By Dr. Samuel B. Hoff
Leave it to the talking heads of conservative TV to stir up a debate that didn’t need to start and that they will lose: questioning the role and value of women in the military. These folks need a lesson in American and military history.
From duties mostly as nurses and cooks during the American Revolution, women’s roles grew more diverse and dangerous during the Civil War. By the time World War I concluded, 25,000 U.S. women had served overseas. During World War II, 350,000 women served in both active and support roles abroad and at home. In contemporary times, the allied military force in the 1990-91 Gulf War included about 40,000 American women.
To disparage females who have served our nation in the military is to be ignorant of the depths of that sacrifice. For example, Dr. Mary Walker lobbied for and received an appointment as an Army surgeon during the Civil War. She likewise withstood being captured and held as a prisoner of war by Confederate forces. She remains the only woman to have received the Congressional Medal of Honor.
The six women whose military courage has been recognized with the Silver Star since World War II should also be mentioned. Or how about the exploits of the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots during World War II, who were finally awarded with the Congressional Gold Medal in 2010? Though there is evidence that women have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the country throughout history, statistics show that a higher percentage of women were killed than men during the second war with Iraq.
Today, women constitute an average of 15% of both enlisted and commissioned military personnel, with their total presence in the military at about 17%. When viewed from enlisted ranks, women comprise a larger percentage of Air Force and Navy forces than men do. Of commissioned officers in the military, women enjoy a higher percentage of same in the Army. Women have a higher percentage serving in occupations such as medical and supply than men, and they likewise outpace males in administrator positions within the military.
There has been no shortage of transparency and humility by women in admitting the challenges of military service. For one, there are still posts where females are few due to the same standards that doom most males, such as in the Army Rangers or Marine infantry. Within the military, there are still too many instances of sexual harassment and assault against women. Too, females must balance job and family duties, while fighting for equal pay, treatment and resources. Like their male colleagues, females have dealt with physical, medical and mental struggles of transitioning to civilian service. Being aware of and acting on these concerns is a sign of strength.
Finally, the minimizers of our military women should be aware of the pending federal legal challenge to all-male conscription. That is occurring at a time when mandatory conscription of women has grown globally, including being adopted by some fellow NATO member nations.
Whether on International Women’s Day, during Women’s History Month, on Memorial Day, on Veterans Day or at any other time, the achievements of females in the American military deserve accolades, not assailment.
Dr. Samuel B. Hoff is George Washington Distinguished Professor Emeritus of history and political science at Delaware State University. He served as DSU’s ROTC director from 1993-99 and is a recipient of a military history fellowship from the U.
