Military Women's Uniforms - Past and Present


Many visitors have requested uniform information so here's an overview.
Sorry - no larger images. I simply don't have the time, space, inclination, patience or attention span to go through all that. Remember this is a "no-pay-one-woman-band" operation.


1776

When women fought "unofficially" in the Revolutionary War there were no uniforms for them to wear. Legend has it that Deborah Samson "tailored" a soldiers uniform to fit. It may have looked something like this - be advised that the operative word here is may. There were no cameras until 1839 so we have no real pictures:
Deborah



1861
During the Civil War women were not "authorized" in the military. Dr Mary Walker served as a contract surgeon and modified her uniform to include trousers under the skirt:
Walker Many young women disguised themselves as men and fought during the Civil War in uniform: disguise infantry



1898
nursesNurses served aboard hospital
ships during the Spanish American War
< this is what they wore.

They also served in Havana, Cuba
in the outfits on the right.
nursesin cuba


1908
In 1908 the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps came into being.
The first twenty nurses wore this outfit:
nurses



World War One - 1917-1918
summer
The U.S. Navy Yeoman (F)
summer
Winter blues
marine
The Marine Corps
navy nurses
Navy Nurse Corps



World War Two
wacs
WAC Issue: L-R: Service O.D., Utility Coat, Cotton Summer uniform, Work dress, Work uniform, Wool overcoat.



marines
Women Marines
waves
WAVES - Navy
wacs
WACS - Army
spar
SPARS
Coast Guard
navynurse
Navy Nurse Corps



WAC and WAF - '50s and '60s - "Models and Fashion Statements"
wac
WAC
wac
WAC
wac
WAC
waf
WAF
waf
WAF



The '80s to the present - "On the Job Uniforms"
missile
USAF Missile Duty
bdus
Battle Dress Uniform
coastguard
Coast Guard at sea
navy
Navy Sea Duty
marine
Marines on Parade



marines
USMC Ceremonial
army
Army -Maint.
airforce
Air Force -Medical
navy
Navy Whites
coastguard
Coast Guard



marines army navy airforce



More uniforms, hats and "other stuff" we had to wear. Hats 'n stuff.

Please note: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is displayed without profit or payment for those who have expressed an interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. Photos and images are from the National Archives, The Naval History Center, The U.S. Army, USMC, U.S. Navy, USAF, U.S. Coast Guard, the Defense Visual Information Center, The Army Nurse Corps, and the personal collections of this author. Nothing on this site is for sale nor is it a commercial venture of any kind - it is a one person page for, and about military women - by one retired military woman.


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