Remarks by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III at the 25th Anniversary Ceremony for the Military Women's Memorial (As Prepared)

View Online Secretary of Defense Speech Remarks by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III at the 25th Anniversary Ceremony for the Military Women's Memorial (As Prepared) Oct. 15, 2022 Well, good morning. It's great to be with you all. Phyllis, thank you for that warm introduction. And I want to congratulate you and your team on making today such a special occasion. And I'm grateful for the tremendous women service members who shared their stories with all of us today. You're a tough act to follow. And I'd also like to thank my colleague and good friend, Secretary Denis McDonough, for his moving words. Denis and I are working together to make good on our nation's sacred promise to always take care of our service members, their families, and our veterans. We're honored to have so many veterans with us today, including Lieutenant Cecile Cover, who stepped up to serve nearly 80 years ago during World War II. Lieutenant Cover, thank you for your service and for paving the way for future generations of women in uniform. Let's give her a round of applause. You know, this site used to be a retaining wall that was badly in need of repairs. But for the past two and a half decades, it's been the centerpiece for visitors as they make their way into the hallowed grounds of Arlington. It has helped to fortify the progress that women have made in our armed forces. And it stands as a proud tribute to the bravery, strength, and sacrifice of every woman who has served our country. So I want to thank the person who made this memorial a reality: Brigadier General Wilma Vaught. In the Air Force, she was the first woman to hold nearly every job that she had. And after retiring, General Vaught agreed to join the board of directors for a new foundation that would honor women in the military. And the way that General Vaught tells it, she missed a meeting… and found out that she'd actually been elected their president. It was through her sheer determination that we got this beautiful memorial—the first of its kind to honor all American women who have served. And that's why it's sometimes affectionately known as "the house that Wilma built." So let's give General Vaught a round of applause. And I'm glad that we have ROTC cadets from General Vaught's alma mater at the University of Illinois who are here today and carrying on her legacy. Now, in the 25 years since the dedication of this memorial, there have been plenty more "firsts" for women in the U.S. military. In 2005, then-Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester became the first woman to be awarded the Silver Star for valor in combat.  In 2008, Army General Ann Dunwoody made history as the first woman to achieve the rank of four-star general. And we've since had the first women four-stars in the Navy, the Air Force, and the Coast Guard as well. In just a few years, we've gone from lifting the last restrictions on women's service in combat to the first woman to lead a platoon from the elite 75th Ranger Regiment in combat. We've now had three women to lead combatant commands, including General Jackie Van Ovost, who is currently at the helm of TRANSCOM and General Laura Richardson, who is commanding SOUTHCOM. And just last week, Colonel Nicole Mann became the first woman Marine to lead a NASA space flight. Women have broken barriers in civilian service as well. Today, the Secretary of the Army, Christine Wormuth, is the first woman in that post. And my right hand, Dr. Kathleen Hicks, is the first Senate-confirmed woman to serve as Deputy Secretary of Defense. The ranks, titles, and appointments of these outstanding patriots don't just add to the "firsts" of history. They are the best leaders for so many of our most vital jobs. This is pretty simple: Our military needs the best warfighters in every domain, from the seas to cyberspace. We need the best combat-credible force and the best leaders who are ready to win across the full spectrum of conflict. If we were to limit those jobs to just men—who, by the way, represent less than half of the U.S. population—we wouldn't always get the best. And that's just math. So to make sure that the United States continues to have the best fighting force in all the world, we must draw from the power of all of our people. Now, a lot has changed for women in the U.S. military over the past several decades. But even with the progress that we've made, there's still more to do.  Getting rid of exclusions for women's service was just a minimum. We've still got far more work to do to eliminate bias in our ranks and to eradicate sexual harassment and sexual assault in the United States military. It's not enough for women to just be permitted to serve. We need a military where all of our troops can rise to their full potential—and defend our country with everything they've got. A military where raising your family and serving your country are compatible—for both men and women in uniform. And a military where everyone can contribute the full range of their talents, creativity, and strength to the mission of defending this exceptional nation. That's how we'll build on the legacy of the more than three million women who, since the earliest days of our nation's founding, have stepped up to serve. That's how we'll out-smart, and out-innovate, and out-fight any potential adversary. That's how we'll continue to stand ready to defend the nation. You know, one of the greatest gifts of this memorial is the way that it gives voice to the stories of these women.  Women like then-Chief Yeoman Loretta Perfectus Walsh. Back in 1917, she was the first woman to officially enlist in any branch of our military. Now, she had to make a few alterations to the men's uniform, but she blazed a trail in it. And that trail still leads the way forward, as we saw two years ago, when JoAnne Bass became the first woman to serve as Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. She is now the highest-ranking enlisted woman of any military service. And this memorial also honors women like Colonel Mary Hallaren, who served in World War II. You know, she was barely five feet tall. So to pass the height requirement at enlistment, she stood on her toes. The recruiter even asked her what the Army could do with someone so short. She replied, "You don't have to be six feet tall to have a brain that works." And this memorial honors women like Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams. In World War II, she commanded the Six Triple Eight Central Postal Directory Battalion. It was the first and only unit of African-American women to deploy overseas during World War II. Colonel Adams later said that she didn't think about making history. She just knew that, given the opportunity and the training, she could do the job as well as anybody else. And we honor women like then-Lieutenant Jonita Bonham, who served in Korea. She was an Air Force nurse working on a C-54 that had been converted into a flying emergency room. One day, the C-54 crashed into the sea. And Lieutenant Bonham was trapped in the submerged plane. But she fought her way to the surface and swam through the rough waters to grab onto the rope of a life boat. Even though she was badly wounded, she guided 17 other survivors to the raft. A year after the crash, when she was asked how she survived that day, she said simply that it hadn't occurred to her to die—so she didn't. You know, I graduated from West Point back in 1975, and I spent more than four decades in the Army. With each passing year, I was privileged to serve with more and more women at every level. And there is no question that our military has gotten better and better, with an even greater focus on standards and excellence. Because patriotism knows no gender. And neither does courage. Men and women hear the same call to serve our great country. And American women have always, always answered. So I want to challenge everyone to not just leave here inspired by the stories that we've heard but to write new chapters in this great American story. To create more opportunities for women at every level of our military. To mentor those who are starting out on their journeys. To break down the stubborn barriers for women who wear the cloth of our nation. And to strengthen our common resolve to move toward even greater security and true equality. In just a few moments, Seaman Allyson Smith from the Coast Guard will ring the bell that's here in front of me.   Back in 1944, it was the bell of a ship named for the original Coast Guard Women Reserve, better known as the SPARs. And ever since, the sound of this bell has honored the women service members who have come before. Today, may it ring in another 25 years of remembrance and reflection here at this special memorial. May it ring out to deepen our drive to serve. May the inspiring stories that are told here resound across our country. And may the bravery of all who have served in uniform forever echo in the heart of a grateful country. Thank you.

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