Admiral Nimitz Foundation - National Museum of the Pacific War’s Post

On this day in history, 30 July 1942, President Roosevelt signs Public Law 689 which establishes the Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service, or WAVES. This corps of women served as a reserve for the Navy, a necessary addition to the military after most of the young men were sent to the frontlines. Lieutenant Commander Mildred McAfee, the first female Navy officer in US history, was appointed director of WAVES, and trained over 20,000 officers and 70,000 enlisted for service. They served in a variety of capacities, from yeoman to pharmacist to aircraft mechanic. The role of WAVES was invaluable to the US Navy in a time when manpower was critical, and created yet another way for women to step up and serve their country alongside the men, forever changing the views of women in the military, and the workplace overall. After World War Two, Congress passed the Women’s Armed Forces Integration Act in 1948, giving women a permanent place in the military even during peacetime. Image: WAVES observed constructed a template layout of aerial photographs to create charts. Official U.S. Navy photograph in the collection of the National Archives. Sources: Naval History and Heritage Command US Department of Defense #womenshistory #waves #usn #wwiihistory #military #history

  • No alternative text description for this image

To view or add a comment, sign in

Explore topics