"From the Front Porch to the Front Lines": A Brief History of Women's Involvement in the American Military and VT's Corp of Cadets
Women have played a significant, though often overlooked and under-documented, role in the history of the American military. From the Revolutionary War to today, women have served in various roles including as nurses, spies, soldiers, or leaders. Over the years, their involvement has expanded, leading to greater opportunities, recognition, and integration into the armed forces, culminating in the eventual combat roles and leadership positions they hold today.
This section of the exhibit is condensed and is not encompassing of all women's experiences in the American miliary. For example, this section does not cover all military conflicts the United States as been involved in, such as the War of 1812, the American Indian Wars, and the Spanish-American War. This section primarily focuses on resources available to the Special Collections and University Archives. As aforementioned, women's involvement in the American armed forces is under-documented and many stories were not recorded fully, if at all, especially women of color who faced different challenges and prejudices.
The American Revolutionary War (1775-1783)
During the Revolutionary War, women played crucial roles, despite being largely excluded from formal military service. Many women, such as Martha Washington and Abigail Adams, supported the cause from the home front by raising funds and collecting supplies, as well as by managing households, farms, and businesses. Some women, like Deborah Sampson (the first woman to receive a military pension under her name) and Loreta Janeta Velazquez (who fought in the Battle of Shiloh), disguised themselves as men to enlist and fight in battle. Women also served as spies and saboteurs, couriers, and nurses, offering essential intelligence and tending to wounded soldiers. The work of women during this time laid the foundation for future generations of women in the military, demonstrating their resilience and commitment to the nation’s cause.
The American Civil War (1861-1865)
During the American Civil War, women took on a variety of roles that were vital to the war effort, both on the home front and in active support of the military. Thousands of women, particularly from the Northern states, volunteered as nurses, including notable figures like Louisa May Alcott (author of Little Women), Clara Barton (who went on to found the American Red Cross), and Harriet Tubman (of the Underground Railroad). Some women disguised themselves as men to fight in combat, such as Jennie Hodgers and Frances Clayton. Women also served as spies and scouts, gathering crucial intelligence for both Union and Confederate forces. Additionally, many women worked tirelessly in factories, farms, and on the battlefield as cooks, laundresses, and seamstresses to help the war efforts. Their contributions marked a significant shift in how women were viewed in relation to military service, setting the stage for their future involvement in American armed forces.
WWI (1914-1918) and WWII (1939-1945)
During World War I and World War II, women made groundbreaking strides in their roles within the military and on the home front. Despite not having the right to vote, World War I was the first time women formally served in the American Armed Forces. Over 21,000 American women served as nurses in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, both domestically and overseas. Women also took on vital positions in various military offices, such as telephone and radio operators, ambulance and truck drivers, mechanics, translators, and munitions. In World War II, women’s involvement reached new heights, with the formation of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) and the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), among other organizations. They served in a wide range of capacities including pilots, mechanics, intelligence officers, radio operators, nurses, and even doctors (starting in 1943). Women also worked in factories, filling jobs in defense industries in unprecedented numbers. By 1943, over 2.5 million women were working in factories, building ships, aircrafts, munitions, military vehicles, and safety gear like parachutes and helmets. These contributions were crucial to the success of the war efforts and helped shift public perception about women's roles in the workforce and military, laying the groundwork for future advancements in gender equality in the armed forces.
Korean War (1950-1953) and the Vietnam War (1955-1975)
During the Korean War and the Vietnam War, women served in critical roles, both in combat and homefront support that were essential to the war efforts. In the Korean War (1950–1953), over 120,000 women primarily served as nurses in the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force, often working under dangerous and difficult conditions, including tending to casualties in the field and on the frontlines. They also served as clerks and telephone operators, and some women even worked as combat nurses with the Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals (MASH). In the Vietnam War (1955–1975), the role of women expanded even further. However, fewer women served in the Vietnam War than the Korean War for a number of reasons, possibly including the anti-war movement that many women were involved in during that time in the United States. 11,000 women served in Vietnam, where they treated the wounded in field hospitals and evacuation hospitals, facing the risks of combat zones. Women also served as military personnel in roles such as intelligence, communications, and administrative positions, and some even worked as civilian contractors supporting the war effort.
Women in the Corp of Cadets at VT
Women have been an essential part of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets since the formation of an all-woman unit, L-Squad, in 1973, marking a significant turning point for both the institution and gender equality within military education. Virginia Tech was the second senior military institute to admit women into their ranks, only 4 days behind the University of Northern Georgia. Initially, their presence faced challenges, as they navigated a traditionally male-dominated environment without any established or clear guidances and standards for these women.
Cheryl Butler MacDonald, the first black woman in L-Squadron, discusses the lack of expectations and rules for women cadets that caused much confusion and frustration in those first few years. Click on the following highlighted text to hear an audio clip from an interview with Cheryl Butler MacDonald about her experiences as the first black women in the Corp of Cadets at Virginia Tech: Cheryl Butler Oral History
Over the years, women in the Corps have excelled in a wide range of roles, from holding leadership positions within the corps to actively participating in military drills and ceremonies. In 1979, women were no longer in a separate unit. In 2003, Virginia Tech made history by appointing its first female regimental commander, a landmark achievement that showcased the increasing influence of women within the Corps. Today, women in the Corps of Cadets continue to serve as role models, embodying leadership, discipline, and resilience, and contributing to the Corps' rich legacy of preparing future leaders for service in the U.S. military.
Today, women serve in nearly every capacity within the U.S. military, from combat roles to leadership positions, a far cry from the limitations they once faced. With the lifting of the ban on women in combat in 2013, women have gained full access to military occupations across all branches of service. Women now serve as fighter pilots, special forces soldiers, and in other high-stakes, high-responsibility roles. They also hold senior leadership positions, such as generals and admirals, demonstrating their capacity to lead at the highest levels. The military has made significant strides in promoting gender equality, though challenges remain, including addressing issues like sexual harassment and ensuring equal opportunities for advancement. Still, the contributions of women today are invaluable, and their presence in the military is reshaping the future of defense and national security, making the armed forces more inclusive and diverse than ever before.
