(Compiled by Tanya Roth, Ph.D. Candidate at Washington University)

Timeline

The following list includes significant dates in American women’s military history. Although women have participated in all American wars, this timeline focuses on women’s formal relationship with the military, such as through the nursing corps or women’s integration into the armed forces after World War II.

1861-1865 (The American Civil War): Through the United States Sanitary Commission (USSC) and the Red Cross, American women begin to serve as nurses to wounded soldiers. Although they do not have formal military status, the USSC operates under the War Department.

1898-1901 (The Spanish-American War): Female nurses begin to serve on a contract basis with the U.S. Army, although they remain classified as civilian participants in the war. By 1901, more than 1,500 women have nursed wounded soldiers in this capacity throughout the war theatre. Dr. Anita Newcomb McGee is appointed as Assistant Acting Surgeon General by the U.S. Army, the first woman in this role. After the war, the Army asks her to write legislation for a permanent nurse corps.

1901: Congress authorizes the creation of the Army Nurse Corps.

1908: Congress authorizes the creation of the Navy Nurse Corps.

1917-1918 (World War I): More than 21,000 Army nurses and 1,400 Navy nurses support the war effort at home and abroad. Women also serve in the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve. Two women join the Coast Guard, and the Army uses more than 200 women as switchboard operators and stenographers.

1941-1945 (World War II): The Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard all enlist and utilize women, first in reserve and auxiliary status only. In 1943, Army women receive full military status through new legislation. Over the course of the war, more than 300,000 women will serve in these branches, filling nearly all jobs but combat and combat support.

The East Museum currently displays a 1:17 model of the brand new USS Missouri submarine, built by submarine veteran Joe Galaske.  Joe wanted to do something to "spice up participation" in the Veteran's Day parade, and this submarine is the result! 

Joe explains how the sub was built:

The two main considerations were cost and weight. The cost had to be reasonable since I was financing this myself and weight-handling problems would be a concern.   A large part of the Virginia Class Sub is cylindrically shaped so a concrete form could be used.  A rough calculation of a 1:17 ratio decided that a 24-inch diameter X 12-foot long form would necessitate a sub 21 feet in length.   These tubes cost about $70.  While purchasing the form I noticed a roll of heavy paper  (used to protect the floors of new houses) 38 inches wide and 100 feet long and thought this could conceivably be used for the skin of the sub.  Again a roughly $70 expenditure.

  To form the bow and stern I used the method that is used in building    airplanes.  A succession of discs held together by strips of wood glued or screwed at 90 angles to the circles.  The discs were made using ½” OSB board (cheap) and the strips of 1” X 2”s or 5.2mm sheet of plywood cut in one inch strips. (also cheap)  The strips had to be cut perpendicular to their length about every inch, partially through, so they could be easily bent into the desired curves.  The centers of the discs were cut out to eliminate weight while leaving enough to maintain strength.

Applying the skin was the most difficult part as the hull usually curves in two different directions which requires cutting the paper into small pieces (45 in the bow alone) then gluing to the hull with screws, clamps, clothespins or whatever to hold until dry.  Then the screws, etc. removed and hours and hours of using wood filler and sanding.  The surface was coated with Kilz as a primer and several coats of gray enamel.