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Women in the Face of War

by Chrystal Mahan

Oleda Christies, Mary Edwards Walker and Margaret Corbin all led very different lives. Born in different times and places but all had one thing in common, they all led the way for the future of the woman who are alive and on the front lines today. Each woman was a stepping stone for the next. None of these women were your standard military nurse in uniform, but something greater than that. Christies started as the youngest Hello Girl to go one and fight for women's military rights and give them veteran status, Walker was a prisoner of the Civil War and the first woman to receive the Medal of Honor and Corbin fought alongside her husband, he was killed she was wounded and the first woman to receive military pension and revolutionary war soldier to be buried at West Point. All of these events and women played an important role in the paths that were walked for women in the military today.

Oleda Christies, Mary Edwards Walker and Margaret Corbin were all very strong women that paved the way for women today. Hundreds of women made it possible for women to be able to fight in combat today, but these three women made things happen, they were the movers, the shakers and the motivators to allow Congress to open the doors for female combats.

Oleda Christies was born in 1898 and lived until 1984. Oleda was the youngest at 19, and the first handful of woman (Hello Girls) to serve the front lines (not only that, first to be involved in communicating with those not on front line) and opened the doors for women to be completely treated like the men as well as obtain veteran status. ): November 11, 1865, President Andrew Johnson signed a bill to present Dr. Mary Edwards Walker with the Congressional Medal of Honor for Meritorious Service. Which later congress tried to take away.

Mary Edwards Walker was born in 1832 and she lived until 1919. Prisoner of war during the Civil War, writer, doctor (not a nurse!), fashion trend-setter and the only female to receive the Medal of Honor. Mary graduated in June 1855. At 21 years old, she was the only woman in her class, and the second female doctor in the nation. On July 6, 1779, the Board, sympathetic to Margaret's injuries and impressed with her service and bravery, granted her half the monthly pay of a soldier in the Continental army and a new set of clothes or its equivalent in cash. With this act, Congress made Margaret the first woman in the United States to receive pension from Congress. Paving the way for women to obtain payment.

Margaret Corbin was born in 1751 and lived until 1800. Fought in the American Revolutionary War, when her husband died in war she took over his cannon until she was wounded. Three years later, she became the first woman in the United States to receive pension from Congress. The only Revolutionary War soldier to be buried at West Point.

Each of these women a century between them all put in motion the required links in order for women today to be able to fight in combat, get paid for duty, receive a pension, get honors and be granted Veteran status. If not for these women paving the way for the next, who knows where female combats would be today.

Margaret Corbin was one of the first women wounded in battle; she fought in the Revolutionary War. Women were not allowed to fight in combat in the 1700's, but when Margaret's husband was killed firing the cannon, Margaret stepped in and took his place. She was wounded in battle and she fought to get a pension. She was the first women in the United States to receive a pension from Congress. This showed Congress that women should be allowed to battle and should be treated and paid fairly, just like the men. This did not change Congress's mind about female fighters at this time, but it was the start of a long road. Due to her honors she was allowed to be buried at West Point.

Mary Edwards Walker In September 1863, Mary was appointed assistant surgeon to the 52nd Ohio Infantry in the Cumberland, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and wore a slightly modified version of an officer's uniform, carrying two pistols at all times. General George H. Thomas dispatched her, as the regiment's previous doctor had died. The men were outraged; Dr. Perin, director of the medical staff, called it a "medical monstrosity" and requested a review by an Army medical board of Mary's qualifications, doubting she knew much more than "most housewives." Plus, many of the men believed, her many trips into Confederate territory to help civilians was a cover for spying.

On April 10, 1864, wearing her uniform, she walked into a band of Confederate soldiers just south of the Georgia-Tennessee border and was taken hostage. For four months Mary was imprisoned at Castle Thunder, near Richmond, Virginia. She complained about the lack of grain and vegetables for prisoners and the Confederates added wheat bread and cabbage to the rations. On August 12, 1864, she was exchanged, along with 24 other Union doctors, for 17 Confederate doctors. She was proud that her exchange was for a Confederate surgeon of the rank of major.

Mary returned to the Ohio 52nd as a contract surgeon (apparently the men had grown to respect her; she even visited the regiment after the war ended.) And she continued her appeal for a commission, which went all the way to President Lincoln, but was refused. In September she was granted $432.36 for her services from March 11, although she'd been imprisoned most of it. On October 5, 1864, Mary finally was commissioned, as acting assistant surgeon, with $100 monthly salary - becoming the first female surgeon commissioned in the Army. She served six months administering patients at the Louisville Women's Prison Hospital and then finished out the war serving at an orphan asylum in Clarksville, Tennessee. She was discharged on June 15, 1865(http://www.lkwdpl.org/wihohio/walk-mar.htm).

If not for Margaret Corbin fighting for Pension from Congress, Mary Edwards Walker would not have received it so easily. Mary helped pave the way for those next in line as she became a Doctor and was not a nurse, she was also the first women to receive the Medal of Honor for her duty in the Civil War.

Mary Edwards Walker and Margaret Corbin opened many doors for those that followed. Oleda Christies was one of them. Oleda was the youngest girl to join the Hello Girls in World War I. Because the world was slowly starting to see that women could be much more then just nurses, they were strong and maybe were not ready for complete combat at this time, but were much more ready to do something other then tend to the wounded. Oleda was sworn in to be on the battlefield. She served on the front line, right next to the men. Proving the women could handle the elements just like the men, even if they were only providing communication services. Margaret paved her way for pension and Mary paved her way to be able to be on the lines and not be a nurse. These factors built the world around Oleda allowing her to fight for Veteran status, allowing women to be treated just like men.

Women are now able to battle on the front lines; they get a pension and veteran status. Although women are still not treated as equal as men when it comes to combat, the doors are open, the road has been paved. With every woman that passes down that road, another set of pot holes has been filled, making it that much more of a smoother road for the next women to travel down.

References

Beck, Jennifer (2006). Women Hero: Mary Edwards Walker.

Retrieved March 7, 2009, from

http://www.myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=maryedwar dswalker

Bois, Danuta (1997). Distinguished Woman of Past and Present: Margaret Corbin.

Retrieved February 25, 2009, from

http://www.distinguishedwomen.com/biographies/corbin .html

Christides, Michelle (2004). Hello Girls Commemorative.

Retrieved February 25, 2009, from http://www.jungsoul.com/Hello-Girls.html

Christides, Michelle. The History of a Hello Girl.

Retrieved March 7, 2009, from http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/hello.htm

Hanes, Senior Master Sgt. Jerry (2007, March 2). Malmstrom Air Force Base.