By order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Lt. Edith Greenwood became the first woman in U.S. history to receive the Soldier's Medal for her heroism during the April 1943 hospital fire.
On June 10, 1943, by direction of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Lieutenant Edith Ellen Greenwood of the Army Nurse Corps was formally awarded the Soldier's Medal—the U.S. Army's highest decoration for non-combat heroism—in recognition of her actions during the April 17, 1943 fire at the 37th Station Hospital.
Greenwood's award marked a watershed moment: she became the first woman in the history of the United States military to receive this distinguished honor, which had previously been the exclusive province of male soldiers recognized for valor outside of direct combat. Her recognition signaled a growing, if still limited, acknowledgment of the risks and heroism displayed by women serving in the Army Nurse Corps during World War II.
At a time when women in uniform were frequently relegated to supportive, background roles and rarely celebrated with the same fanfare as combat heroes, Greenwood's medal offered visible proof that women could exhibit battlefield-caliber bravery even in non-combat medical settings. Her citation praised her composure, quick thinking, and selfless devotion to her patients' safety.
The award helped pave the way for greater recognition of Army nurses' contributions throughout the remainder of the war and set a precedent referenced in subsequent citations for military women. Greenwood's name remains etched in military history as a trailblazer for female service members.