LibGuides: Veterans and Military Resources: Women Who Served

Web Links for More Information on Women in Military History

American Women Veterans
American Women Veterans is the nation’s preeminent, non-partisan, 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of servicewomen, veterans and their families. We welcome veterans and supporters from all eras and branches of service.
Experiencing War: Women at War: Stories from the Veterans History Project
Chosen from among the thousands of collections of women’s experiences in the Veterans History Project, this modest selection spans four wars. While many of the collections are nurses’ tales, there is also the story of a code breaker (Ann Caracristi), a welder (Meda Brendall), and a flight surgeon (Rhonda Cornum), plus two women who rose through the ranks to secure places in the military history books. Jeanne Holm served her country for 33 years, in 1971 becoming the first woman general in the Air Force. And in December 1990, Darlene Iskra became the first woman to command a U.S. Navy ship.
Experiencing War: Women of Four Wars: Stories from the Veterans History Project
The four major wars in which American women served after World War II can be split into two pairs. Korea and Vietnam were conflicts fought in Asian countries divided by the politics of the Cold War. The Persian Gulf War and the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq were fought in the Middle East and grew out of tensions over aggression in that region and, in the latter instance, the 9/11 attacks. For women, the first two wars signaled few advances in their roles in military service, but in the two recent wars, the areas of women’s participation expanded immensely, with potentially more dire consequences.
Women in Naval History Timeline
The Naval History and Heritage Command, located at the Washington Navy Yard, is an Echelon II command responsible for the preservation, analysis, and dissemination of U.S. Naval history and heritage.
U.S. Center for Military History: Women in Army History
United States Army Women's Museum
The U.S. Army Women's Museum is the only museum in the world dedicated to Army women. The Museum honors women's contributions to the Army from the Revolutionary War to the present, telling their stories with interactive exhibits and videos throughout the gallery, as well as film presentations in our theater. The museum also has an extensive research and learning center, unique gift shop and memorial garden.
Vietnam Women's Memorial Foundation - Women Who Served during the Vietnam War
The mission of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Project is to promote the healing of Vietnam women veterans through the placement of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial on the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.; to identify the military and civilian women who served during the Vietnam war; to educate the public about their role; and to facilitate research on the physiological, psychological, and sociological issues correlated to their service.
Wings Across America: WASP on the Web
During World War II, a select group of young women pilots became pioneers, heroes, and role models...They were the Women Airforce Service Pilots, WASP, the first women in history trained to fly American military aircraft. WELCOME TO WASP on the WEB, a site dedicated to sharing the history of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II, and shining a light on the inspirational stories of their lives before, during and after WWII.
Women in the U.S. Army
From the American Revolutionary War to current operations, women have served a vital role in the U.S. Army. As women expanded into different roles in the U.S. Army, it was clear that the heart of a warrior was not limited to one gender.
Women Marines Association - History of the Women Marines
The Women Marines Association was established in Denver, CO, in 1960 to ensure that our history as Marines would continue to be told and passed on to a new generation of Marines. Since 1918, women have answered the call to serve proudly in the United States Marines and the role of women in the Marines has evolved and expanded. All Women Marines can look forward to the future proudly, while never forgetting the women who made this future possible.

Vietnam Women's Memorial

The Vietnam Women's Memorial is a memorial dedicated to the women of the United States who served in the Vietnam War, most of whom were nurses. It serves as a reminder of the importance of women in the conflict. Situated on the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, it is the first memorial placed in the nation's capital honoring women's military service. This emotional sculpture depicts three women, one caring for a soldier. The monument was designed by Glenna Goodacre, and was unveiled on Veterans Day, November 11, 1993. This monument is the culmination of a ten year grass roots effort honoring the 265.500 American women who served around the world during the Vietnam war.

