Dr. Mylène (“Mee-lenn”) Huynh (“Winn”) sits down with MWM President Phyllis Wilson to discuss her service in the United States Air Force, how her childhood in Vietnam during the war impacted her choice to join the Air Force, and how her early exposure to her parent’s medical background influenced her current medical practice. Dr. Huynh is board certified in Family Practice and Preventive Medicine with over 20 years experience in integrative health and medical acupuncture. She is a functional medicine practitioner with special interest and training in clinical nutrition, lifestyle medicine, mindfulness meditation and evidence-based approaches to reversing chronic diseases. She completed a 21-year US Air Force career as a flight surgeon, family medicine academic faculty, clinic director, consultant to the USAF Surgeon General on preventive medicine and global health. In addition to TruPoint Health, she serves as an integrative health physician at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Dr. Huynh holds appointment as Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. HERstory programming explores the lived experiences of women veterans throughout American history. 

LTG (Retired) Patricia Horoho sits down with MWM President Phyllis Wilson to discuss her service in the United States Army and her time as the 43rd U.S.Army Surgeon General. Her distinguished professional career includes 33 years with the U.S. Army, retiring as a Lieutenant General, the 43rd Army Surgeon General and Commander of the U.S. Army Medical Command. She made history being the first woman, first nurse and non-physician to hold these posts. In these roles, Patty led the third largest health care system in the world with a multibillion-dollar budget and staff of more than 156,000. She implemented groundbreaking and long-lasting initiatives while improving health care considerations and force protection measures for military women. Patty has been humbled to serve and lead during pivotal moments in Army Medicine and in defense of the nation.HERstory programming explores the lived experiences of women veterans throughout American history. We are the leading memorial and education center honoring women’s contributions to the service of our nation.   As the only historical repository documenting all military women’s service, we educate and inspire through innovative and interactive exhibitions, our world-class collections, and engaging programs and events for all generations. We honor the commitment, contributions and experiences of every woman who serves in, or with, the Armed Forces.

MWM President Phyllis Wilson sits down with Lt. Gen. Susan Helms, USAF (Ret.). Not only did Helms serve in the U.S. Air Force, but she was also a NASA astronaut. She has been to space five times for a total of 211 days. She graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1980 and became a weapons separation engineer and test pilot before joining NASA. She returned to the Air Force in 2002 to work at the HQ USAF Space Command. Helms also served as the 45th Space Wing Commander. While with NASA, she flew aboard the Space Shuttles Endeavor, Discovery, Columbia and Atlantis, and served aboard the International Space Station. She held the world record for longest space walk at 8 hours and 56 minutes.Staying true to our mission, HERstory programming explores the lived experiences of women veterans throughout American history. HERstory is a program where women veterans share their stories in video chats with President Wilson.We are the leading memorial and education center honoring women’s contributions to the service of our nation.   As the only historical repository documenting all military women’s service, we educate and inspire through innovative and interactive exhibitions, our world-class collections, and engaging programs and events for all generations. We honor the commitment, contributions and experiences of every woman who serves in, or with, the Armed Forces.

Staying true to our mission, our signature program HERstory explores the lived experiences of women veterans throughout American history. Each month, MWM President, Phyllis Wilson, hosts a new episode with a new story. This month, Phyllis sits down with our very own Marilla Cushman, Senior Advisor to the MWM President. Marilla shares her story of her years of service in the Army, her part in the popular “Be All You Can Be” advertising campaign and how Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught recruited her to work at the Military Women’s Memorial. Phyllis and Marilla also discuss our 24 years of telling HERstory.

Melissa A. Washington sits down with MWM President Phyllis Wilson to discuss her service in the United States Navy, her decision to leave the military, the challenges of balancing a civilian career and being a military spouse and the importance of community. She is the founder and CEO of Women Veterans Alliance—a national organization that seeks to empower and positively impact the lives of women veterans, and also oversees WVA’s non-profit division, Women Veterans Giving. Melissa serves as an advisor to the American Veteran Organization of Women’s AVOW Magazine. Staying true to our mission, HERstory programming explores the lived experiences of women veterans throughout American history. HERstory is a program where women veterans share their stories in video chats with President Wilson.We are the leading memorial and education center honoring women’s contributions to the service of our nation.   As the only historical repository documenting all military women’s service, we educate and inspire through innovative and interactive exhibitions, our world-class collections, and engaging programs and events for all generations. We honor the commitment, contributions and experiences of every woman who serves in, or with, the Armed Forces.

