Nightingale Medal.
Impact: Bradley’s resilience and medical expertise in combat zones underscored the critical role of nurses in wartime
Share this post with female Veterans to show appreciation for their service and with JROTC, ROTC, and CAP Cadets, who may not know the incredible history women have contributed to our nation’s defense.