The roles of women in the military have evolved from nursing and support positions to active combat roles. They have served the U.S. armed forces with courage and excellence, a commitment reflected in the medals and honors they have earned in service to the nation.
Many of the earliest recipients of the highest U.S. medals for valor were brave nurses who tended to the wounded and ill. A notable exception was Mary Walker, the first female surgeon in the U.S. military. For her service during the Civil War, she became the first, and still the only, woman awarded the Medal of Honor. Although the honor was rescinded in 1917 due to her civilian status, it was reinstated by President Jimmy Carter 60 years later. Six heroic nurses were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross during World War I, with four of these courageous women sustaining injuries while carrying out their duties on the battlefield.
When World War I ended, American nurses were faced with a new enemy, the deadly Spanish Flu of 1918. Four nurses who bravely cared for sick Navy personnel were awarded the Navy Cross for their service. Of these, only Lenah S. Higbee received her in her lifetime, and the other three were recognized posthumously on Veterans Day in 1920.
In World War II, women moved closer to the frontlines by serving in the flight nurse program, where they helped evacuate wounded soldiers from combat zones. Many also served as pilots, flying some of the most legendary aircraft of the era. Nearly 350,000 American women served in uniform during the war.
24/7 Tempo has put together a list that recognizes the highest decorated female members of the U.S. military. We consulted websites of each branch of the American military, the website for the National World War II Museum as well as websites and blogs
The more recent conflicts have women engaged in combat itself. Two women on our list — Lori Hill and Mary Jennings Hega, heroically piloted helicopters while under fire in Iraq and Afghanistan. (These are 10 of the longest wars of all time.)
