P1 1WHEREAS, During the American Revolution, women, including
2Margaret Corbin, Deborah Sampson, and Molly Pitcher, served
3with valor and distinction on the field of battle, in some cases
4posing as men in order to serve their country; and
5WHEREAS, The establishment of the Women’s Army Auxiliary
6Corps in 1942, and its conversion just one year later to the full
7Women’s Army Corps, allowed the additional deployment of the
8equivalent of another seven divisions to the front; and
9WHEREAS, General Douglas MacArthur said of the 150,000
10women who served in the WAAC and WAC during World War
11II that they were his best soldiers and that they worked harder,
12complained less, and were better disciplined; and
13WHEREAS, The number of women serving on active duty in
14the armed forces has grown to exceed 200,000, comprising more
15than 14 percent of the entire force; and
16WHEREAS, Despite a long-standing exclusion of women from
17direct combat roles, many women have died fighting for this nation
18in Iraq and Afghanistan, and hundreds more have been wounded
19in those conflicts; and
20WHEREAS, Women have risen to the highest levels of
21command in the United States Armed Forces; and
P2 1WHEREAS, Women have been breaking barriers to service for
2the entire history of this nation, and this year yet another, banning
3them from direct combat roles, is to fall; and
4WHEREAS, We honor the achievements of those women who
5serve and have served in the Armed Forces; now, therefore, be it
6Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the
7Assembly recognizes the contributions of women in the United
8States Armed Forces are an example for all to follow, an important
9part of this nation’s history, and are to be celebrated during
10Women’s History Month; and be it further
11Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
12of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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