10 military women to celebrate

Women have a rich history in the U.S. military. They served as nurses dating back to World War I, but with some limited exceptions, women could not serve in other capacities until World War II. After the war ended, Congress passed legislation that allowed a small number of women to remain in the military but with many restrictions. Women could not fly combat aircraft or serve on combat ships, could not be promoted to the rank of general or admiral, did not receive equal benefits in some cases, and were kicked out if they became pregnant.

The women on this list represent a tiny fraction of all those who served with dedication and professionalism over the past century. Some opened doors and removed barriers for future generations of women; others benefited from those changes.

In honor of Women’s History Month, here are 10 military women to celebrate:

1. Nancy Love and Jacqueline Cochran

Mrs. Nancy Harkness Love, 28, director of the U.S. Women’s Auxiliary Ferry Squadron, adjusts her helmet. NARA photo.

Yes, these are two women, but together, they developed a group of civilian pilots during World War II known as the Women Air Service Pilots (WASP). More than 1,000 women served in the WASP, ferrying military aircraft around the United States, towing targets to train male pilots, and in other support roles. In 1977, the WASP finally received recognition as veterans of the military.

2. Geraldine May

A black-and-white photograph of a woman in a military uniform, smiling and standing next to a globe. She has short, curly hair and is looking slightly to her left. The uniform has insignia on the shoulders and chest. — Lieutenant Colonel Geraldine Pratt May, first director of women in the U.S. Air Force, 1948 US Air Force Photo

After World War II, the services created separate organizations for women, each headed by a full colonel. The organization in the newly created U.S. Air Force was known as Women in the Air Force, or WAF. May, who had served in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) during World War II, was selected as the first WAF director and served until June 1951.

3. Jeanne Holm

A black-and-white portrait of a smiling woman in a U.S. military uniform with two stars on her shoulder, indicating the rank of major general. She is holding a pair of glasses in her right hand and sitting at a desk with papers. Two flags are visible in the background. — Jeanne Holm. USAF photo.

Holm served in the WAC during World War II and then returned to active duty in the Air Force in 1948. In November 1965, she was promoted to full colonel and became director of the WAF. Holm was a strong advocate for opening more roles to women, including pilot training. Congress removed the promotion limitations on women in 1967, and in 1971 Holm became the first woman in the Air Force promoted to the rank of brigadier general. She retired in 1975, and not long afterward, the Air Force opened pilot training to women.

4. Sharron Frontiero

Young woman in a military uniform with a dark beret, smiling, standing outdoors with a hedge and a building in the background. — Sharron Frontiero. Public Domain.

Frontiero expected to receive a bigger paycheck after she got married in 1970, since service members received a larger housing allowance if they were married. But the Air Force refused to consider her husband as a dependent, even though men automatically received the pay increase. Frontiero sued the Department of Defense, and in May 1973, the Supreme Court ruled in her favor. Since then, women in the military have received benefits equal to men. Ruth Bader Ginsberg was one of the attorneys who worked on Frontiero’s case.

5. Susan Struck

A museum exhibit features a white mannequin dressed in a vintage white nurse uniform with a matching nurse cap and white shoes. Next to the mannequin is a large informational panel titled "Struck v. Secretary of Defense, 1972," detailing a legal case involving Captain Susan Struck and the U.S. Air Force's pregnancy discrimination policies. The panel includes text, a black-and-white photo of a woman holding a baby, and a framed official document. The exhibit is set against a red background with a glass barrier in front. — Photo via **Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center**

Women who served in the military in the 1940s through the early 1970s were discharged if they became pregnant. After Captain Struck became pregnant in 1970, she sued the Air Force to remain on active duty. Before the case could be argued before the Supreme Court in December 1972, the Air Force updated their rules, rendering the case moot. RBG also worked on this case.

6. Barbara Allen Rainey

A smiling naval officer in uniform holding a white peaked cap with a dark band. The officer is wearing a dark jacket with a star insignia on the sleeve and a peaked cap with an emblem. The background shows part of an aircraft and a building. — Barbara Ann Allen the first female to be designated an US Naval Aviator.

In 1973, the Navy became the first branch of the services to open pilot training to women. In February 1974, LT Barbara Allen became the first women designated as a military pilot. The Army followed suit not long afterward, but the Air Force didn’t have women pilots until 1977.

7. Leslie Kenne

A woman in a U.S. Air Force dress uniform with four silver stars on each shoulder, indicating the rank of general. She has short blonde hair and is smiling. The uniform displays various ribbons and badges. The background features the American flag and another flag with an eagle emblem. — USAF photo

In 1975, the Air Force still didn’t have female pilots, but Captain Leslie Kenne (then Holley) graduated from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School as a flight test engineer. In 1970 Kenne was also the first woman commissioned in the Air Force through the ROTC program. She later became the first woman to become a three-star general.

8. Second Lieutenant Kathy Rambo

A woman with short dark hair wearing a military flight suit with patches, including one that reads "RAMBO," is seated in the cockpit of an aircraft. She has a watch on her left wrist and is looking slightly to her right with a slight smile. The cockpit interior and part of the aircraft canopy are visible in the background. — USAF Photo

Kathy Rambo was one of the first 10 women to graduate from U.S. Air Force pilot training in 1977. She flew C-141 transport aircraft in the Air Force Reserves and was the first female pilot awarded an Air Medal for operations she conducted in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo).

9. Janet Wolfenbarger

Janet was a member of the first class of 97 women to graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy in May 1980. In June 2012, she became the first woman in the Air Force to become a four-star general.

10. Lieutenant Jeannie Flynn (later Leavitt)

A woman in a U.S. Air Force dress uniform with two silver stars on her shoulder epaulets, indicating the rank of Major General. She has light-colored hair pulled back, is wearing pearl earrings, and has a name tag that reads "LEAVITT." She is standing in front of the American flag and the U.S. Air Force flag. Her uniform displays multiple ribbons and badges.

Flynn was denied a fighter aircraft when she graduated from pilot training in 1993 because the policy prohibiting women from flying combat aircraft was still in place, even though the law had been repealed in 1991. However, several months later, DoD changed the policy, and in February 1994, Flynn became the first fully qualified female fighter pilot in the U.S. military. She retired as a two-star general.