D.C. Memorials & Monuments
Vietnam War Memorial: Women's Memorial in Washington, D.C. by Glenna Goodacre located in James M. Goode's The Mall area.
Vietnam Women's Memorial Foundation
The mission of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Project is to promote the healing of Vietnam women veterans through the placement of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial on the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.; to identify the military and civilian women who served during the Vietnam war; to educate the public about their role; and to facilitate research on the physiological, psychological, and sociological issues correlated to their service.
Vietnam Women's Memorial (Washington, D.C.)
Thousands of women volunteered to go to Vietnam, risking their lives to care for our country's wounded and dying and to use their skills throughout the world in a variety of capacities.
They were virtually unknown until one lone former Army nurse, Diane Carlson Evans, sought to acknowledge their valiant service. Her vision was for the country to learn of and recognize these brave women by placing a statue honoring their service near The Wall and the statue of The Three Servicemen.

Resources in TCC's collection

World War I Women Marines

Women in Military Service Memorial

The Women In Military Service Memorial opened to the public on October 20, 1997 in Arlington National Cemetery. It is the only major national memorial in our nation's history to honor and pay tribute to all servicewomen of the United States Armed Forces—past, present and future.

Women in Military Service Memorial

Links for Women Veterans

American Legion - Women Veterans
Since it’s inception in 1919, women have always been eligible to join The American Legion, as long as they meet the timetable requirements for membership. Female
Legionnaires have participated in all of the Legion programs. They have held offices and chaired committees at the post, department and national levels.
American Women Veterans
American Women Veterans is the nation’s preeminent, non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of servicewomen, veterans and their families. We welcome veterans and supporters from all eras and branches of service.
Center for Women Veterans - U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs
In November 1994, Public Law 103-446 established the Center for Women to monitor and coordinate VA's administration of health care and benefits services and programs for women Veterans. The Center serves as an advocate for a cultural transformation (both within VA and in the general public) in recognizing the service and contributions of women Veterans and women in the military, and in raising awareness of the responsibility to treat women Veterans with dignity and respect.
The Women in Military Service to America Memorial
A number of women veterans organizations have local chapters. For more information about these chapters or to inquire about a chapter in your area, please contact the organization's headquarters.
National Women Veterans of America
Women Veterans of America (WVA) shall unite all Women Veterans and ensure the best possible care is given to Women Veterans by the Department of Veteran's Affairs Medical Centers. WVA is an advocacy for all Women Veterans and for women currently serving in the military.
This is accomplished by:
~Providing information and support to Women Veterans.

~To be liaisons to proper governement agencies.

~Serve on Women Veteran's Advisory Committees.

~Serve through the VA Volunteer Services.

~Become involved in local and national issues pertaining to all Women Veterans and to those presently in the military.
National Women Veterans United
NWVU seeks to empower women on all issues that impact their daily lives and enhance their understanding of VA rights and entitlements and access to all well being services.
Vet Friends List of Women Veterans Organizations
VetFriends.com was created by a proud U.S. Veteran and has grown to over 1,200,000 members -- the largest online Veteran community today!
The mission of VetFriends: to reconnect, honor and support You, our U.S. Veteran and military brothers & sisters. Our promise is to do all that we can to make you happy.
Women Veterans of America
We created WomenVeteransOfAmerica.com to be a resource for women veterans and for the families and friends who support them. On our site you can learn about women veteran’s health issues, information on military sexual trauma, and the balancing of motherhood with service. We have also done our best to make veteran’s benefits understandable and to direct readers toward useful organizations and resources advocating for women veterans. We are very grateful to all current and past members of the military service, and we wanted to make a helpful resource that reflects this.
Women Veterans Rock
Women Veterans ROCK! Is A Grassroots Coalition Of Women Veteran Organizations & Women Advocacy Organizations, Commissioned By: The Healthy Caregiver Foundation.
WOVEN: Women Veterans Network
We are a community of women veterans spanning all ages, services, ranks, experiences, and geographies woven together by a common desire to:
*Connect for social support and camaraderie
*Share information and resources
*Serve our fellow veterans, their families and our local communities.