Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Tun Tavern

On November 10, 1775, Robert Mullan, the proprietor of the Tavern and son of Peggy Mullan, was commissioned by an act of Congress to raise the first two battalions of Marines, under the leadership of Samuel Nicholas, the first appointed Commandant of the Continental Marines. Nicholas's grandfather was also a member of the Tun Tavern Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons and it is this relationship between Mullan, Nicholas and the Tavern which has resulted in Tun Tavern being acknowledged as the birthplace of the United States Marine Corps. There are an estimated three million active and retired U.S. Marines worldwide who have been exposed in their military training to the historical significance of Tun Tavern. Each year on November 10th, around the world Marines toast the Marine's birthplace on the most significant date in the history of the Corps.

Women Marine Milestones

1918 --Pvt. Opha Mae Johnson becomes the first woman to enlist in the Marine Corps Reserve.

1943 --Colonel Ruth Cheney Streeter first Director of Women Marine Reservists.

1943 --Captain Anne Lentz, first commissioned officer.

1943 --Private Lucille McClarren first enlisted woman.

1945 --first detachment of women marines arrives in Hawaii for duty.

1948 --Colonel. Katherine A. Towle first Director of Women Marines.

1961 --The first woman Marine is promoted to Sergeant Major (E-9).

1965 --The Marine Corps assigns the first woman to attachÚ duty. Later, she is the first woman Marine to serve under hostile fire.

1978 --Colonel Margaret A. Brewer was the first woman Marine general officer.

1979 --The Marine Corps assigns women as embassy guards.

1985 --Colonel Gail M. Reals, the first woman selected by a board of general officers to be advanced to Brigadier General.

1992 --Brigadier General Carol A. Mutter assumed command of the 3d Force Service Support Group, Okinawa, the first woman to command a Fleet Marine Force unit at the flag level.

1993 --2d Lieutenant Sarah Deal became the first woman Marine selected for Naval aviation training.

1993 --The Marine Corps opens pilot positions to women.

1994 --Brigadier General Mutter became the first woman major general in the Marine Corps and the senior woman on active duty in the armed services.

1995 --The first female Marine pilot pins on Naval flight wings.

1996 --Lieutenant General Mutter became the first woman Marine and the second woman in the history of the armed services to wear three stars.

2006--Brigadier General Angela Salinas is the commanding general of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. BGen Salinas assumed command on August 4, 2006, becoming the first woman to command the Recruit Depot.

2006--On August 2, 2006, Salinas became the first Hispanic female to become a United States Marine Corps general officer, and the sixth female in the Marine Corps to reach the rank of brigadier general.



Today --Women serve in 93 percent of all occupational fields and 62 percent of all billets. Women constitute 6.2 percent of the Corps end strength and are an integral part of the Marine Corps.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Women Marines History

Since 1918, women have answered the call to serve proudly in the United States Marines and the role of women in the Marines has evolved and expanded. All Women Marines can look forward to the future proudly, while never forgetting the women who made this future possible.



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In 1918, the Secretary of Navy allowed women to enroll for clerical duty in the Marine Corps. Officially, Opha Mae Johnson is credited as the first woman Marine. Johnson enrolled for service on August 13, 1918; during that year some 300 women first entered the Marine Corps to take over stateside clerical duties from battle-ready Marines who were needed overseas. The Marine Corps Women's Reserve was established in February 1943. June 12th, 1948, Congress passed the Women's Armed Services Integration Act and made women a permanent part of the regular Marine Corps.

LADY Leathernecks

This blogger is dedicated to all Woman Marines who have Honorably Served the United States of America. Since 1918, women have answered the call to serve proudly in the United States Marines and the role of women in the Marines has evolved and expanded. All Women Marines can look forward to the future. I would like to thank, admire and praise all those Women Veterans who served their country and paved the way for the rest of us. With out you we'd be nothing!