By Marilyn Madigan
In November 1917, the United States was in World War I. General John Pershing was the Commander of the American Expeditionary Forces.
The United States Signal Corps set up telephone lines from the frontlines to Allied Headquarters. The Signal Corps were overwhelmed with the influx of calls. The American, British and French soldiers at the front desperately needed the support of the telephone operators in updating changes on the battlefield.
General Pershing looked to America for help. At the time, many women made up the workforce as civilian telephone operators. He requested that women who spoke English and French be recruited to help this important need. Thousands of women applied. These women came to be known as the Hello Girls.
They underwent a very tough selection process. 450 were selected. Only 223 qualified to serve. Those selected had to agree to serve for the duration of the war. Their training was the same as Army Officer Candidates.
Since they were handling highly confidential information, they were investigated by the Secret Service. They were investigated more than the average soldier on their loyalty and motivations in wanting to serve.
The Hello Girls wore a uniform and were given ranks. Their training included military drills and terms.
The Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators started their transatlantic journey in March 1918. They were invaluable to the war effort. They served across France and in England. The Hello Girls answered 26 million calls during their service.
President Woodrow Wilson, after hearing about the dedication of The Hello Girls in World War I, pushed for the United States Senate to pass the 19th Amendment providing women with the right to vote. The passage of this amendment delivered voting rights to women, the main mission of the women’s suffrage movement.
During the War, The Hello Girls were in uniform, but the United States Army considered them civilian employees, refusing them veteran benefits. Sixty years later, the United States Government finally granted them veteran status. President Jimmy Carter signed the GI Bill of Improvement of 1977 that categorized these women as veterans.
In 1979, the thirty-one surviving Hello Girls received the Victory Medal of World War I. The Hello Girls paved the way for future generations of female service members.
Congressional Gold Medal Award
What can we do to make sure these women are not forgotten? We can join their descendants in their effort to have these women receive the Congressional Gold Medal.
The Congressional Gold Medal Award needs to receive at least two thirds of the vote of both the House and the Senate to co-sponsor this legislation. Help them secure the votes by asking your Senators and Representatives to support this effort. As of September 17, only 65 more votes are needed.
Please request your Congressional Representative to sign on to House Resolution (HR) 1572. If this resolution does not pass this year, the process will need to start all over again. The World War I Memorial will be dedicated this year;let us make sure these Hello Girls are recognized with the Congressional Gold Medal.
The Hello Girls were trailblazers that made a contribution to our country. As you commemorate Veteran’s Day this year, please remember The Hello Girls as the forgotten heroes of World War I.
Remember, “You can’t spell Hero without Her.” Thank all the women Veterans for their service to our Country.
Read More of Madigan Muses Columns HERE
You drive on the wrong side of the road! And your stop signs drive me bananas! To me roundabouts make so much more sense, but here when you do have one, you’re still on the wrong side of the road!
In the early fall of 2024, I set my sights on the Battle of Vinegar Hill. The battle had always been one I was interested in adapting into a game because I had an ancestor who emigrated from Limerick, Ireland in the early 1800s. My goals for the game were to do justice to the history, in a non-biased way, to allow players to learn more about the battle and to enable players to explore some “what ifs” and alternative strategies to see if they can change history in a game setting.
American Brexit Committee of 300 http://www.americanbrexitcommittee.com
*Marilyn Madigan is the Immediate Past National President and National Organizer of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians and a Deputy Director of the United Irish Societies of Cleveland. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from St. John College and retired from Nursing at University Hospitals of Cleveland.
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive news and event emails from iIrish, 14615 Triskett Road, Cleveland, OH, 44111-3123, US, https://iirish.us. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.
Get the shenanigans and the soul in your inbox, every other Wednesday, for free. Reminders, news, and events that come in after we went to print, and last-minute updates to those events too!
Monthly newsmagazine serving the Irish and their friends from Cleveland to Clearwater. We cover the movers, shakers & music makers each and every month.
iIrish now has branded merch! Be an official iIrish Craictivist, or grab other soft, warm, breathable gear.
Click below to visit our store and grab your favorite iIrish gear today!
