Posted on May 19, 2015
In your opinion, who is/was the greatest woman in U.S. military history?
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In your opinion, who was or who is the greatest woman is U.S. military history? Support your argument. My vote is for BG Rhonda Cornum, who was taken as a POW during the Gulf War when her aircraft was downed. She is a prime example of resiliency. During her captivity, she essentially dreamed up the foundation for what we now know as Comprehensive Soldier Fitness and Master Resiliency. HOOAH! My second choice would be the founder of the Red Cross, the legendary Clara Barton.
Women in the Military
Resiliency
Military History
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
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Mary Walker today stands as the first and only woman in the entire military force to have ever received the Congressional Medal of Honor for her actions and duties during the Civil War.
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SCPO David Lockwood
Citation:
Whereas it appears from official reports that Dr. Mary E. Walker, a graduate of medicine, "has rendered valuable service to the Government, and her efforts have been earnest and untiring in a variety of ways," and that she was assigned to duty and served as an assistant surgeon in charge of female prisoners at Louisville, Ky., upon the recommendation of Major-Generals Sherman and Thomas, and faithfully served as contract surgeon in the service of the United States, and has devoted herself with much patriotic zeal to the sick and wounded soldiers, both in the field and hospitals, to the detriment of her own health, and has also endured hardships as a prisoner of war four months in a Southern prison while acting as contract surgeon; and Whereas by reason of her not being a commissioned officer in the military service, a brevet or honorary rank cannot, under existing laws, be conferred upon her; and Whereas in the opinion of the President an honorable recognition of her services and sufferings should be made. It is ordered, That a testimonial thereof shall be hereby made and given to the said Dr. Mary E. Walker, and that the usual medal of honor for meritorious services be given her.
Whereas it appears from official reports that Dr. Mary E. Walker, a graduate of medicine, "has rendered valuable service to the Government, and her efforts have been earnest and untiring in a variety of ways," and that she was assigned to duty and served as an assistant surgeon in charge of female prisoners at Louisville, Ky., upon the recommendation of Major-Generals Sherman and Thomas, and faithfully served as contract surgeon in the service of the United States, and has devoted herself with much patriotic zeal to the sick and wounded soldiers, both in the field and hospitals, to the detriment of her own health, and has also endured hardships as a prisoner of war four months in a Southern prison while acting as contract surgeon; and Whereas by reason of her not being a commissioned officer in the military service, a brevet or honorary rank cannot, under existing laws, be conferred upon her; and Whereas in the opinion of the President an honorable recognition of her services and sufferings should be made. It is ordered, That a testimonial thereof shall be hereby made and given to the said Dr. Mary E. Walker, and that the usual medal of honor for meritorious services be given her.
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CPT (Join to see)
SCPO David Lockwood - Did you know that in 1917 they removed her name from the recipient list for the Congressional Medal of Honor winners? In 1977 her name was restored to the list.
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Deborah Samson: During the Revolutionary War, she disguised herself as a young man and presented herself to the American army as a volunteer to fight our opponents. She enlisted in the year 1778 under the name “Robert Shirtliffe” and served for three years undetected. It wasn’t until she was sent on a special mission to carry a letter to General Washington, who spared her the embarrassment of a public discharge, and did so privately with a sum of money to bear her home. Deborah Samson served her country, in uniform, during the Revolutionary War in a time where women’s deeds and accomplishments went unrecognized, all for the love of her country. Her service is a testament that when the “New World” began to change, women were there.
The statue of her above is at a Library in Massachutesetts
The statue of her above is at a Library in Massachutesetts
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Very good question!
I'm biased on this one but Admiral Grace Hopper. Adm Hopper is essentially the mother of modern computer languages and programming.
http://www.cs.yale.edu/homes/tap/Files/hopper-story.html
I'm biased on this one but Admiral Grace Hopper. Adm Hopper is essentially the mother of modern computer languages and programming.
http://www.cs.yale.edu/homes/tap/Files/hopper-story.html
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