Volume LIX No. 2 Summer 2008 Gen. Dunwoody Selected for Fourth Star N JUNE 23, 2008 SEC- grees. Her most recent position, be- The nomination and confirmation of RETARY OF DEFENSE fore her appointment as the AMC Gen. Dunwoody‘s appointment are ROBERT GATES AN- deputy commander, was as the Army testimony to her exceptional per- O NOUNCED that Presi- deputy chief of staff, G-4. She will formance of duty and to the expecta- dent Bush had nominated Lt. Gen. replace Gen. Benjamin Griffin, who tions of her potential for even greater Ann E. Dunwoody for appointment has commanded AMC since late service. The fact that she had the to the grade of general and assign- 2004. A change of command date opportunity for selection illustrates ment as commander, Army Materiel was not available at press time. dramatic changes in the position of Command. This historic ap- women in the U.S. armed forces. pointment was confirmed by the While women‘s Army service can be Senate on July 23rd. traced from the Revolutionary War, when General Washington com- Gen. Dunwoody, 55, was born at plained about the shortage of nurses, Fort Belvoir, Va. and grew up on it is only in the current conflicts in Army posts around the world. Afghanistan and Iraq that women Her family has a long tradition have been involved active combat. of military service going back to colonial times. Her father, re- Until 1967 women in the military tired Brig. Gen. Harold Dun- could aspire no higher than colonel woody (USMA class of 1944), is a (or Navy captain), and then only one veteran of World War II, Korea woman at a time could serve in that and Vietnam. Her brother, Har- rank for each branch. A crucial old Dunwoody, Jr. is also a West change came Nov. 8, 1967 when Point graduate (class of 1970); Gen. Griffin and Lt. Gen. Dunwoody, during the playing of the President Lyndon Johnson signed her older sister was one of the National Anthem at the AMC ceremony to welcome Dunwoody public law 90-130 in a colorful cere- Army‘s first helicopter pilots; as Deputy Commander, June 17, 2008 (Credit: U.S. Army) mony at the White House. Music was and, a niece is an Air Force provided by the 14th Army Band fighter pilot. Retired Brig. Gen. Anna Mae Hays, first U.S. woman general, was enthu- (Please turn to Dunwoody, page 7.) A 1975 graduate of the State Univer- siastic on hearing of Dunwoody‘s sity of New York at Cortland, she was selection. She wrote, ―…this nomina- commissioned as a second lieutenant tion is a great step forward for all Inside . the same year. After attending the Army women. It recognizes not only First LEGACY SCHOLARSHIPS WAC officer orientation course at her distinguished leadership but also Fort McClellan, Ala., she attended the magnificent contributions of awarded ··························· page 4 Quartermaster Corps (QM) officer women soldiers to the total fighting basic. Her assignments include a force.‖ Army Women’s Foundation variety of staff and command posi- unveils NEW LOGO ········ page 7 tions from the platoon level up. She Retired Gen. Mary E. Clarke, the first commanded a maintenance com- Army woman promoted to major LATEST CASUALTIES reported pany, served as adjutant for a mili- general, wrote, ―Gen. Dunwoody is in ‘Taps’ ··························· page 8 tary community, was the QM branch and will be an inspiration to our assignment officer, and served as thousands of Army women, and RIVETING DOCUMENTARY calls division property book officer. women of our sister services, attention to lionesses····· page 11 throughout the world. They know Gen. Dunwoody is a graduate of the that love of country, dedication to Works of original Spiderman Command and General Staff College, duty, and qualifications will enable comic strip artist featured in new the Industrial College of the Armed them to aspire to attaining that Forces, and holds two master‘s de- ‗unreachable star‘.‖ MUSEUM EXHIBIT ······· page 12 President‟s Message capturing the stories of Army women in all departments (pilots, administrators, lawyers, nurses, Murphy Club celebration of the 22nd medics, MPs, etc., both enlisted and birthday of the Army medical officer), we continue to build our Tell department regiment and 233rd Your Story oral history program. We birthday of the Army medical want stories from our past and from department. Several hundred soldiers who are making history soldiers attended the celebration. today, whether in Afghanistan, Iraq, Here we have found soldiers who The Balkans, or elsewhere. I were surprised to learn that they had encourage you to Tell Your Story at a museum dedicated to them. They www.awfdn.org/pages/story.html. want to know more and they want to S I WRITE THIS I be a part of not only of making FEEL SUCH GREAT You may have heard that we are history but also recording that PRIDE