9 FAMOUS FEMALE VETERANS WHO NOT ONLY SERVED, BUT MADE HISTORY


By sfelty
Famous female Veterans standing by a car in military uniform.

Stories of courageous men often take center stage, especially when it comes to the military. However, there is a sisterhood of female Veterans whose dedication and valor have shaped the course of history. Here we pay tribute to 9 famous female Veterans whose contributions span generations. Check out our list below and see if you recognize any of these women who served in the Armed Forces.

9 Famous Female Veterans That Cemented Their Place in History

Below, we're paying tribute to seven remarkable women who made history, challenged the status quo, and made significant contributions during their military and civilian careers. Here is our list of famous female Veterans who have made history.

Bea Arthur

Arthur was one of the first members in the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve. Before she was a Golden Girl, Dorothy was a Marine. She served as a typist and a truck driver at 21 years old. She was honorably discharged in 1945 and she had worked her way up to staff sergeant.

Harriet Tubman

Military leader and Union spy Harriet Tubman was known for a plethora of things. In 1863, she led a group of Soldiers to free slaves in South Carolina. This made Tubman the first female as well as the first black female Veterans. Her next mission was only known by President Lincoln. Tubman served as a spy and recruiter for the Union Army.

Grace Murray Hopper

Third on our list of famous female Veterans is Grace Murray Hopper. Hopper joined the Navy during World War II and was a lieutenant in 1944. She worked on the Harvard Mark I computer project, which was one of the earliest electromechanical computers. Her military career continued to advance, and she rose to the rank of rear admiral. She retired in 1986 but remained active in the computing field until her passing in 1992.

Gal Gadot

Yes, Wonder Woman herself enlisted in the IDF. Before picking up the Lasso of Truth on the big screen, Gal Gadot served two years in the Israeli Defense Forces as a physical fitness specialist at the age of 20. This was part of her mandatory military service.

Eileen Collins

Collins was one of the first female pilots in the Air Force, and in space. Aside from being NASAs first female shuttle commander, she was also the Air Forces first female flight instructor. She was one of the first four women to go through pilot training in 1978.In TIME magazine she wrote, “The Air Force was testing whether women could succeed as military pilots. We obviously were living in a fishbowl — everyone knew who we were, our personal business, our test scores and our flight performance. My philosophy was to be the best pilot I could be.”

Amelia Earhart

Earhart wasn't directly a military Veteran herself; however her continues to our nation's military were so great, we couldn't leave her out. Earhart is know as one of the earlier women to make an appearance on the aviation scene. Her work was crucial to the advancement of women in the military, inspiring women to serve their country. You can find streets named after her across military bases around the world.

Sarah Emma Edmonds

In 1861, Edmonds fled her home to escape an arranged marriage. She adopted the identity of Franklin Thompson and joined the Union Army's 2nd Michigan Infantry as a male nurse. She then worked as a courier, a mail carrier, and even a spy behind Confederates. Despite the dangers she faced, she served for two years without being discovered. Unfortunately, in 1863, she contracted malaria and feared that her true identity would be discovered if she sought medical attention. She decided to desert rather than risk exposure. Her desertion meant that she could not claim the pension and recognition that other Union Veterans received.

Queen Elizabeth

We have seen quite a few celebrity female Veterans, but what about, royalty? Yes, Queen Elizabeth made it onto our list of famous female Veterans. During World War II, Queen Elizabeth was a truck driver. She was 18 years old and begged her father to help during the war. She then joined the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service in England. Not only did she drive military trucks but also trained as a mechanic. The Queen is the only member of royalty to ever serve in the military.

Jenifer Marshall

Better known as Susan Hargrove, the “Stranger Things” actress served in the U.S. Navy for five years. Marshall was in the Navy from age 17 to 22. During her time she was a forklift operator, aircraft handler, and logistics specialist. She also worked for the USS Theodore Roosevelt Sexual Assault Victim Intervention Program.From TV stars, to royalty, to famous Black female Veterans, the women of the world have taken on the military by storm.

Celebrating Famous Female Veterans and American Women Vets

We hope that you have enjoyed learning more about famous female Veterans and their military service. These women continue to inspire us today, and their courage deserves to be recognized and remembered. As we celebrate these remarkable women, it is important to remember the sacrifices that all women in the military make daily for our nation. More than two million women have served in the U.S. military, yet those who served our nation early on hardly receive the recognition they rightfully deserve. Today, we celebrate the women who play key roles in leadership and across occupations. Their contributions continue to strength our military. Related reads:


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