# Famous living non-military women who are veterans **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 5, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-living-non-military-women-who-are-veterans/516384 "2009-11-05T02:53:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-living-non-military-women-who-are-veterans/516384/1 "2009-11-05T02:53:49Z")
For a friend’s kid’s Veterans Day project she has to have LIVING people from fields _outside_ the military who are veterans. There’s no shortage of men in entertainment/politics/you name it who are veterans, but I’m having trouble finding women who are both alive and famous for something OTHER THAN the military (i.e. female generals don’t count) who have been in the U.S. military (must be U.S. since it’s for Veterans Day). Can you think of any? Thanks J ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-living-non-military-women-who-are-veterans/516384/2 "2009-11-05T03:14:46Z")
Just putting “she serve din the military” in Google returns quite a few hits. Nobody uber-famous, but a few notables. eg: [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?\_ob=ArticleURL&\_udi=B7581-47W64P9-102&\_user=5274418&\_rdoc=1&\_fmt=&\_orig=search&\_sort=d&\_docanchor=&view=c&\_searchStrId=1078629570&\_rerunOrigin=google&\_acct=C000066718&\_version=1&\_urlVersion=0&\_userid=5274418&md5=21ca03ce7d3e6e5af6043b12676a0bc1](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B7581-47W64P9-102&_user=5274418&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1078629570&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000066718&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=5274418&md5=21ca03ce7d3e6e5af6043b12676a0bc1) [http://jap.sagepub.com/cgi/pdf\_extract/6/1/14](http://jap.sagepub.com/cgi/pdf_extract/6/1/14) ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-living-non-military-women-who-are-veterans/516384/3 "2009-11-05T03:15:40Z")
Any well-known and respected nurses? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-living-non-military-women-who-are-veterans/516384/4 "2009-11-05T03:25:31Z")
How about female astronauts? [Sunita Williams](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunita_Williams) is one - she appears to still hold her military rank, but currently serves as NASA’s Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office. Wikipedia has a [list of female astronauts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_female_astronauts) if you want to search the bios of some others. My first thought was [Tammy Duckworth](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammy_Duckworth) but she works in the Department of Veterans Affairs these days. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-living-non-military-women-who-are-veterans/516384/5 "2009-11-05T03:41:47Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > My first thought was [Tammy Duckworth](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammy_Duckworth) but she works in the Department of Veterans Affairs these days. The Department of Veterans Affairs isn’t part of the military. It is an entirely separate cabinet rank branch. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-living-non-military-women-who-are-veterans/516384/6 "2009-11-05T03:58:38Z")
My first thought was pioneering computer scientist (and rear admiral) Grace Hopper, but it turns out she died in 1992. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-living-non-military-women-who-are-veterans/516384/7 "2009-11-05T04:03:08Z")
> **[Joycelyn Elders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joycelyn_Elders)** > > Minnie Joycelyn Elders (born Minnie Lee Jones; August 13, 1933) is an American pediatrician and public health administrator who served as Surgeon General of the United States from 1993 to 1994. A vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, she was the second woman, second person of color, and first African American to serve as Surgeon General. > Elders is best known for her frank discussion of her views on controversial issues such as drug legalization, masturbation, and distrib... Too bad Bea Arthur is dead. Ex-marine. > **[5 Things You Didn't Know About Bea Arthur: A Tribute](https://www.neatorama.com/2009/04/26/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-bea-arthur-a-tribute/)** > > Bea Arthur (1922-2009) - YouTube user Sassyornek created a fantastic tribute to Bea, check it out here: Link (Photo: Lifetime Intimate Portrait) Tony- and Emmy-winning actress and comedian Bea Arthur has died. Though she is best known as Dorothy... The rest are all astronauts from what I can tell. Slim pickins. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-living-non-military-women-who-are-veterans/516384/8 "2009-11-05T04:03:08Z")
