Women in the Military: Season II - Pioneers
The second season of this series tells the story of the heroic accomplishments of women pioneers in the U.S. military. Subjects include some of the first women Marines, the first woman to earn the rank of Admiral, a career officer that sued the Secretary of Defense leading to women serving on combatant ships, the successful effort to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell” which discriminated against gays and lesbians in the military, and the Congressional effort to address sexual assault in the military.
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Adele Shimanoff: U.S. Marine
Directed by Hannah Anderson
In 1945, Adele Shimanoff joins the U.S. Marine Corps amid a larger plan to bring women into the military in order to “free a marine to fight”. Adele moves away from the traditional Women’s Reserves and into active duty for a year, where she forms lifelong friendships ...
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Black Woman & WWII: The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion
Directed by Gina Gelphman
In the midst of World War II, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-female African-American unit, undertook the monumental task of sorting and delivering a massive backlog of mail for the U.S. military. Despite facing deplorable working conditions and th...
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Alene B. Duerk: The First Woman Admiral
Directed by Eliciana Nascimento
Following the tradition of military service in her family, Alene Duerk enlisted as a Navy nurse in 1943. During her eventful 32 year career, she served in WWII on a hospital ship in the Sea of Japan, and trained others in the Korean War. She became the Director of...
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Time for Change: Kathy Bruyere
Directed by Daniel Leonard Bernardi
A remarkable woman challenges two centuries of Navy tradition and discrimination, becoming a champion for equal opportunities to serve on-board ship and in combat -- all while rising to the rank of captain and becoming a source of strength to her family.
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Zoe Dunning: Repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
Directed by Silvia Turchin
Maria Zoe Dunning is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and gay rights activist. She is known for being the only openly gay person remaining on active duty following a series of lawsuits against the U.S. Military and the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy during the 1990s. This i...
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Jackie Speier: Sexual Assault in the Military
Directed by Jennifer Hammett
Congresswoman Jackie Speier explains her approach to protecting victims of sexual assault within the military. Her goal is to take prosecuting powers out of the inner ranks and put it into the hands of properly trained detectives.
