The Persian Gulf War

The Persian Gulf War

Also known as Operations Desert Shield and Storm, the Persian Gulf War was a remarkably short war. This war had the largest amount of military women in history. Federal law still prohibited women from being in direct combat, but the women from this war still had achieved new frontiers for combat. They were involved in the operation of jets, trucks, etc. 

This war surprised Americans at home, because they didn't know women would be so involved. The New York Times reported that the difference between combat and noncombat was "razor-thin" (para. 4). Although women were in this noncombat zone, unfortunately, it did not prevent some women from being killed. For the female soldiers who did return home, they were reportedly cheered along with the men. 

Congress took a second look at the pre-exsisting combat restrictions for women of war. Sure enough, Congress eventually repealed laws banning women from flying in combat. Following in 1993, was another repeal, allowing women to join in combat aboard ships. 

References

Nordheimer , J. (1991, May 26). Women's role in combat: The war resumes. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/06/15/reviews/military-gulf.html

Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation Inc. (n.d.). Women in us military- persian gulf war . Retrieved from http://chnm.gmu.edu/courses/rr/s01/cw/students/leeann/historyandcollections/collections/photopages/phespersgulf.html

Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation. (Photographer). (1991). Duty station in the gulf. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://chnm.gmu.edu/courses/rr/s01/cw/students/leeann/historyandcollections/collections/photopages/phespersgulf.html

Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation. (Photographer). (1991). Helicopter pilot in headquarters . [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://chnm.gmu.edu/courses/rr/s01/cw/students/leeann/historyandcollections/collections/photopages/phespersgulf.htmlHel