[Kathryn Sullivan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathryn_D._Sullivan), [Millie Hughes-Fulford](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millie_Hughes-Fulford) [Susan Helms](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_J._Helms), [Nancy Currie](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Currie), [Eileen Collins,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eileen_Collins) [Wendy Lawrence](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy_Lawrence), [Catherine Coleman](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Coleman), [Susan Kilrain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Still_Kilrain), [Kathryn Hire](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathryn_P._Hire), [Pamela Melroy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamela_Melroy), [Lisa Nowak](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_Nowak). [Heide Piper](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidemarie_M._Stefanyshyn-Piper) and [Sunita Williams](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunita_Williams) – all American astronauts who serve/served in the military. [Jocelyn Elders](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joycelyn_Elders), former Surgeon General and Army vet. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-living-non-military-women-who-are-veterans/516384/9 "2009-11-05T04:05:33Z")
Does it have to be the American military? [Dr. Ruth Westheimer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Westheimer) served in the [Haganah](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haganah) just prior to and during the Israeli War of Independence. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-living-non-military-women-who-are-veterans/516384/10 "2009-11-05T05:01:58Z")
Obviously not American, but the Queen is a veteran. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-living-non-military-women-who-are-veterans/516384/11 "2009-11-05T05:30:16Z")
Sunny Anderson, a host on the American Food Network, is an Air Force veteran. Computer game developer Elonka Dunin is an Air Force veteran. Kelly George, Miss Arkansas USA 2007, is currently serving in the Air Force. Author Susan Grant is an Air Force veteran. Christine Griffin, acting head of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, served in the Army in Vietnam. Author Doris Grumbach served in the Navy during WWII. Olympic shooter Hattie Johnson is an Army veteran. Author/teacher LouAnne Johnson is a Marine Corps veteran. The movie _Dangerous Minds_ was based on her book. Olympic swimmer Maxine “Micki” King is an Air Force veteran. Opera singer Rosemary Kuhlmann is a Navy veteran. Former Louisiana Congressional Representative Catherine Small Long is a Navy veteran. Anne Mitchell, CEO of the Institute for Social Internet Public Policy, is an Army veteran. Author Elizabeth Moon is a Marine Corps veteran. Author Kim Ponders is an Air Force veteran. Author Tracy Price-Thompson is an Army veteran. Olympic bobsledder Shauna Rohbock is currently serving in the Army. Jill Stevens, Miss Utah 2007, is currently serving in the Army. Author Lynn Vincent is a Navy veteran. She co-authored Sarah Palin’s recent memoir. Former New Mexico Congressional Representative Heather Wilson is an Air Force veteran. Olympic luger Courtney Zablocki is an Army National Guard veteran. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-living-non-military-women-who-are-veterans/516384/12 "2009-11-05T06:02:07Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Too bad Bea Arthur is dead. Ex-marine. Can you provide details? It wouldn’t surprise me, but it’s not mentioned in either the wiki or imdb bios on her. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-living-non-military-women-who-are-veterans/516384/13 "2009-11-05T06:14:05Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Obviously not American, but the Queen is a veteran. The Queen of what? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-living-non-military-women-who-are-veterans/516384/14 "2009-11-05T06:44:10Z")
Great answers- thanks to all. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-living-non-military-women-who-are-veterans/516384/15 "2009-11-05T06:56:55Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Can you provide details? It wouldn’t surprise me, but it’s not mentioned in either the wiki or imdb bios on her. [http://www.corpsstories.com/ArthurBea.htm](http://www.corpsstories.com/ArthurBea.htm) ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-living-non-military-women-who-are-veterans/516384/16 "2009-11-05T16:48:47Z")
Robin Quivers (Howard Stern’s co-host) was a USAF nurse (discharged at rank of Captain). ---
**Author:** ![jinty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dbc845/32.png) [@jinty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jinty)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-living-non-military-women-who-are-veterans/516384/17 "2009-11-05T17:05:21Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > The Queen of what? Presumably… [QUOTE=List and Honours of Queen Elizabeth II] Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas Queen, Defender of the Faith,[1] Duchess of Edinburgh, Countess of Merioneth, Baroness Greenwich,[N 1] Duke of Lancaster, Lord of Mann, Duke of Normandy, Sovereign of the Most Honourable Order of the Garter, Sovereign of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Sovereign of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Sovereign of the Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick, Sovereign