WAVES

The WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) was a unit of the U.S. Navy established during World War II, on July 30, 1942. Created to free up male personnel for combat roles, the WAVES allowed women to serve in non-combat positions such as clerical work, aviation mechanics, and communications. By the end of the war, over 86,000 women had served as WAVES, making significant contributions to the Navy’s wartime operations. Their exemplary service paved the way for the permanent integration of women into the U.S. armed forces after the war.