| Armed Service Integrates Women's Ranks |
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January 6
Ensign Edith De Voe was sworn into the Regular Navy Nurse Corps and in March, First Lieutenant Nancy C. Leftenant entered the Regular Army Nurse Corps, becoming the corps' first Black members. Following World War II, racial and gender discrimination, as well as segregation persisted in the military. Entry quotas and segregation in the WAC deterred many from re-entry between 1946 and 1947. By June 1948, only four Black officers and 121 enlisted women remained in the WAC. President Truman eliminated the issues of segregation, quotas and discrimination in the armed forces by signing Executive Order 9981 on July 26, 1948. WAC's began integrated training and living in April 1950. Affirmative action and changing racial policies opened new doors for Black women. During the Korean and Vietnam Wars, Black women took their places in the war zone. Reference: Library of Congress 101 Independence Avenue S.E. Washington D.C. 20540 |
