Loretta Perfectus Walsh-- Part 1: First U.S. Navy Woman

From Wikipedia.

I had never heard of her until yesterday's entry on my World War II blog so looked her up.

LORETTA PERFECTUS WALSH ( April 22, 1896-August 6, 1925)

Regarded as the first active duty (non-nurse) Navy woman, the first woman to enlist in the U.S. Navy and the first woman allowed to serve in any U.S. armed forces service other than as a nurse.

She enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve on March 17, 1917 as the United States was gearing up for World War I.  She became the first female Navy petty officer when she was sworn in as Chief Yeoman four days later on March 21, 1917.

Loretta Walsh was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

--Cooter