of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Sovereign of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Sovereign of the Distinguished Service Order, Sovereign of the Imperial Service Order, Sovereign of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, Sovereign of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, Sovereign of the Order of British India, Sovereign of the Indian Order of Merit, Sovereign of the Order of Burma, Sovereign of the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert, Sovereign of the Royal Family Order of King Edward VII, Sovereign of the Order of Mercy, Sovereign of the Order of Merit, Sovereign of the Order of the Companions of Honour, Sovereign of the Royal Victorian Order, Sovereign of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem. > **[List of titles and honours of Elizabeth II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_titles_and_honours_of_Queen_Elizabeth_II)** > > Elizabeth II held numerous titles and honours, both during and before her time as monarch of each of her Commonwealth realms. Each is listed below; where two dates are shown, the first indicates the date of receiving the title or award (the title as Princess Elizabeth of York being given as from her birth), and the second indicates the date of its loss or renunciation. > Elizabeth was originally styled "Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth of York". > Between her father's accession in 1936 and ... [/QUOTE] Because (factual answer): > [@](#): > > In 1945, Elizabeth … joined the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service, as No. 230873 Second Subaltern Elizabeth Windsor. Elizabeth trained as a driver and mechanic and drove a military truck, eventually rising to the rank of Junior Commander.[24] She is now the last surviving head of state who served in uniform during World War II.[25] From [Elizabeth II - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_II_of_the_United_Kingdom) ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-living-non-military-women-who-are-veterans/516384/18 "2009-11-05T17:14:54Z")
I don’t know how many are left, but women Army pilots were used to ferry aircraft overseas in WW2. > [@](#): > > This time, the WASPs lobbied Congress with the important support of Senator Barry Goldwater, who himself had been a World War II ferry pilot in the 27th Ferry Squadron. President Jimmy Carter signed legislation #95-202, Section 401, The G.I. Bill Improvement Act of 1977, granting the WASP corps full military status for their service. In 1984, each WASP was awarded the World War II Victory Medal. Those who served for more than one year were also awarded American Theater Ribbon/American Campaign Medal for their service during the war. Many of the medals were received by their sons and daughters on their behalf. > [@](#): > > On July 1, 2009 President Barack Obama and the United States Congress awarded the WASP the Congressional Gold Medal. **Three of the roughly 300 surviving WASPs** were on hand to witness the event. During the ceremony President Obama said, “The Women Airforce Service Pilots courageously answered their country’s call in a time of need while blazing a trail for the brave women who have given and continue to give so much in service to this nation since. Every American should be grateful for their service, and I am honored to sign this bill to finally give them some of the hard-earned recognition they deserve.” Bolding mine. > **[Women Airforce Service Pilots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_Airforce_Service_Pilots)** > > The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP; also Women's Army Service Pilots or Women's Auxiliary Service Pilots) was a civilian women pilots' organization, whose members were United States federal civil service employees. Members of WASP became trained pilots who tested aircraft, ferried aircraft and trained other pilots. Their purpose was to free male pilots for combat roles during World War II. Despite various members of the armed forces being involved in the creation of the program, the WA WAS... ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-living-non-military-women-who-are-veterans/516384/19 "2009-11-05T18:25:25Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Obviously not American, but the Queen is a veteran. > [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > The Queen of what? Of the beehive. In fact, being the only bee capable of not dying in battle with humans due to her ability to repeatibly [sting](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee_sting) without having her stinger torn off she is the only female veteran. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-living-non-military-women-who-are-veterans/516384/20 "2009-11-05T18:47:26Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > [http://www.corpsstories.com/ArthurBea.htm](http://www.corpsstories.com/ArthurBea.htm) Interesting - it says it’s re-printed from wiki, but the [wiki articl](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatrice_Arthur)e doesn’t mention it now. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-living-non-military-women-who-are-veterans/516384.md?page=2)