Support a Unit Plaque for the Hello Girls at the National Museum of the United States Army
Published: 13 October 2024
By Dianne Smith
Special to the Doughboy Foundation website

Hello Girls Unit Plaque 1
National Museum of the United States Army, Fort Belvoir, VA
The recently opened National Museum of the United States Army at Fort Belvoir, VA (located outside the perimeter for easy access) is an award-winning facility with the theme “Soldiers Stories,” highlighting the experiences of the men and women who have served since 1775.

Wall of Unit Tributes at the National Museum of the United States Army. Inset: The current three Unit Tribute Plaques to Army Women.
Along the walkway from the parking lot is a wall filled with unit tributes to active and historic military units. The three plaques inset in the photo above highlight the service of Army women: the Women’s Army Corps (WAC), the African-American 6888th General Postal Delivery Battalion of World War II (commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams for whom Fort Lee, VA was just renamed), and WAC Bands. Private fundraising pays for the unit tributes. A site is established to raise the $5,000 for each plaque, and individuals donate money.
The newest effort to highlight the service of Army women is dedicated to the “Hello Girls”, formally the Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators Unit, who served in World War I. Aside from medical personnel, they were the first all-female unit in the US Army and the first to directly contribute to combat operations in France and then post-war occupied Germany.
Answering the call from General Pershing to serve as bilingual telephone operators, they were trained by AT&T, then deployed to the American Expeditionary Forces in France in 1918. Approximately 200 “Hello Girls” — as they were nicknamed — ultimately served in operating units in the First, Second, and Third Army Headquarters (including during the Meuse Argonne Offensive) where they handled 26 million calls. They were held after the war; the last “Hello Girl” was released from service in 1920. Two paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Yet, upon their return, although they served under commissioned officers; wore dog tags, insignia, and uniforms; swore the Army Oath; and were subject to court martial, they were told they had only served as “civilian contractors” — thus denied veterans status and benefits.
Only after a prolonged struggle, in 1977, Congress passed a law paving the way for them to be recognized as full veterans of the US Army — in time for a veteran’s tombstone and a flag at their funeral. These women deserve recognition for their service. They deserve to be remembered. They deserve a place alongside other US Army soldiers on the Unit Tribute Wall.
You can submit a donation for the plaque by check or credit card. If by check, please make it payable to: “National Army Museum Fund” and write “Hello Girls” on the memo line. Mail to: Army Historical Foundation ATTN: Delvon Lukyamuzi, 1775 Liberty Drive, Ste 400 Fort Belvoir, VA 22060. If by credit card, use the online fundraising page : https://armyhistory.causevox.com/Hello_Girls or call the Army Historical Foundation’s direct office number at (703) 562-4174. Thank you for your support.
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