Meet five inspiring women Veterans

Women Veterans have served since the Revolutionary War and continue to serve with honor today.

VA and its predecessor have provided health care for women Veterans for nearly 100 years and continue to improve services every day. On Veterans Day and the entire month of November, we pay tribute to brave women Veterans.

Here, meet five women Veterans who continue to inspire VA.

Margaret Cochran Corbin

A hero of the American Revolution, Corbin was the first woman to ever receive a military pension. In November 1776, she dressed as a man and joined her husband in the Battle of Washington on Manhattan Island, New York. She helped him load his cannon, and when he was killed, she took over firing the cannon until she was hit by enemy fire.

Following her service, she joined the Invalid Regiment at West Point where she aided the wounded. Her service and story are the inspiration for the VA Campus in New York Harbor.

Master Sergeant Silverine James before the clinic sign with her name and photo

Master Sergeant Silverine James

The VA Women’s Health Clinic in Salem, Virginia, is named in honor of Silverine James. She retired from the Army after serving more than 22 years and earning the rank of Master Sergeant. Her military career included assignments in Japan, Virginia, New York and Germany. She served during the racial integration of the Armed Forces. Following her retirement, James worked at the Salem VA Medical Center and has been a patient at the facility for more than four decades.

James’ legacy is that of a pioneer in civil rights having joined the Army during a time of racial segregation and being part of the movement toward full integration.

First Lieutenant Aleda E. Lutz

Aleda Lutz is among the highest decorated women in American military history and the inspiration for the name of the VA Medical Center in Saginaw, Michigan. She served as an Army flight nurse and flew on 196 missions, more than any other flight nurse had logged in history. She received multiple awards throughout her career, including a Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

She was killed in 1944 when her mission plane got caught in a storm, making her the first service woman killed in combat in World War II.

Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner

On Oct. 11, 2022, President Biden signed the bill to name the new VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Ventura, California, after Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner, who joined the Navy in 1973 and became a member of the Navy’s first flight-training class for women. In 1990, Mariner was named commander of the Navy ‘‘Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron’’ at Naval Air Station Point Mugu. She was the first woman to command an operational air squadron.

During her Naval career, Mariner logged 17 landings on aircraft carriers and more than 3,500 flight hours in 15 different aircraft. She was a passionate advocate for women in the military, leading the Women Military Aviators and working with Congress and the Department of Defense to lift restrictions barring women from flying in combat.

Mariner died from ovarian cancer in 2019. The new VA clinic named on her behalf has dedicated space for women-specific care, including a dedicated waiting room and provider area, and is the very first in the Greater Los Angeles area with a women-only entrance.

Captain Jennifer Moreno

The San Diego VA Medical Center is named in honor of Jennifer Moreno. Following her 2010 graduation from the University of San Francisco with a degree in nursing, Moreno commissioned into the Army. She soon earned her certification as a medical surgical registered nurse. She volunteered for a position with U.S. Army Special Operations Command in 2011, when women were still barred from most combat roles. She deployed to Afghanistan in June 2013 with the Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment as a Cultural Support Team (CST) member.

In October 2013, while on a night raid with rangers, she reportedly heard a call to help a wounded soldier struck by a blast. Moreno did not hesitate to respond to the call for help. As she made her way to help the soldier, she triggered another explosion, which ended her life. For her actions, she was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with a “V” for valor. She was the first nurse CST member to die in action. Part of her legacy is inspiring young women coming from medical fields to seek out voluntary assignments to join the CST program.

American women Veterans

More than two million women have served in the U.S. military throughout history. Women have served since the American Revolution, and yet, all too often that service has gone unrecognized. Women served in combat, disguised as men during the American Revolution and Civil Wars. Women served on the front lines during the World Wars.

Today, women serve in key roles and leadership positions and across the spectrum of military occupational specialties. Women contribute to the most professional, educated, agile and strongest military the U.S. has ever seen.

Patriotism knows no gender

The Military Women’s Memorial, located at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, celebrated its 25th anniversary in October 2022. It is the leading memorial and education center honoring service womens’ contributions to our nation.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke during the anniversary ceremony. He described the memorial as a tribute to the bravery, strength and sacrifice of every woman who has served.

“With each passing year, I was privileged to serve with more and more women at every level,” said Secretary Austin. “And there is no question that our military has gotten better and better, with an even greater focus on standards and excellence. Because patriotism knows no gender. And neither does courage. And men and women hear the same call to serve our great country. And American women have always answered.”

You belong at VA

VA serves more than 600,000 women Veterans who receive care at medical centers across the country. We respect and recognize your service to our country, and we are honored to provide you the best care anywhere. To be eligible for VA health care, you do not have to have a disability or a service-connected injury. You may be eligible even if you never deployed to a combat zone.

From the Jennifer Moreno VA Medical Center in San Diego, California, to the MSG Silverine Vinyard James Women’s Health Clinic in Salem, Virginia, and at all VA medical centers in between, you can receive comprehensive primary care, as well as gender-specific care.

Your VA health care benefits include services like routine check-ups, cancer screenings, birth control, mammograms, maternity care, mental health support and more. We have providers who are specially trained in caring for you and your unique health care needs.

This Veterans Day, we remind you: You inspire us, and you belong at VA.

If you have never accessed your VA benefits, or if you applied a long time ago and never used them, connecting with VA health care is only one call away. Trained representatives at the Women Veterans Call Center can answer questions about eligibility and VA benefits and connect you with your local Women Veteran Program manager for appointments. All calls are answered by women, many of whom are Veterans. The call center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. ET and Saturdays from 8 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. ET. Call or text 855-829-6636.