February 16, 2013 - Happy Birthday, Anna Mae Hays

nBornnon this date in 1920, Hays was the first woman in the U.S. Militarynto reach the rank of Brigadier General. She was a nurse who served innIndia during World War II and also saw service during the Korean War.nShe became chief of the Army Nurse Corps. Immediately after she wasnpromoted to Brigadier General, in 1970, a second woman was alsonpromoted to the rank of Brigadier General. (So Hays was first, butnonly by a minute!)
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nThatnsecond woman was Elizabeth Hoisington. She commanded Women’s ArmynCorps units in France after D-Day and also in Japan and Germany; later she served in San Francisco and at the Pentagon.

nWomennin the Military

nFornmore than 4,000 years, in many different cultures and nations, womennhave served various roles in the military. However, theirnparticipation in armed forces and especially in battle—and mostnespecially in leadership positions—has usually been limited and/orncontroversial. n

nThisnis in the news now because the U. S. Military is finally formallynaccepting women in combat roles—although the separation betweenncombat and non-combat roles has apparently long been hazy or evennmissing altogether.

nBynthe way, some countries have had no restrictions on roles for womennfor years. For example, New Zealand has had no gender restrictionsnsince 2001, and Sweden has had none since 1989!

nWarriornWomen

nIfnyou are interested in some long-ago female military leaders, checknout:
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