On March 19th, members of our Foundation for Women Warriors team joined the many advocates and organizations at the Military Women’s Memorial to celebrate the passage of the Congressional Gold Medal for the Hello Girls—the first women to serve in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War I.
These 223 courageous women deployed to serve as telephone operators during World War I. Fluent in both English and French, these women were vital to battlefield communication connecting over 26 million calls—many under fire—facilitating coordination between U.S. and French forces.
They swore oaths, wore uniforms, adhered to Army regulations, worked under combat conditions and two gave their life, yet they returned home to be denied veterans’ status and recognition despite over 50 pieces of legislation spanning 60 years.
As we celebrate this long-overdue honor, we’re reminded that preserving women’s military history is not just about remembrance—it’s about justice.
When we refuse to acknowledge or attempt to recategorize our history, we don’t just lose the truth, we lose part of our Nation’s soul.
The story of the Hello Girls is one of many that was nearly lost to time and efforts to dismiss their contributions. It serves as both inspiration and a warning: our fight for recognition and preservation of women’s contributions continues this very day.
Their service was strategic. It was brave. It was essential. It was leveraged for women’s suffrage and paved the way for all the opportunities and rights women experience today. It is our history, and it is Women’s History.
You can join us by supporting our mission to honor and empower women veterans at: https://foundationforwomenwarriors.org/donations/
We encourage you to share the stories of the servicewomen you know past and present with the Military Women’s Memorial.
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