First Woman to serve in any of the armed forces in a non-nurse occupation

[cutiger83]

 

At age 20, on March 17, 1917, Walsh engaged in a four-year enlistment in the US Naval Reserve, becoming the first active-duty Navy woman, the first woman to enlist in the Navy, and the first woman to serve in any of the armed forces in a non-nurse occupation. On March 19, 1917, the Navy Department authorized enrollment of women in Naval Reserve with ratings of yeoman, radio electrician, or other essential ratings, becoming the first branch of the United States armed forces to allow enlistment by women in a non-nursing capacity. Walsh subsequently became the first woman Navy petty officer when she was sworn in as Chief Yeoman on March 21, 1917

 

In 1917, women had served in the United States military as nurses since 1901. However, despite their uniforms, Army and Navy nurses were civilian employees with few benefits. For example, women lacked "relative ranks" and insignia, retirement pension, disability pension if injured in the line of duty. On enlisting in the Navy in early 1917, Walsh became a Yeoman (F), commonly called Yeomanettes. Yeomanettes primarily served in clerical positions. As a non-nurse, Walsh was the first of 13,000 World War I yeoman females entitled to receive the same benefits and responsibilities as men, including identical pay.

 

Walsh fell victim to influenza in the fall of 1918, later contracting tuberculosis

 

She died on August 6, 1925 at the age of 29 in Olyphant, Pennsylvania. After her death she was buried in Olyphant's St. Patrick's Cemetery, under a monument that reads:

 

Loretta Perfectus Walsh
April 22, 1896–August 6, 1925
Woman and Patriot
First of those enrolled in the United States Naval Service
World War 1917–1919
Her comrades dedicate this monument
to keep alive forever
memories of the sacrifice and devotion of womanhood

In memory of Walsh and her bold actions on March 21, 1917, the official history program of the Department of the Navy, the Naval Historical Center, identifies March 21, 1917 as a date in American naval history.

 

 

[lovmilinsig]

Interesting post . Thanks for sharing .

 

Ed

[Mr.Jerry]

Thanks for keeping her memory alive.

[cwnorma]

cutiger83,

Great post!

If you have not yet had a chance, try to get a copy of Eunice Dessez' "The First Enlisted Women" -- a first hand account of the life of a Yeoman (F).

As Dessez points out, the Yeoman (F) and Marine (F) were the first enlisted women in any capacity in the US armed forces. Signal Corps Telephone Operators ("Hello Girls") Dietitians, Reconstruction Aides ("Re-Aides"), and Quartermaster Corps Stenographers ("Pershing's 30") were all generally considered to be civilians working with the Army--even though they; wore uniforms, signed contracts, were required to comply with all military regulations, performed the same functions, and generally earned similar pay, as other enlisted personnel. Congress corrected this oversight in the 1970s granting them full status as veterans--with retroactive benefits.

Army and Navy Nurses were generally considered to be officers, even though they did not earn relative rank until 4 June, 1920.

Also of note were a few women Contract Surgeons who wore uniforms and received the same pay and benefits (while under contract) as other male officers of the Medical Officer's Reserve Corps.

 

[gomorgan]

Thanks for posting as we close in on our 100th Anniversary of our involvement in WWI

[sundance]

A very impressive person. Sad that she died so young. Thanks for posting.