Valiant Women by Lena Andrews

The contributions of American servicewomen in World War II have too often been overshadowed, their stories left untold or undervalued. Among the women who served, many have gone decades without recognition, their vital roles reduced to footnotes in history. Valiant Women: The Extraordinary American Servicewomen Who Helped Win World War II by Lena Andrews seeks to bring these unsung heroes into focus, offering an essential corrective to the historical narrative.

In uncovering these long-overlooked accounts, Andrews reveals how many women were made to feel that their wartime efforts were peripheral, not "real war work." One such veteran, 98-year-old Merle Caples, poignantly expresses her astonishment during an interview: “Oh my god, there are people out there who still care about me?” Her words encapsulate the sense of invisibility that Andrews is determined to dispel. With clarity and conviction, Andrews asserts that women in uniform were indispensable to the Allied war effort, serving in roles that shaped the trajectory of the conflict.

A CIA military analyst by profession, Andrews approached her research with precision and passion, searching for living veterans through local tributes like centennial birthday announcements. Her narrative is enriched by these personal interviews, as well as a detailed examination of the challenges women faced in the military. Early programs introduced by the Army and Navy were met with varying degrees of skepticism, and the Marine Corps, under Lieutenant General Thomas Holcomb, openly resisted the inclusion of women and nonwhite men. Andrews also recounts the rivalry between Jacqueline Cochran and Nancy Harkness Love, two pioneering pilots who spearheaded efforts to create a women’s flying corps within the Army Air Forces.

Andrews’ mastery of her subject and elegant storytelling bring to life remarkable women such as Charity Adams, who led the first Black WAC unit to serve abroad, and Dorothy Still, a Navy nurse who endured three years as a prisoner of war in the Philippines. Their stories, alongside many others, highlight the courage and perseverance of women whose contributions have long gone uncelebrated.

With Valiant Women, Andrews has crafted more than just a history book; she has given a voice to those who were silenced and a place in history to those who were overlooked. This essential work ensures that the legacy of these trailblazing women will not only be remembered but honored for generations to come.