Opha May Johnson (February 13, 1900 – January 1976) was the first woman to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. She joined the Marine Corps Reserve in 1918. Johnson was a United States Marine in the late 1910s. She became the first woman to enlist in the Marine Corps on August 13, 1918, when she joined the Marine Corps Reserve during World War I. Johnson was the first of 305 women to enlist in the United States Marine Corps Women’s Reserve that day. Enlistment came half a century after Susan B. Anthony championed women’s rights and some twenty years after Alice Paulfought for the same cause. Johnson was seen as another combatant in the nations recent women’s rights movement. When she became a Marine, she was given a category of “F” (for female). In those days women were allowed to enlist but were not allowed to serve in war zones. Opha May Johnson may have worked as a secretary, a cook, or another job which the first women Marines were allowed to perform, but she would not have been a military nurse (the Marine Corps does not employ a medic specialty; that position is carried out by the Navy) while her male counterparts were being sent to fight in France. It would not be until 1967 that the first female Marine was allowed to serve in a war zone - Barbara Dulinsky.

Opha May Johnson (February 13, 1900 – January 1976) was the first woman to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. She joined the Marine Corps Reserve in 1918.

Johnson was a United States Marine in the late 1910s. She became the first woman to enlist in the Marine Corps on August 13, 1918, when she joined the Marine Corps Reserve during World War I. Johnson was the first of 305 women to enlist in the United States Marine Corps Women’s Reserve that day.

Enlistment came half a century after Susan B. Anthony championed women’s rights and some twenty years after Alice Paulfought for the same cause. Johnson was seen as another combatant in the nations recent women’s rights movement.

When she became a Marine, she was given a category of “F” (for female). In those days women were allowed to enlist but were not allowed to serve in war zones. Opha May Johnson may have worked as a secretary, a cook, or another job which the first women Marines were allowed to perform, but she would not have been a military nurse (the Marine Corps does not employ a medic specialty; that position is carried out by the Navy) while her male counterparts were being sent to fight in France.

It would not be until 1967 that the first female Marine was allowed to serve in a war zone - Barbara Dulinsky.

18 notes
Posted on Monday, 9 July
Tagged as: Opha Johnson because badassery first female marine women in the war Women being badass women in the Marine Corps the early years history
Next Post Previous Post
  1. selfrescuingprincesssociety reblogged this from historicalawesomeness
  2. kissmewinchester reblogged this from historicalawesomeness
  3. dabhug reblogged this from historicalawesomeness
  4. valkyrien reblogged this from historicalawesomeness
  5. geeky-gym-addict reblogged this from historicalawesomeness
  6. agrownupgeekgirl reblogged this from historicalawesomeness
  7. historicalawesomeness posted this
Theme Urban v3 by Max Davis
The Secret Door

The Secret Door is presented by Safestyle UK