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, we spoke with SGM Danyell Walters. In January 1997, she became the first ever Black woman, and only the second woman, to be a tomb guard. Walters sat down with our Community Engagement Manager Lachrisha Parker to reflect on her time as a tomb guard and her career.

In 1973, Ann Coyer became the first military woman to serve in Antarctica. As an administrative officer with the Navy, she worked to support U.S. scientific research activities during the polar summer as a part of Operation Deep Freeze. The Spotlight Series takes a look at stories from both our Register, an interactive online database of military women, and our world class collection.The Military Women’s Memorial, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the only historical repository documenting all military women’s service. It is located at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery and features an education center, interactive exhibitions, a world-class collection of military women’s stories, and engaging programs and events for all generations. Find out more about us at www.womensmemorial.org.Music: https://www.bensound.com 

The Military Women’s Memorial commemorates the 80th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 – a date that lives in infamy – through the story of Anna Urda Busby, a nurse who was stationed there and who experienced the attack firsthand. The Spotlight Series takes a look at stories from both our Register, an interactive online database of military women, and our world class collection.The Military Women’s Memorial, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the only historical repository documenting all military women’s service. It is located at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery and features an education center, interactive exhibitions, a world-class collection of military women’s stories, and engaging programs and events for all generations. Find out more about us at www.womensmemorial.org.Music: https://www.bensound.com

Elizabeth “Betty” Splaine joined the U.S. Coast Guard Women’s Reserve, the SPARS, during World War II. She continued her service after the war for another twenty years, becoming the Coast Guard’s first female warrant officer in 1958. The HERstory Spotlight Series takes a look at stories from both our Register, an interactive online database of military women, and our world-class collection.The Military Women’s Memorial, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the only historical repository documenting all military women’s service. It is located at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery and features an education center, interactive exhibitions, a world-class collection of military women’s stories, and engaging programs and events for all generations. Find out more about us at www.womensmemorial.org.

Charity Adams Earley was the highest-ranking Black woman in the U.S. Army during World War II. She commanded the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only contingent of Black WACs to serve overseas during the war. In spring 2022, President Biden signed the bipartisan legislation to award the 6888th the Congressional Gold Metal. The HERstory Spotlight Series takes a look at stories from both our Register, an interactive online database of military women, and our world-class collection. The Military Women’s Memorial, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the only historical repository documenting all military women’s service. It is located at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery and features an education center, interactive exhibitions, a world-class collection of military women’s stories, and engaging programs and events for all generations. Find out more about us at www.womensmemorial.org.

The bugle has been a part of military tradition since the nation’s beginning. In 1942, Donna-Mae Smith became the first woman bugler in the Army. The Spotlight Series takes a look at stories from both our Register, an interactive online database of military women, and our world class collection.The Military Women’s Memorial, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the only historical repository documenting all military women’s service. It is located at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery and features an education center, interactive exhibitions, a world-class collection of military women’s stories, and engaging programs and events for all generations. Find out more about us at www.womensmemorial.org.Music: Artist: Maarten Schellekens, Title: Mi Bolero, https://freemusicarchive.org

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker was a surgeon, suffragist, and feminist reformer. In 1865, she was awarded the Medal of Honor for her service as a contract surgeon with the Union Army during the Civil War. Dr. Walker remains, to this day, the only woman ever to receive the Medal of Honor. The HERstory Spotlight Series takes a look at stories from both the Military Women's Memorial (MWM) Register, an interactive online database of military women, and MWM's world class collection. The Military Women’s Memorial, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the only historical repository documenting all military women’s service. It is located at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery and features an education center, interactive exhibitions, a world-class collection of military women’s stories, and engaging programs and events for all generations. Find out more about us at www.womensmemorial.org.

