100 Years On, The "Hello Girls" Are Recognized For World War I Heroics - Miranda Farrar

Not many people have heard of the Hello Girls, the first women to actively serve in the military. Luckily, they are being remembered through a musical that will be opening on November 13, two days after the anniversary of the end of World War I. During the war, General John Pershing needed operators who could both travel with him and stay in contact with troops over hundreds of miles. Men were reluctant to do this, as they considered it a job for women. Ironically, they were against Gen. Pershing recruiting women into the army. Women, on the other hand, were all for it, and they were good at it. On average, it took a man 60 seconds to make a connection, while it took women 10 seconds. These bilingual telephone operators improved communications drastically. A small group of women even served on the front lines of the war. They were led by a woman named Grace Banker, one of the few to win the Distinguished Service Medal. These women were met with recognition when they returned home, but when they applied for veterans' status and benefits, it would not be given to them. They petitioned president after president until they were recognized as army veterans in 1977,  after most of them had died. The granddaughter of Grace Banker, Carolyn Timbie, was tracked down by an author a few years ago. Timbie had a trunk of items that belonged to her grandmother, including her gas mask, uniform, and most importantly, her diary. From this sprung the musical, "The Hello Girls".

This article grabbed my attention because as an arts school, we strive to speak the truth through our work. It is important that we recognize those who are doing the same. These people are recounting history through a musical, and even better, they are shining light on the women who went unrecognized for so long. Throughout history, women have made countless contributions, but they weren't given credit. In the American Revolution, camp followers cooked and sewed for the troops. In addition, women maintained farms and businesses while men were serving in the war. This article highlights the strength and persistence of women who are an important part of our history.

https://www.npr.org/2018/11/09/659349910/100-years-on-the-hello-girls-are-recognized-for-world-war-i-heroics