World War 1 Female Navy Yeoman Yeomanette Real Photo Postcard
The image depicts a woman serving as a "Yeoman (F)" in the U.S. Navy during World War I. These women, colloquially known as "Marinettes," were first enlisted in March 1917 to perform essential clerical and administrative duties domestically, thereby enabling male sailors to be deployed for combat overseas. Her uniform, including the distinctively styled hat bearing "U.S. NAVY" and the eagle-and-cutlass insignia on her sleeve, signifies her rank as a petty officer, likely a Yeoman.
The establishment of the Yeoman (F) program represented a pivotal moment in American military history, as it was the first time women were granted full military status, complete with pay, rank, and benefits, within the U.S. Navy. Over 11,000 women served in these roles, demonstrating women's capabilities in supporting military operations and laying significant groundwork for the expanded integration of women into the armed forces in subsequent conflicts.
The establishment of the Yeoman (F) program represented a pivotal moment in American military history, as it was the first time women were granted full military status, complete with pay, rank, and benefits, within the U.S. Navy. Over 11,000 women served in these roles, demonstrating women's capabilities in supporting military operations and laying significant groundwork for the expanded integration of women into the armed forces in subsequent conflicts.