Join us as we recreate a World War I donut recipe used by Ethel Ash. Ash volunteered with the YMCA, a uniformed organization that worked alongside the military to boost morale. She served in France where she made hundreds of donuts a day for soldiers, with limited ingredients available to her. The Spotlight Series takes a look at stories from both our Register, an interactive online database of military women, and our world class collection.Recipe:1 cup water¼ cup butter¼ cup sugar¼ teaspoon cinnamon2 tablespoons cocoa powder½ teaspoon vanilla extract1 ¼ cup self-rising flour½ cup Sweetened Condensed MilkMusic: https://www.bensound.com

Gianna Fimbres drove fuel tankers in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. She shared her story with the Military Women’s Memorial and preserved it in our register - Hear her story in her own words. You can also preserve your stories by registering your service.The Military Women’s Memorial, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the only historical repository documenting all military women’s service. It is located at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery and features an education center, interactive exhibitions, a world-class collection of military women’s stories, and engaging programs and events for all generations. Find out more about us at www.womensmemorial.org.

Gladys Anderson was among the more than 800 women who joined the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only contingent of Black WACs to serve overseas during World War II. The HERstory Spotlight Series takes a look at stories from both our Register, an interactive online database of military women, and our world class collection.The Military Women’s Memorial, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the only historical repository documenting all military women’s service. It is located at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery and features an education center, interactive exhibitions, a world-class collection of military women’s stories, and engaging programs and events for all generations. Find out more about us at www.womensmemorial.org.

Jasmin Moghbeli is a Marine Corps aviator and an astronaut. As a 2020 graduate of NASA’s Astronaut Candidate Training Program, she is eligible to be the first woman on the moon as part of the Artemis Program. The HERstory Spotlight Series takes a look at stories from both our Register, an interactive online database of military women, and our world class collection. The Military Women’s Memorial, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the only historical repository documenting all military women’s service. It is located at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery and features an education center, interactive exhibitions, a world-class collection of military women’s stories, and engaging programs and events for all generations. Find out more about us at www.womensmemorial.org.

In 1970, Aida Nancy Sanchez deployed to Vietnam as a physical therapist, where she treated Americans, Vietnamese, and even the president of Cambodia. The Spotlight Series takes a look at stories from both our Register, an interactive online database of military women, and our world class collection.The Military Women’s Memorial, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the only historical repository documenting all military women’s service. It is located at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery and features an education center, interactive exhibitions, a world-class collection of military women’s stories, and engaging programs and events for all generations. Find out more about us at www.womensmemorial.org.Music: Mushroom Funghi, https://freemusicarchive.org

During the Spanish-American War, more than 1,500 women worked for the Army as contract nurses, treating troops who contracted typhoid, malaria, and yellow fever. These nurses paved the way for the creation of the Army Nurse Corps in 1901, which enabled women to officially serve in the U.S. military for the first time. The HERstory Spotlight Series takes a look at stories from both our Register, an interactive online database of military women, and our world class collection.The Military Women’s Memorial, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, is the only historical repository documenting all military women’s service. It is located at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery and features an education center, interactive exhibitions, a world-class collection of military women’s stories, and engaging programs and events for all generations. Find out more about us at www.womensmemorial.org.

The First World War brought women into new roles in the military to fill jobs that would free men to be sent to the war in Europe. Opha May Johnson made history in 1918 as the first woman to enlist in the Marine Corps. The Spotlight Series takes a look at stories from both our Register, an interactive online database of military women, and our world class collection.The Military Women’s Memorial, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the only historical repository documenting all military women’s service. It is located at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery and features an education center, interactive exhibitions, a world-class collection of military women’s stories, and engaging programs and events for all generations. Find out more about us at www.womensmemorial.org.Music: https://www.bensound.com

During the height of the Space Race, Air Force Col. Pearl E. Tucker led a course in aerospace nursing. To understand spaceflight and to be prepared to render medical aid, the aerospace nurses underwent much of the same training as astronauts. The nurses paved the way for women to have increasingly integral roles in space exploration in later years.The Military Women’s Memorial, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the only historical repository documenting all military women’s service. It is located at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery and features an education center, interactive exhibitions, a world-class collection of military women’s stories, and engaging programs and events for all generations. Find out more about us at www.womensmemorial.org.