3/10/2022 9:00:00 AM
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) is proud to recognize March as Women’s History Month as proclaimed by Governor Walz. In celebration, we are sharing the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs message honoring women on the front lines.
“During March, VA celebrates the women on the front lines whose commitment to service embodies the national 2022 Women’s History theme: “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope.” This recognition includes those who served during this pandemic, either on active duty or as Veterans.
During World War I, women served on the front lines as nurses, ambulance drivers and relief workers. Female physicians ran their own hospital units and served in the military as contract surgeons.
More than 59,000 nurses served on the front lines in the Army Nurse Corps during World War II. They served under fire in field hospitals, on hospital trains and hospital ships, and as flight nurses on medical transport planes.
Throughout both world wars and in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, many faced discrimination and criticism when they prioritized serving their country over taking care of their families.
Women now serve on multiple front lines. They are leaders within their units, at hospitals, and serve as military police officers, chief nurses, educators and trainers, front-line combat pilots, disaster response coordinators, scientists, medical directors and more.
Today, women are also on the front lines of establishing policy at the highest levels of national defense.
Read “VA honors women on the front lines” in its entirety.
Want to know more about women’s history in the U.S. Military?
To get connected to MDVA employee, Veteran and community resources and arts/cultural organizations, check out these sites: