Vienna, Austria—The below opinion piece is authored by George Bottorff, Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, retired. As a veteran who has served alongside several women in uniform, the author highlights only a handful of the countless women veterans who have made significant contributions to America’s defense force. George is a California UOCAVA voter, a resident of Austria, and a Member of the Democrats Abroad Global Veterans and Military Families Caucus.
Since our country’s military was founded in 1775, we have had well over 1 million women filling critical roles in America’s Armed Forces. Almost all have had to prove “above and beyond” their capabilities. Many female service members have been victims of military sexual assault (MST). And just like their male counterparts, many of these women have endured combat trauma. However, for years, the federal government could not medically treat them because it was not yet recognized that these women were in combat. For most of America’s history, the War Department, the Defense Department, the Veterans Administration, and the Department of Veterans Affairs – none of these entities acknowledged women having served in the military.
It was not until 1980 that the government even formally recognized women as veterans. Let that sink in. It is only during my lifetime that women have been officially recognized for proudly serving the United States in a military capacity.
Under the leadership of President Obama, the ban on women serving in direct ground combat roles was lifted in 2013, and this change was fully implemented in 2015. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we were in an asymmetric war, meaning there were no front lines, and you had no idea who the enemy was. Women were fulfilling combat roles by going outside the wire in units known as “Team Lioness,” which would enter villages to assess threats and teach women healthcare for themselves and their children. These units were trained in combat tactics because they would work outside the wire. Since 2015, women have been breaking barriers, such as completing the competitive Army Ranger School and serving in leadership positions in combat units. Women have become Marine platoon leaders, served in Navy SEAL officer assessment programs, and have even more impressive accomplishments.
And in today’s post-Iraq/Afghanistan conflicts, more and more female service members and veterans are having symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to the VA, in 2022, there were 271 suicides among female Veterans (80 fewer than in 2021), many of whom participated in combat theaters in the Middle East. Today’s Armed Forces are comprised of both men and women, and all service members are indeed patriotic role models who have taken the oath to defend our nation, even if it means making the ultimate sacrifice. Women are not “DEI hires” filling “minority quotas” but rather fierce warriors who have earned their place among America’s 21st-century integrated military.
Although unlikely, it would be remarkable if the current president were to acknowledge the existence of women veterans. Armed Forces Day was observed on May 17, Memorial Day was on May 26, and Women Veterans Recognition Day was on June 12. On none of these occasions did the president mention the contributions of female veterans and service members. It’s no secret that women have proven their worthiness for inclusion in the military and have consistently contributed to the successful completion of missions.
Yet, our non-veteran president has chosen to ignore the evidence altogether. With the issuance of a gut-wrenching executive order to repeal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within federal departments and agencies, the president is directly responsible for the erasure of women and minority veterans on government websites. Although some people have had their information reinstated due to public backlash, the fact that the United States president would even consider censoring history is an incredible thing to imagine.
Therefore, because President Trump and Secretaries Hegseth and Collins refuse to honor and recognize our nation’s female veterans, I would like to take a moment to highlight only a few of the millions of these women trailblazers.
Admiral Linda Fagan wasn’t just the first female Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, she was also on Trump’s list of being the first high-ranking officer to be fired – with a ridiculous explanation of “excessive focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies including at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, diverting resources and attention from operational imperatives.” But even the Trump White House can’t ignore this incredible Coastie legend. Under her leadership, Admiral Fagan – the first female to lead any branch of the Armed Forces, oversaw 42,000 members, met the Coast Guard’s recruiting goals for the first time since 2007, boosted service members’ confidence in responses to military sexual assault, and honorably served in uniform over a four-decade career with countless highlights. Let us always honor the service of Linda Fagan!
Corporal Grace Thorpe was the daughter of all-around American athlete Jim Thorpe. She was of proud Potawatomi, Kickapoo, and Nenominee heritage. After enlisting in the Women’s Army Corps during WWII and completing her initial training, she was promoted to the rank of Corporal. Thorpe served as a recruiter until she was assigned to the New Guinea campaign, for which she was awarded the Bronze Star. After her military service, Thorpe attended college, worked as a congressional staffer, advocated on behalf of the Native American community, and thrived as an environmental activist. Let us always remember the legacy of Grace Thorpe!
Army Specialist Lori Piestewa, or Köcha-hon-mana (“White Bear Girl”), was a member of the Hopi tribe. Unlike President Trump, Piestewa volunteered to enter the military and volunteered to deploy to Iraq in defense of our country. She was the first woman to die on the front lines in Iraq and the first Native American woman to die serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Lori’s memory is kept alive through her community with an honorary mountain, an education initiative for Hopi children, and an annual motorcycle ride in honor of fallen soldiers. Let us forever recognize Lori Piestewa’s bravery and sacrifice!
Army Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams was in charge of an all-African American women’s Battalion during WWII. The mission was to sort the impossible task of 17 million pieces of stalled mail within six months. Not only did her 6888th Central Postal Battalion complete it, but they also completed it in 90 days. Her Battalion worked 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Keep in mind that Adams’s billeting sometimes had no heat, worked in an area infested with rats, and faced constant racism. Yet, because of something as simple as a hometown letter reaching soldiers on the front lines, troop morale was boosted, and new spurts of motivation occurred. Years later, because of the groundwork that Adams put together, there was a young Marine named George Bottorff sitting on an aircraft carrier at Yankee Station off the coast of Vietnam. The mail would take anywhere from 6 to 10 days. One of the best announcements over the ship was hearing “mail call,” and we have Lt. Col. Adams to thank for setting the example!
Navy Captain Bobbie Scholley graduated from the Officers’ Diving School in 1983. Since then, she has performed her duties as a Diving and Salvage Officer, and she has done it exceptionally well. She went on to serve as a Commanding Officer (CO) in several capacities. In 1997, Captain Scholley became the first woman to serve as the Navy’s Supervisor of Diving. Because of her diving skills, she was the Diving and Salvage Officer assigned to the 1996 TWA Flight 800 recovery operation and supervised diving operations of the destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67) in Yemen after it was attacked by terrorists in 2000. Captain Scholley also acted as the on-scene commander during the 2001 and 2002 USS Monitor recovery expeditions. With her numerous accomplishments, it’s no wonder she joined the Women Divers Hall of Fame in 2000. Let us all be grateful for Bobbie Scholley’s courage and expertise!
Army Lieutenant Colonel Tammy Duckworth was born in Bangkok, Thailand, to an American service member, and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. She was educated at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the George Washington University. She joined the United States Army Reserves in 1992 and later transferred to the Army National Guard, where she served as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot during the Iraq War. In 2004, when her Black Hawk helicopter was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade fired by Iraqi insurgents, she lost both legs and some mobility in her right arm. She was the first female double amputee from the war. Not one to be stopped from continuing to serve, she entered the public service sector as the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, then served as Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, then served as a U.S. Representative for Illinois’ 8th Congressional District, and currently serves as U.S. Senator from Illinois. As a Senator, Duckworth made headlines as the first Senator to give birth while in office. In short, there is nothing this service-connected disabled veteran can’t do. Let us all teach our children that Tammy Duckworth is a role model and American hero!
Carmen Contreras Bozak joined the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in 1942, just six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. At that time, the Army needed bilingual service members to work in cryptology, communications, and interpretation job fields. Due to her Puerto Rican heritage, she became the first ever Hispanic woman to join the WAAC. With the ability to speak five languages (Spanish, English, Portuguese, Italian, and French), she served as a critical interpreter during the post-Pearl Harbor time frame. Carmen volunteered to be a part of the 149th WAAC Post Headquarters Company. They had 195 women and were the first cadre of females to go overseas in 1943. Upon arriving in South Africa, Carmen was assigned to the Signal Corps, performing duties of a teletype operator. She would transmit encoded messages between General Dwight D. Eisenhower in Algiers and the battlefield in Tunisia. Serving overseas was especially dangerous for WAACs because they were technically an “auxiliary” to the Army, rather than being designated as members. Therefore, the WAAC did not have the same protections under the Geneva Convention as males in the Army. After serving for four years (18 months of which were overseas), it’s no surprise this Army veteran was highly decorated. Let us all recognize this distinguished female veteran and teach others how she paved the way for today’s service members and young women!
These are just a few of the women who were removed from the federal government’s digital archives. In my view, the only reason for this Administration to remove these heroes from public viewing is that they would be ashamed of all the lies that they have put out there, and they do not want to be confronted with their lies and held accountable. When lies are told to officers and the enlisted, they usually know it. Why? Because some of the things service members do are inherently dangerous. As their leader, they will not respect, trust, or follow you.
The United States military is one of the most diverse militaries in the world. We have brought women into the ranks, and they have proven their worth and then some. We owe them a great deal of respect and our gratitude for a job well done.
Even though women service members have played a crucial role in the history of our nation, the president and Congressional Republicans continue to struggle to recognize, respect, and value these same women as veterans. These women are bona fide heroes, and they deserve the support and respect they have earned through their service. They belong at VA, DoD, and everywhere else within all levels of our government.
U.S. citizens living abroad, both civilian and military, are highly encouraged to check your voter registration status and request your ballot for any upcoming elections in your home voting state that you are eligible to vote in.
The VMF Caucus, proudly comprising veterans, military family members, DoD civilians, and strong allies of veterans and military family causes, has approximately 1,300 members located in dozens of countries.
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