IN OUR traveling selectively to different posts history. COUNTRY, our soldiers, to meet soldiers past and present. A We‘ve met with active and former In late August, we‘ll have another and our Foundation‘s mission to honor the service and sacrifice of women soldiers in Tampa, Fla., opportunity to promote the Army Women. Our Foundation‘s Anniston, Ala., San Antonio, Tex. Foundation and the Museum when centerpiece program is the Army and Fayetteville, N.C. we attend the annual convention of Women‘s Museum. To fulfill our the Women‘s Army Corps Veterans‘ mission and to maintain and At a women‘s history month Association. As we have done on advance our Museum, we honor, reception held at the Army Women‘s previous trips, we will spread the commemorate and preserve the Museum at Fort Lee, board member word and engage new supporters in history of Army women. and World War II veteran Gig Smith our cause! was surrounded by young soldiers With your help, we are working to eager to hear her story and learn In closing, we need your continued inform more soldiers – of all from her. support as we work to expand our generations – about our Museum, Museum and the soldier and the history we have made and what In May I was deeply honored to be Foundation programs. Do you have soldiers are doing today. We must the keynote speaker at the Women‘s daughters, nieces, granddaughters, build a bridge across the generations Memorial, Arlington National cousins or friends who are serving or to connect the women soldiers of Cemetery commemoration of have served in the Army? Please tell yesterday and their pioneering Memorial Day (AWF photo above). them about the Army Women‘s service to the innovative and Museum and the Foundation! Invite In July I spoke at the Army Medical them to visit our web site or to visit talented women soldiers of today. Department Leadership Conference the Museum. To bridge the generations, we have at Fort Sam Houston, Tex., where I programs to support the needs of shared information about our If you would like to volunteer, please today‘s soldiers. One example is our Foundation, our mission and our contact me personally and I will Legacy Scholarship Program. We museum with an audience of 200. assist you. I am confident about our future and thank each of you for your have just selected two women who In early August board member will be recipients of the first Army wisdom, your talent and for your Franki Whitbeck and I had a terrific continued financial support. Women‘s Foundation scholarships. day at the Army Medical Department (See page 4.) Museum (Fort Sam Houston) at the invitation of Sgt. First Class Diane Sue Pierce To preserve our history while Istre. We attended the Sgt. Audie [email protected] 312-961-8169 “The Flagpole” is published by the U.S. Army Women‘s Foundation. Views and opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of the Army or Department of Defense. To receive the newsletter, become a ―Friend of the Foundation‖ by donating $25 annually and The Flagpole will be mailed directly to you. See page 15 for more information. Questions? Send an email to: [email protected]. Editor: Nancy Burns Associate Editor: Sharie Russell Contributors: April Booth, Noonie Fortin, Gale Howell, Pat Jernigan, Debbie Levenson, Vicki Merryman, Sue Pierce, Peggy Trossen. © U.S. Army Women‘s Foundation except where credit is otherwise noted 2 THE FLAGPOLE Summer 2008 Army Women’s Foundation Notes from the Executive Director Est. 1969 Honoring Service and Sacrifice host an event in your area. Please contact me for more information. HIS IS THE FIRST EDI- Board of Directors TION OF NOTES FROM The Foundation is sponsoring a Executive Council THE EXECUTIVE DI- Sue Pierce ························· President ―meet and greet‖ in Washington, st RECTOR. I‘ll provide a th Mary Spring ·········· 1 Vice President T D.C. on Sunday, September 14 , in nd regular overview and update of our connection with a Mystics/Lynx bas- Joan Plourde ······· 2 Vice President Roberta Dobbs ················· Secretary activities and pique your curiosity to ketball game. Walter Reed soldiers Ron Redmon ···················· Treasurer look at more in-depth reports in The and their families will be our special Flagpole and on our website. Pat Jernigan ······················· At Large guests. A reception will be held prior At the top of our list of Foundation to the game to give all attendees the Members Gail Howell projects is the Museum expansion. opportunity to meet the soldiers and Vicki Merryman We‘ve talked about expanding the visit with friends. Helen Smith Museum for over 15 years. The Foun- Website improvements and enhance- Pat Taylor dation began to plan for the expan- ments are also high on our ―to do‖ Franki Whitbeck sion about six years ago and we com- list.