Korean War Women

Washington, DC (NAPSI) - During the Korean War, women in the Armed Services went from being a footnote in history to a source of labor and skills for the nation's military.

The United States found itself once again involved in a war, only a few years after the end of the second World War. The military rushed to call up, draft and recruit manpower. When it came up short, the services asked American women to leave their homes, jobs and families to serve their country.

When President Harry S. Truman ordered U.S. air and naval forces into Korea, women in the armed services numbered 22,000. Roughly 7,000 of these women were health care professionals. The rest served in line assignments in all branches of the military.

Although nurses and medical specialists were the only military women allowed into the combat theater throughout most of the war, women serving stateside were assigned to a variety of non-traditional jobs including military policeman, parachute rigger, pharmacist and engineer.

These women volunteered to serve their country at a difficult time. They should be remembered and commended for their patriotism and personal sacrifices.