Opha May Johnson was the first woman known to have enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.
She joined the Marine Corps Reserve on August 13, 1918, officially becoming the first female Marine Corps.
Opha May Johnson Quick Biography
Birth name: Opha May Jacob
Born : May 4, 1878 · Kokomo, Indiana, U.S.
Died: August 11, 1955 (aged 77) · Washington, D.C., U.S.
Spouse: Victor Hugo Johnson · (m. 1898–1950)
Place of burial: Rock Creek Cemetery
Opha May Johnson Story
Opha May Jacob was born on May 4, 1878, in Kokomo, Indiana.
She graduated from the shorthand and typewriting department of Wood’s Commercial College in Washington, D.C., in 1895.
Opha Johnson became the first known woman to enlist in the Marine Corps on August 13, 1918, when she joined the Marine Corps Reserve during World War I
According to 1918 newspaper articles, as well as the published history of Women Marines in World War I, Opha Johnson’s first duties were as a clerk at Headquarters Marine Corps, managing the records of other female reservists who joined after she did.
She was promoted to sergeant in September and was the highest-ranking woman in the Marine Corps during her time in service.
On July 11, 1919, the American Legion granted a charter to the first post of women’s Marine Corps reservists.
Known as Belleau Wood Post No. 1, its membership consisted of 90 women who had worked at Headquarters Marine Corps. Johnson was a charter member of this post.
At the end of World War I the Marine Corps, like all services, began the steady disenrollment of women, including Opha Johnson, from active service.
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After her brief military career, she became a clerk in the War Department and worked for the Marine Corps as a civil servant until retiring in 1943.
3 errors concerning Opha Johnson Biography
Marine Corps historians have pointed out that errors concerning Johnson have been circulated and published
- first is her middle name.
Although many have identified the spelling of her middle name as Mae, Johnson spelled her middle name May on her enlistment form - The second fallacy typically published is her age when she enlisted.
Although many report her birth year as 1900, placing her in her late teens at the time of her enlistment, she is known to have been 39 at enlistment - third error involves her official photograph. Another well-known photograph of three female Marine PFCs (Mary Kelly, May O’Keefe, and Ruth Spike) in 1918, was cropped to show just the center figure and published correctly as being May O’Keefe. At a later date, that cropped picture was erroneously attributed as being Johnson and subsequently used by otherwise reliable sources.
Opha May Johnson’s Death and Burial
Opha Johnson died on August 11, 1955, at Mount Alto Veterans Hospital in Washington, D.C
Buried near her husband and parents in Rock Creek Cemetery, her grave was unmarked.
In late 2017 the Women Marines Association began raising funds to place a marker at her burial site.
On August 29, 2018, she received a grave marker that celebrated 100 years of women in the Marines.
The monument was put up by the Women Marines Association to commemorate the 100 years of women serving in the Marine Corps.
How many women were in the Belleau Wood Post?
90
When did Opha Johnson die?
Opha Johnson died on August 11, 1955, at Mount Alto Veterans Hospital in Washington, D.C
Who was the first female Marine?
Opha May Johnson was the first woman known to have enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.
Who was Victor Johnson?
VictorJohnson is the Husband of Opha May Johnson. Victor Hugo Johnson was the musical director at the Lafayette Square Opera House
Who was the first female in the Marine Corps?
Opha May Johnson was the first female in the Marine corps
What rank was Opha May Johnson in the Marine Corps?
Opha May Johnson First Rank in Marine corps
Is Mae a middle name Opha Johnson?
No, Opha Johnson’s Correct Middle name is May
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