WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA) announced the introduction of H. Res. 1388 to honor the women who served in the Navy Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services (WAVES) during World War Two.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt established WAVES on July 30, 1942, when he signed the Navy Women’s Reserve Act into law. While women served in the U.S. Navy’s enlisted ranks during World War One, legislation passed after the war restricted women to serving as only nurses until the creation of WAVES.
“These courageous women answered the call when America needed them most and played a crucial role in winning World War Two. The trailblazing spirit of WAVES broke barriers and opened opportunities for future generations of women to serve in the Navy,” Rep. Luria said. “As a 20-year Navy veteran, it is an honor to introduce this resolution in the House and commemorate these heroes and Navy women who served as WAVES during World War Two.”
By the end of World War Two, more than 400,000 women had served the United States, with every U.S. Navy aviator who entered combat receiving some part of his training from a WAVE. When the program peaked in 1945 with nearly 80,000 officers and enlisted personnel, the WAVES composed about 2.5% of the wartime strength of the Navy.
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