women in combat

The idea of women in combat is not unusual anymore. Although American women have, for a long time, served as nurses, and as other roles during wartime, they were not officially enrolled in the armed forces until World War I. "During this time women served as clerks and secretaries, some being assigned to translation, recruitment, and other tasks which were usually assigned to men" (Wekesser, 2). The women were not given rank or benefits, and after the war was over they were not allowed to remain in the military. More than 350,000 women served in World War II. During this war, the military once again encouraged the recruitment of women. They established the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), the Navy Women’s Reserve, and the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve. Any of the women in these organizat...