Meet America’s women warriors

The Poplar Bluff Museum tells many unknown tales of our community. I want to tell you some of those hidden tales found within the museum walls.

Women have served in combat next to America’s fighting men since the Revolutionary War. It wasn’t until 1901 that Congress established the Army Nurses Corps. 34,000 women served in World War I but did not have full military status. In 1917 the Navy allowed women to serve in the Naval Reserve.

In 1942, Congress created the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps. As an auxiliary force, women were still not full-fledged members of the military. The Navy also created the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service and the Navy Nurses Corps. These women received full recognition and benefits of serving in the military. The Marines followed with the Marine Corps Women Reserve and the Coast Guard with SPARS. 1,000 civilian women were recruited as pilots to fly non-combat missions as Woman Air Service Pilots.

The Army changed the WAAC status from auxiliary to full military status in 1943 and established the Women’s Army Corps. Altogether, more than 40,000 women served in the military during the war.

Many of these women’s service branches were disbanded after the war. The Women’s Army Corps was the last segregated branch of the military to disband. In 1978, the Army integrated women into the regular force, making them equal in status to their male counterparts.

Today women are no longer restricted from any military assignment, including leadership and combat. They have fought and died in Desert Storm and the Global War on Terror operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2006, a woman was awarded the Silver Star medal for Valor in direct action against the enemy; and in 2008 the Army promoted a woman to four star general.

The Poplar Bluff Museum has recognized 27 local women veterans in the Hall of Heroes. They include the following:

Shirley Anglim, Jessica Aubuchon, Sue Beller, Shirley Beller, Cheryl Brooks, Becky Cassinger, Janna Cauthen, Penny Davis, Connie Decurley, Brittany Dugas, Victoria Graham, Chelsey Johnson, Shirley Johnson, Sasha Keene, Jaycee Kimbrow, Sarah Lacasse, Debra McKim, Dusty Potter, Josie Pracht, Kathy Reed, Nicole Reese, Jolyn Ritzie, Sandra Sparkman, Amanda Thurner, Lauren White, Sharon Wood and Alberta Yancy.

Many more walk among us and we wish to honor them all. If you have served or know someone who has, please submit a photo to the museum.

The Museum is handicap accessible and open free of charge 1-4 p.m. Sunday at 1010 Main St. Tell them Mike sent you.

Mike Shane is a veteran, Poplar Bluff resident and board member for the Poplar Bluff Museum.