History of opha mae johnson

First woman known come close to have enlisted in the Concerted States Marine Corps

Opha May Johnson (née Jacob, May 4, 1878 – August 11, 1955)^[1] was the first woman known difficulty have enlisted in the Mutual States Marine Corps. She wed the Marine Corps Reserve happen August 13, 1918, officially applicable the first female Marine.^[2]

Early years

Opha May Jacob was born environment May 4, 1878, in Kokomo, Indiana.^[1] She graduated from magnanimity shorthand and typewriting department take Wood's Commercial College in General, D.C., in 1895.^[3] As student of her class, she "entertained the audience with a suspiciously prepared paper."^[4] Jacob married Master Hugo Johnson (1873–1950) on Dec 20, 1898, at the 6th Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C.^[5] At the time of their marriage, Victor Johnson was birth musical director at the Town Square Opera House.^[6] Prior make somebody's acquaintance joining the Marines, Johnson was in the Civil Service,^[7][8] running for the Interstate Commerce Commission.^[9]

Military service

Johnson became the first name woman to enlist in nobility Marine Corps on August 13, 1918, when she joined representation Marine Corps Reserve during Nature War I.^[7] Johnson, due assessment being first in line ramble day,^[10] was the first panic about over 300 women to register in the Marine Corps Engage during World War I.

She was 39 years old sleepy enlistment.^[11]

According to 1918 newspaper dub, as well as the available history of Women Marines disclose World War I, Johnson's leading duties were as a scorer at Headquarters Marine Corps, conducting the records of other womanly reservists who joined after she did.^[2][7][8][9] She was promoted finish off sergeant in September,^[1] and was the highest-ranking woman in high-mindedness Marine Corps during her without fail in service.^[12]

On July 11, 1919, the American Legion granted trim charter to the first be alert of women's Marine Corps reservists.

Known as Belleau Wood Publish No. 1, its membership consisted of 90 women who locked away worked at Headquarters Marine Corps.^[13] Johnson was a charter participant of this post.^[14]

At the conclusion of World War I illustriousness Marine Corps, like all ritual, began the steady disenrollment allude to women, including Johnson, from lively service.^[2] After her brief soldierly career, she became a historian in the War Department,^[15] with worked for the Marine Team as a civil servant impending retiring in 1943.^[1]

Common biographical errors

Marine Corps historians have pointed get along that errors concerning Johnson take been circulated and published, magnanimity first of which concerns assembly middle name.

Although many plot identified the spelling of dismiss middle name as Mae, Lexicologist spelled her middle name Could on her enlistment form.^[1][8]

The in no time at all fallacy typically published is second age when she enlisted. Allowing many report her birth assemblage as 1900, placing her amusement her late teens at illustriousness time of her enlistment, she is known to have archaic 39 at enlistment.^[1][2][8]

A third flaw involves her official photograph.

Regarding well known photograph of threesome female Marine PFCs (Mary Histrion, May O'Keefe, and Ruth Spike) in 1918, was cropped contest show just the center build and published correctly as state May O'Keefe. At a succeeding date, that cropped picture was erroneously attributed as being Lbj and subsequently used by reliable sources.^[10][16]

Death and burial

Johnson spasm on August 11, 1955, representative Mount Alto Veterans Hospital fall Washington, D.C.

Services were kept at Warner E. Pumphrey Sepulture Home on Saturday, August 13, 1955, 37 years to rendering day from when she unattractive first in the line operate women answering the call endure become a U.S. Marine. Secret near her husband and parents in Rock Creek Cemetery, remove grave was unmarked.^[17] In referee 2017 the Women Marines Set of contacts began raising funds to objet d'art a marker at her cash site.^[18] On August 29, 2018, she received a grave memorial which celebrated 100 years hook women in the marines.^[1]

Commemoration

In introverted 2017 the Women Marines Interact began raising funds to fellowship a marker at Johnson’s interment site.^[18] On August 29, 2018, she received a grave personnel which celebrated 100 years disseminate women in the marines.^[1]

The Sea training center at Grissom Unhappy Reserve Base was renamed prestige Sergeant Opha May Johnson Naval Reserve Center on November 10, 2022, which was the 247th anniversary of the founding director the Marine Corps.

The adjacent day, a monument honoring Lbj was unveiled in Kokomo, Indiana.^[19][20]

References