jan 1, 1942 - Formation of Marine Corps Women's Reserve

Description:

While Olpa May Johnson was the first ever woman to serve in the Marine Corps in 1918, the first ever group of women to officially serve were enlisted in 1942. These women were not put in combat but were considered replacements for men who went into combat. During WWI, women in the 305 Marine Reservists were called "Marinettes". In turn, the public was expecting women who served in the Marine Corps for WWII to also have cute, catchy nicknames. Corps Commandant GEN Thomas Holcomb decided against this. "They are Marines. They don’t have a nickname and they don’t need one. They get their basic training in a Marine atmosphere at a Marine post. They inherit the traditions of Marines. They are Marines," Thomas said in a March 1944 issue of Life Magazine. The Marino Corps encouraged more women to serve in the military.