VFW, Auxiliary Recognize Women in Service

October 19, 2016 - Members of the VFW Post 8904 and Auxiliary recognized women in service of the military at an event held Tuesday, October 18, 2016 on the Center square.

Larry Hume, Post Quartermaster, welcomed everyone to the event and led the opening prayer as well as the pledge of allegiance. He then explained why the event was being recognized. He stated the history of women in the armed forces began more than 222 years ago with women serving during the American Revolution continuing into present day.

"Today we honor all the women who have served courageously, selflessly and with dedication in times of conflict and times of peace. Women whose achievements have gone far too long without being recognized and ignored," said Hume.

Hume described several of the responsibilities women have shared as they served on the battlefield as nurses, water bearers, cooks and saboteurs. He stated during the civil war women disguised themselves as men in order to serve.

"Dr. Mary Walker received the medal of honor in 1865, the only woman to receive the nation's highest military honor," said Hume.

Hume explained that during the Spanish-American War in 1898, from which the VFW was founded, thousands of soldiers became sick with typhoid, malaria and yao fever.

1,500 contract nurses were assigned to army hospitals, as well as the hospital ship named Relief. 20 of these nurses died as a result of their contact with the soldiers," said Hume.

Over 21,000 nurses served in World War I in the United States and overseas.

"The Navy and Marine Corps enlisted thousands of women to free up men to fight. 400 hundred military nurses died during World War I," said Hume.

During World War II there were more than 60,000 nurses serving stateside and overseas. Captured by the Japanese were 67 Army nurses in the Philippines in 1942 who were held as prisoners of war for over 2 1/2 years.

"Over 150,000 served in the WACS, as they were called then, with thousands sent to the Pacific and Eurpoean theaters. 800,000 joined and served in the Navy and the Marine Corps also enlisted women to release men for combat," said Hume. "In the Korean War the women who joined the reserves following World War II were involuntarily recalled and more than 500 Army nurses served in combat zones in Korea."

Over 7,000 military women served in Vietnam with the majority of them being nurses. Hume stated an Army nurse was the only U.S. military woman to die from enemy fire in Vietnam with six others dying in the line of duty. 1971 saw the promotion of the first woman to the rank of Brigadier General in the United State Air Force and the first women completed the aircraft maintenance school in the Air Force.

According to Hume, in 1973 the first women earned their pilot wings. In 1974 an Army officer becomes the first woman military helicopter pilot. This was followed in 1976 by the admission of women into all service academies and in 1978 the Marine Corps promoted its first woman to the grade of Brigadier General. Also in 1978, the WAC (Women's Army Corps) was disestablished and all of its members integrated into the regular Army.

In 1983 200 Army and Air Force women were among forces deployed to Grenada. 1984 for the first time in history the Naval Academy's top graduate was a woman. Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm saw the deployment of 40,000 American military women and two of them were taken as prisoners of war by the Iraqis.

1998 saw the first woman fighter pilot drop a payload of missiles in combat. By year end in 2004, 19 service women had been killed in combat since the war began in 2003. In 2005 the first woman in history was awarded the Silver Star for combat action. For the first time in history in 2008 a woman was promoted to the rank of Four-star General.

"Last year, 2015, three women Army officers now wear the coveted Ranger tab on their uniform and they also all happen to be United States West Point graduates," said Hume.

Women who have served were recognized and Hume stated it is not complete; however, are the names he knows.

The reading began with Linda Morris reciting the list from World War I: Elizabeth Davis Holmes, U.S. Army Nurse, Walter Reed Hospital, passed October 1956; Florence Daniel Shepherd, U.S. Navy Yeoman 3rd class, passed November 1976.

Leigh Porterfield read names from World War II: Emma G. Baldwin, U.S. Navy Specialist 1st Class Petty Officer, passed December 1989; Lucy Helen Black-Stupic, U.S. Army Nurses Corps Lieutenant, passed March 2006; Catherine Bradberry, U.S. Army Nurses Corps 1st Lieutenant; Bonnie M. Christian-Modiz, U.S. Army Private, passed March 2011; Lexa Dickerson, U.S. Navy Nurses Corps Lieutenant-Junior Grade; Lois Duhon, U.S. Army Nurses Corps 1st Lieutenant; Charlsie Emanis, U.S. Navy Seaman 1st Class; Hazel Greer, U.S. Army Private 1st Class; Ellen Gregory, U.S. Navy Specialist 3rd Class.

Becky Maidic continued reading names from World War II: Bernice Oswalt Moore, U.S. Navy Yeoman 2nd Class; Ruth L, Nash, U.S. Army Nurses Corps Lieutenant; Mablyne Ortiz, U.S. Army Technician 5th Grade; Geneva Oswalt, U.S. Navy Yeoman 3rd Class; Mildred Lawson Partlos, U.S. Marine Corps Corporal; Pauline Permenter, U.S. Navy Aviation Machinist Mate 3rd Class; Onnie Lois Robert-Stanley, U.S. Army Sergeant, passed June 1992.

Sandy Risinger read the final names from World War II: Edna M. Rogers, U.S. Army Sergeant, passed away 1988; Sarah Lynn Sanders, U.S. Army 1st Lieutenant; Loyce L.M. Suri, U.S. Army Private 1st Class; Clara Maurene Tatum, U.S. Army, passed December 1990; Warrena Alexander Taylor, U.S. Army Nurses Corps Lieutenant, passed October 2002; Virginia K. Walker, U.S. Navy Lieutenant; Dorothy M. Woods, U.S. Army, passed 1982.

Hume then read the names of several in the VFW Post and Auxiliary including: Barbara Hughes, U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class, Auxiliary Member; Laresa Hall, U.S. Army, VFW Post Member; Jennifer E. Adams, U.S> Air Force Staff Sergeant, Osan Ab, Korea, VFW Post Member; Jessica A. Armstrong, U.S. Air Force National Guard Staff Sergeant, Iraq, VFW Post Member; Addie A. Boyd, U.S. Army Specialist Four, Iraq, VFW Post Chaplain; Cynthia M. Islas, U.S. Army Sergeant, Panama, "Operation Just Cause."

Another name added on the morning of the event was that of Rena Rodgers, U.S. Army Sergeant, who served in Desert Storm, and Bosnia. She now lives in Colorado Springs. Rogers is sister to Leigh Porterfield who was given the honor of hanging the memorial wreath in honor of those who served and still serve.

TAPS was then played as presented by VFW Member John Piersol.