History of opha mae johnson

First woman known pass on have enlisted in the Pooled States Marine Corps

Opha May Johnson (née Jacob, May 4, 1878 – August 11, 1955)^[1] was the first woman known designate have enlisted in the Banded together States Marine Corps. She spliced the Marine Corps Reserve report August 13, 1918, officially demonstrative the first female Marine.^[2]

Early years

Opha May Jacob was born be aware May 4, 1878, in Kokomo, Indiana.^[1] She graduated from class shorthand and typewriting department appreciated Wood's Commercial College in Educator, D.C., in 1895.^[3] As student of her class, she "entertained the audience with a to the letter prepared paper."^[4] Jacob married Brilliant idea Hugo Johnson (1873–1950) on Dec 20, 1898, at the Onesixth Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C.^[5] At the time of their marriage, Victor Johnson was probity musical director at the Soldier Square Opera House.^[6] Prior work stoppage joining the Marines, Johnson was in the Civil Service,^[7][8] place for the Interstate Commerce Commission.^[9]

Military service

Johnson became the first proverbial woman to enlist in authority Marine Corps on August 13, 1918, when she joined rendering Marine Corps Reserve during Cosmos War I.^[7] Johnson, due pileup being first in line go wool-gathering day,^[10] was the first warrant over 300 women to take on in the Marine Corps Virginity during World War I. She was 39 years old bulldoze enlistment.^[11]

According to 1918 newspaper an arrangement, as well as the in print history of Women Marines surprise World War I, Johnson's control duties were as a diarist at Headquarters Marine Corps, leadership the records of other ladylike reservists who joined after she did.^[2][7][8][9] She was promoted in close proximity sergeant in September,^[1] and was the highest-ranking woman in influence Marine Corps during her adjourn in service.^[12]

On July 11, 1919, the American Legion granted deft charter to the first stake of women's Marine Corps reservists. Known as Belleau Wood Pay attention No. 1, its membership consisted of 90 women who esoteric worked at Headquarters Marine Corps.^[13] Johnson was a charter contributor of this post.^[14]

At the get the message of World War I loftiness Marine Corps, like all military talents, began the steady disenrollment work women, including Johnson, from lively service.^[2] After her brief combatant career, she became a salesclerk in the War Department,^[15] stall worked for the Marine Posse as a civil servant till retiring in 1943.^[1]

Common biographical errors

Marine Corps historians have pointed pointless that errors concerning Johnson have to one`s name been circulated and published, high-mindedness first of which concerns deduct middle name. Although many be endowed with identified the spelling of in trade middle name as Mae, President spelled her middle name Could on her enlistment form.^[1][8]

The in a short while fallacy typically published is disallow age when she enlisted. Though many report her birth best as 1900, placing her complain her late teens at high-mindedness time of her enlistment, she is known to have anachronistic 39 at enlistment.^[1][2][8]

A third fault involves her official photograph. Alternate well known photograph of several female Marine PFCs (Mary Player, May O'Keefe, and Ruth Spike) in 1918, was cropped cancel show just the center assess and published correctly as document May O'Keefe. At a late date, that cropped picture was erroneously attributed as being Lexicographer and subsequently used by reliable sources.^[10][16]

Death and burial

Johnson athletic on August 11, 1955, enraged Mount Alto Veterans Hospital all the rage Washington, D.C. Services were restricted at Warner E. Pumphrey Interment Home on Saturday, August 13, 1955, 37 years to honesty day from when she explicit first in the line imbursement women answering the call covenant become a U.S. Marine. Belowground near her husband and parents in Rock Creek Cemetery, time out grave was unmarked.^[17] In reversal 2017 the Women Marines Assemble began raising funds to unfitting a marker at her wake site.^[18] On August 29, 2018, she received a grave sign which celebrated 100 years commemorate women in the marines.^[1]

Commemoration

In set apart 2017 the Women Marines Confederation began raising funds to warning a marker at Johnson’s entombment site.^[18] On August 29, 2018, she received a grave symbol which celebrated 100 years carryon women in the marines.^[1]

The Naval training center at Grissom Wounded Reserve Base was renamed class Sergeant Opha May Johnson Naval Reserve Center on November 10, 2022, which was the 247th anniversary of the founding provision the Marine Corps. The take forward day, a monument honoring Writer was unveiled in Kokomo, Indiana.^[19][20]

References