FORT LEE, Va. (March 26, 2015) -- It was standing room only for the Women's History Month observance Friday at the U.S. Army Women's Museum.
The many spectators said they were drawn by the notoriety of the guest speaker and the highly publicized opening of a new Vietnam War exhibit.
The theme of the 2015 WHM observance was "Weaving the Story of Women's Lives: Female Vietnam Veterans -- A Thread that is Not Forgotten." The Fort Lee gathering was hosted by the 23rd Quartermaster Brigade and the Women's Museum, with assistance from the Installation Equal Opportunity office.
Retired Brig. Gen. Evelyn "Pat" Foote was the featured speaker. She shared her "war stories" from an Army career that started in 1959. In 1967, she was sent to Vietnam where she worked in the information office at the U.S. Army headquarters there. She became the first woman to serve as a public relations officer for American deployed forces.
Foote recalled getting on the flight bound for Southeast Asia. She departed from McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., in a snowstorm wearing a Class A uniform. She was the only woman along with two male officers, and 200 men who had just completed infantry training.
She did not have a weapon or field gear. Army women were not issued such equipment back then. She recalled with a laugh that she did have her "cosmetic case," which she spilled while climbing the steps of the plane.
The troops kept handing her "unmentionables," and one Soldier told her "it was OK going over, but it had better not happen on the way back."
Upon arrival in Vietnam she found that not everyone was happy to have Army women there.
When assigned to the Office of Information, she found herself the only female among 70 men. There were two master sergeants who went to their boss and said if she was put over them they would be courtmartialed and maybe stuck in jail. They became two of her best friends.
Since retiring from the military in 1989, Foote continues to share her extensive experience and knowledge to make any difference she can in the area of equal rights for women. She is a staunch advocate for opening combat arms positions to female Soldiers.
The WHM program also included an acknowledgement of women who served during World War II and the Korean War era, as well as veterans from the Women's Army Corps and those who served in the Vietnam War.
Between 1962 and 1973, approximately 7,500 women served on active duty in Vietnam. The Army had women serving in either the Nurse Corps or the Women's Army Corps. WACs served side-by-side with their male counterparts in Vietnam, despite the fact they were not trained in combat skills or issued personal protective gear.
"Much was proven by Army women in their service in Vietnam. They were courageous, professional and dedicated. These women did what was asked of them with pride and selfless service. Many of them experienced the same first-hand horrors and stressors of their male counterparts in the warzone. Some continue to bear these scars today," said Col. Mary Beth Taylor, commander of 23rd QM Bde.
"The women who now serve in our Army owe a great debt of gratitude to these Vietnam veterans. They helped ensure equality and opportunity for our future service," she continued.
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