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On Women Veterans Day, we honor all the women who served in the armed forces through the years. We salute the early pioneers who paved the way for the more than 2 million women Veterans living in the U.S. today.

During World War I many women had enlisted as volunteers in the U.S. military services; they usually served in clerical roles. When the war ended, they were released from their duties. The same was true during World War II, when an even greater number of women volunteers served in the armed forces. 

Although the U.S. Congress in 1943 had given the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) full army status during wartime, the WAC law was scheduled to expire on June 30, 1948. In anticipation of this event, the leaders of the U.S. Army in 1946 requested that the WACs be made a permanent part of their personnel. 

The law limited the number of women who could serve in the military to 2 percent of the total forces in each branch.

Following two years of legislative debate, the bill was passed by Congress in the spring of 1948.

The Women’s Armed Services Integration Act was a landmark piece of American legislation passed in 1948 and signed by President Harry Truman. Under the Act, women were allowed to serve as regular members of the armed services in the United States for the first time. As such, they were subject to the same rules which applied to all servicemembers, and entitled to the same benefits, including veterans’ benefits.

Today we celebrate Woman Veterans Day in commemoration of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948. The act permitted women to serve as full members of the United States armed forces.

Thank you to all the women who served in the armed forces through the years.

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