First woman to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps

On August 13, 1918, Opha May Johnson etched her name in history by becoming the first woman to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps. Her enlistment took place in Washington, D.C., and she instantly became a trailblazer, leading approximately 300 women who were inspired to follow suit. This was a momentous occasion amidst World War I, a period when women were mainly voiceless in many public spheres. Johnson stood as a beacon of gender progress by not only enlisting but setting a remarkable example of courage and determination for generations of women to come.