We’re lucky to live in a time where women are less oppressed and more appreciated than ever before. There were times where women couldn’t even vote, own property in their name, or join the military. Women in the United States today have all of these rights plus more. It has taken decades, blood, sweat, and tears for women to earn many of the rights that they have today, and some argue that we’re still not finished yet.
While the latter is controversial, the fact is that before November 15, 2008, the United States Military Academy, also known as West Point, never had a female four-star general. But on that very day, Retired Army Gen. Ann Dunwoody was promoted to the rank at a ceremony held at the Pentagon, becoming the first woman ever with such title.
Due to her hard work in the military as an Army Officer of 38 years up until the year 2012, Dunwoody was given yet another honor at Gasparilla 2018 presented by the West Point’s Association of Graduates: the Thayer Award. This award is honored to United States citizens who model the Military Academy motto, “Duty, Honor, Country.” Dunwoody met that criteria.
But many ask: What inspired the Army Officer to take on such a man-dominated military career?
“I grew up in the Army and came from a family who, since 1862, has defended our nation,” she said. “My great grandfather, my grandfather, my father, my brother, my sister, my niece, and my husband are all veterans of this country’s wars. My father is a veteran of three wars and is one of the 25 million veterans living today who served the nation with such incredible courage.”
The U.S. Army General admits she didn’t intend for the Army to her career choice, but in the end, she felt it was the best path for her.
“While I joined the Army right out of college, I planned to only stay in the Army to complete my two-year commitment, but it wasn’t too long before I realized that there are no other shoes [boots] I would rather fill than the ones I am wearing right now. As a soldier, you can continually serve. It is a calling to be a soldier and there is a great sense of pride and camaraderie in serving the greatest Army in the world.”
Although women have been able to join the Army since the last two years of World War I, Dunwoody shares that her gender still made her a target as an Army Officer.
“In the military, I had advocates, then there were detractors. They just don’t like you, maybe they think it’s a man’s Army and women don’t belong here. The key is how you deal with people. You don’t stoop to name-calling. You be professional, demonstrate you’re capable and sometimes you convert people. In the military, people want the best leader on the team. They want the best, and we have a profession that’s looking for and rewards that kind of behavior.”
Despite the criticism she received, the first-ever female Four-Star General “led and ran the largest global logistics command in the Army,” according to ABC Action News, eventually leading to her earning her well-deserved Thayer award.
What an inspiration Dunwoody is for not only women but for those wishing to take on a military career! Watch her receive her award below.
