November 1, 2018 · mccsokinawa.com
100th Year of the Female Marine
Happy 243rd, Marines!
Thomas Alan Smilie
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century ago, the doors of opportunity seemed barricaded shut for women. But during the throes of World War I, one major milestone was met—the Secretary of the Navy granted authority to enroll women in the Marine Corps Reserves. The first to sign enlistment papers—of which the defaulted male pronouns were crossed out—was Opha May Johnson on August 13, 1918, who would later become one of the first women to become a sergeant. From Johnson’s enlistment to the end of the war, 305 women joined the Marines. But by 1919, all were separated from service. However, as the U.S. became embroiled in another world war, the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve was officially established and over 22,000 women answered the call to serve. On June 12, 1948, the Women’s Armed Service Integration Act was passed and women became a permanent part of the regular Marine Corps just in time for the Korean War.
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In 1950, the Women’s Reserve mobilized and eventually reached peak strength of 2,787 active duty females. During Vietnam, approximately 2,700 active duty female Marines served both stateside and overseas. Women were also being assigned to Fleet Marine Force units for the first time, and by 1975, women could be assigned to all occupational fields except infantry, artillery, armor and pilot/air crew. From 1990 to 1991, during Operations Desert Shield and Storm, more than 40,000 women service members were deployed to combat zones. Congress also passed an act that allowed women pilots to fly in combat operations. In 2016, the Marine Corps finally opened all combat jobs to women and the first woman signed up for the infantry that same year. The history of women in the Marine Corps is full of sacrifices, broken barriers and accomplishments with undoubtedly, many more to come. Happy 100th anniversary.
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lthough celebrated informally, it’s said that the first official Marine Corps “birthday ball” was held in 1925 in Philadelphia. This event was attended by well-known national leaders, representatives from all military services, the Secretary of the Navy and the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps—General John A. Lejeune. The celebration of the Marine Corps Birthday was formalized throughout the Corps on October 28, 1952 by direction of the 20th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr. The traditions detailed in the Marine Corps Drill Manual approved by General Shepard are still carried on in Marine Corps Birthday Balls held throughout the United States today, as well as on Okinawa in MCCS Clubs. (cont. on page 3)
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