Our Coast Guard had women serving as Lighthouse Keepers in the 1830s. In 2010 Ifong Lee became the first and only Samoan woman to achieve the rank CWO2.
1967 Marine Corps Master Sergeant Barbara Jean Dulinsky was the first woman to serve in combat zone. She was in Siagon, Vietnam.
In 1974, six women earned their wings and became the first female Naval Aviators.
These are just some of the barriers women are breaking in our Nation’s military. But there was one woman that especially intrigued me: Air Force LT Sharron Frontiero.
1973, LT Frontiero forever changed our military with the Frontiero v Richardson case. In 1973 active duty women with dependents were not eligible for housing. Their families were denied access to medical care, commissary, and Base Exchange privileges. Why? Cost savings was the reason given, but the underlying reason was something else.
LT Frontiero’s case was heard before the Supreme Court and they ruled in her favor. Active Duty women and their families would be treated equally.
When we talk about women in our military, we must remember where we came from. Women were denied equal treatment and their dependents were denied benefits. Look at how far women have come! We are years ahead from where women started. Change has happened and is still happening within today’s military.
Be proud of the service of your daughters, wives, and sisters. These women are truly breaking barriers.
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