The practice of honoring those who have fallen in battle dates back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. This Memorial Day, enjoy your holiday, but also take a moment to remember the women who made the ultimate sacrifice as well as all the men who’ve died in military service for our country.
Today, let’s remember the women who sacrificed their lives while serving in one of the United States military services. Links are included where lists of names or histories of individuals are available.
The American Revolutionary War
During the American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775-September 3, 1783), women often accompanied their husbands. They foraged food, cooked meals, mended uniforms, and tended the sick. We know women served on the front lines, too. They swabbed cannons with water and carried water for the soldiers to drink. Women also acted as spies. Stories about Margaret Corbin and Deborah Sampson are available on this blog.
Were some women who posed as men in the military killed during their service? Probably, but the records are incomplete.
The American Civil War
According to battlefields.org, an accurate count of women who served in the Civil War (April 12, 1861-April 9, 1865) is impossible. The women who served often disguised themselves as men. Some of them died as men, and their gender was only revealed during burial.
Sarah Rosetta Wakeman enlisted as Private Lyons Wakeman. She served nearly two years before she succumbed to an illness. She remains buried under her male nom de plume. Her true gender remained a secret until 1976 when they discovered her letters.
Spanish-American War
Twenty-two servicewomen died while in service during the Spanish-American War (April 21, 1898-December 10, 1898). According to this list, most of them died from Typhoid Fever, one from Malaria, and one of an undiagnosed illness.
World War One
During WWI (July 28, 1914–November 11, 1918), women took on new roles in the workforce and in the armed services all over the world. Thousands of women served in American military services. The Army and Navy Nurse Corps included 22,804 American women. This blog posted stories about two veterans of the Great War, Loretta Perfectus Walsh and Opha May Johnson.
More than 200 Army nurses died in service. Thirty-six Navy nurses died.
Names of a few of these women can be found on this site.
On The Internet Archive you can access as complete a record of American soldiers (male and female) who died in Europe during WWI, Soldiers Of The Great War, Volume 1-3, by Doyle, A. C. (Alfred Cyril), 1893-; Haulsee, W. M. (William Mitchell), 1889-; Howe, F. G. (Frank George), 1890-; Soldiers Record Publishing Association. Volume 1 has links to the second and third volumes.
World War Two
A story about some amazing WWII nurses appeared on this blog.
When her plane went down on her 196th rescue mission, U.S. Army Nurse, Aleda E. Lutz of Freeland, Michigan, became the first U.S. military woman to die in a combat zone during World War II.
Sadly, more than 400 military women lost their lives during World War II (Sept.1, 1939-Sept. 2, 1945). Some records say more than 500 died.
You can search casualty lists available on The National Archives’ Online Public Access catalog. Click on Military Personnel under the heading Genealogy / Personal History.
Korean War
There were some 120,000 women in the United States who were on active duty during the Korean War (June 25, 1950–July 27, 1953). Most of them were nurses. For more information, visit koreanwar-educator.
Vietnam War
There are eight women service members who died during the Vietnam War (November 1, 1955–April 30, 1975). Their names are on the Vietnam Memorial Wall. Visit the virtual wall to see the list and biographical information.
The Global War On Terror
From 2001 to today, more than 170 female service members have died in the Global War on Terrorism. Many of these women’s names can be searched for in The National Archives. Below are links to information about a few of the women who have died in these wars and interventions.
Gulf War
(January 17, 1991–February 28, 1991)
During the Gulf War, more commonly known as Desert Shield/Desert Storm, fifteen U.S. women died while serving our country.
Afghanistan War
(2001-2021)
1st Lt. Ashley White, 24, was killed in action in Afghanistan on Oct. 22, 2011. She was part of a Cultural Support Team (CST), a team to help make connections with local Afghan citizens.
Iraq War
(2003-2011) and (2014-present)
U.S. Army Specialist Lori Piestewa, 23, was killed in action in Iraq on March 23, 2003. She was the first Native American woman in history to die in combat while serving in the U.S. military.
Army Corporal Jessica Ellis, 24, was killed in action in Iraq on May 11, 2008. She was serving her second tour as a medic in Iraq.
Intervention in Syria
(2014–present)
U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon Kent was killed on January 16, 2019.
Intervention in Somalia
(2007–present)
War in Yemen
(2002–present)
Operation Enduring Freedom – Trans-Sahara & Horn of Africa
(2007–present)
Senior Airman Ashton L. M. Goodman (U.S. Air Force) died on May 26, 2009.
2026 Iran War
(February 28, 2026 – Present)
U.S. Army Reserve Master Sgt. Nicole M. Amor was killed on March 1, 2026, during the war with Iran.
Military Women’s Memorial
Originally named the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, the Military Women’s Memorial officially opened in 1997. It is in Arlington National Cemetery. It is the only historical repository documenting all U.S. servicewomen, past, present, and future, including living or deceased women veterans. The organization serves to educate and inspire through its exhibitions, collections, programs, and events for all generations. They ask for your help:
Three million women have served in or with the Armed Forces since the American Revolution. By contributing names and information to our Register, you can help us record and preserve stories that will otherwise be lost to history and unknown to future generations.”
Opinion
Today opinions on whether you or I agree with any of these wars or not Do Not Matter. What matters is that these women, and the men too, went in when our country’s leaders said they must. And they died serving their country—our country. For that sacrifice…
Thank You
Two small words that hold a full heart of gratitude and respect while we take a moment to remember women who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
If you know of a woman who died while serving in one of the United States military services, please add her name in the comments below so readers may include her in their remembrances.
And let us not forget that the U.S. isn’t the only country suffering losses. There are many wars across the planet, including but not limited to the Ukraine-Russian War, the Israel-Palestine conflict, the civil war in Syria, transnational terrorism, military coups, insurgencies, drug wars, and cartel violence. The losses from these wars and conflicts are staggering. Let us take a moment of remembrance for all the fallen and pray for peace to come to us all. The kind of peace that means no one dies in these kinds of wars ever after.
Image Credits
Featured image by Suzanne Morris from Pixabay
WWI image: National Library of Scotland, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons
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WWII image: US Army, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Vietnam image: Image by stanbalik from Pixabay
Global war on terror image by centaur60 from Pixabay
The Military Women’s Memorial image Arlington National Cemetery, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons