As our tenth SHEROES of the season, the Miami SOL is proud to honor a group of trailblazing women who have opened doors and paved the way for women in the Armed Forces today.
Both the Women’s Army Corps and Auxiliary Corps were established during World War II to train women in noncombatant military jobs, thus freeing up men for combat. Given the opportunity to make a contribution to the national war effort, women seized it. Over 150,000 women served in the Women’s Army Corps during World War II. Whether they were operating teletype machines or assisting a team of medics, each of them played a vital role to help the Allies win the War.
Since then, Americans have accepted the once controversial idea of women serving in the military. And each succeeding generation has helped break more stereotypes and pave the way toward equality for all women today.
The SOL is proud to honor the following women who represent several generations from the Women’s Army Corps Veterans Association:
Helen Bellavia: This T4 (Technician Fourth Class) was a Teletype operator who served from 1942 to 1945.
Lee Neivert: As a member of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, as well as the Women’s Army Corps, Lieutenant Neivert was stationed stateside at airbases throughout the United States as a personnel officer from 1942 to 1945.
Irene Pieper: As a photo lab technician, she served in the Philippines, New Guinea and stateside from 1943 to 1945.
Carmen Weatherup: Staff Sergeant Weatherup spent over two years in the Women’s Army Corps, performing clerical and administrative tasks while stationed in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Miriam Wells: PFC Wells served from 1944 to 1946 helping medics and performing other odd jobs.
Mary Gibbemeyer: Corporal Gibbemeyer was stationed in California and Nevada from 1943 until 1945 working as an administrative assistant in the classified documents section.
Lurine Clarke: Stationed in Maryland, Corporal Clarke served from 1953 until 1954 involved in counter-intelligence projects.
Gail Feddern: Stationed in Washington, Georgia and Kentucky, she was a radio operator for a two-year stint from 1959 to 1961.
Doris Jones: Captain Jones spent 12 years on active duty as a nurse until 1971, during which she was stationed stateside, in Germany and in Vietnam during the war.
Linda Smith: This medical records specialist served at Fort Mead, MD from 1969 until 1971.
Gwen Hendly: Staff Sergeant Hendly was stationed in Germany, Korea and several states as a licensed practical nurse from 1965 until 1986.
Ernestine Walker: Sgt. Walker is a Gulf War veteran who served in Saudi Arabia as a licensed practical nurse.
