American women have had a sterling tradition of courage, sacrifice,
and dedication in support roles in the armed services in times of
war, and as spies, guerrilla leaders, and frontline correspondents.
Most of their heroics and deeds have largely gone unreported, even
though many have been killed in the line of duty, died of diseases
or accidents, or suffered as prisoners of war.^L ^L Focusing on
human drama, this riveting book tells vividly of women's
achievements in uniform going back to World War I. It also relates
in compelling style the heated controversy over sending women into
combat, a dispute that contributed to the suicide of Admiral Jeremy
Boorda in 1996. The Gulf War of 1991 saw 37,000 women serve in
uniform who, like their predecessors, performed admirably and
demonstrated courage under fire. This war and the subsequent
Tailhook scandal renewed the call by feminist groups and their
supporters in Congress to have the military remove, once and for
all, the restrictions barring women from direct combat. While some
saw this struggle as a quest for equality and opportunity in
uniform, others fought just as vigorously to keep women out of
combat. The 1990s saw women assigned to ships, to aircraft, and to
jobs previously denied them due to an easing of the long-standing
combat restrictions. This resulted in a nationwide debate which,
many allege, contributed to the suicide of Admiral Jeremy Boorda in
1996.^L ^L Allowing women to serve in the military during wartime
has been a subject of controversy since World War I, when, for the
first time in history, thousands answered the same patriotic call
to duty as the men and volunteered. Unlike the men, however, these
pioneers were targets of gossip and branded as camp followers by
some. Since that time, some 3.5 million American women have served
their country as spies, nurses, guerrillas, or war correspondents.
Many of these volunteers were wounded or died in the line of duty,
others suffered as prisoners of war-all with little or no
recognition. During World War II, the military actively recruited
women to fill support roles in an effort to free more able-bodied
men for combat duty. This resulted in the creation of women's
branches of the armed services, which enabled women to take on even
greater challenges and more diversified roles than previously
allowed. These new organizations included:^L WAACs-later WACs
(Army)^L WAVEs (Navy)^L SPARs (Coast Guard)^L Marine Corps Women's
Reserve^L WASPs (ferrying airplanes)^L These groups attracted more
than 350,000 volunteers. The tradition of volunteering continued on
through conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, and each time, American
women met their challenges with honor and distinction.^L^L ^IWar
and American Women^R brings to life the compelling story of the
ordinary and extraordinary women who served their country in times
of war. Their largely unreported and unacknowledged acts of heroism
are vividly recounted by an author whose style has been described
by ^IThe New York Times^R as vintage Hemingway.
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