Women Trailblazers, The Groundbreaking History of Their Service in the Arkansas National Guard

During much of the 250 years that the United States has been a country, women were not allowed to join the military. This changed at the beginning of the 20th century when the Nurse Corp was created in the U.S. Army. Still, women were limited in what they could do in the Army. During WWII, around 350,000 women served, which included the Women's Army Corp (WAC). World War II was also when the Army recruited the first female pilots, with the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), although they did not fly in combat. The 350,000 service women also included those accepted for Volunteer Military Services (WAVES). In 1948, President Truman signed the Women's Armed Service Integration Act. With this Act, women in the U.S. military became permanent in most branches. Since that time, women's roles in the military have increased. But that does not mean there is still not discrimination. In the Arkansas National Guard, women could not join until the 1960s, and it was not until the 1970s that their numbers began to increase. During the last three decades, the Arkansas National Guard commissioned its first female Major General and Command Sergeant Major, to include women with combat military occupational specialties (MOS) and more women have been promoted to command positions. But many women paved the way for these more recent accomplishments. This book covers the women Trailblazers in the Arkansas National Guard who dedicated their careers to the organization and continue to do so.