In this illustration, Nancy Morgan Hart, an American colonist living in Georgia, defends her home and children against invading British soldiers during the American Revolutionary War. According to legend, Hart captured and killed British soldiers during the war.

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Sept. 11, 1943: Women Army Corps (WAC) soldiers unload supplies somewhere in North Africa.

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Oct. 2, 1943: Marine Corps Women Reserves undergoing training at Camp Lejeune, New River, N.C., ride in a landing boat of the type that were used by the Marines in landing operations in the South Pacific.

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Dec. 22, 1943: Members of the Women Army Corps (WAC) stationed at a U.S. medium bomber station in England, ride bicycles on their way to work.

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May 5, 1944: Five members of the Women's Army Corps serving with the army service of supplies, salute an officer at a base in England.

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Oct. 7, 1944: Women Army Corps (WAC) switchboard operators put military calls through at their base in France.

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July 14, 1965: U.S. Army nurses Capt. Gladys E. Sepulveda, left, of Ponce, Puerto Rico, and 2nd Lt. Lois Ferrari, of Pittsburgh, Pa., rest on sandbags at Cam Ranh Bay in South Vietnam, during the Vietnam War. They two were waiting transportation to Nha Trang, to work in the 8th field hospital.

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Sept. 21, 1977: Recruit Angelia Wingle, of Lyons Ga., shines her combat boot as she sits on a bunk in the barracks at Fort Jackson, S.C.

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Sept. 3, 1990: U.S. Army Spec. Tanya Miller of New York., leans against a wall on an air base in Saudi Arabia. Miller was in Saudi Arabia with the 101st Airborne Divsion in support of Operation Desert Shield.

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March 20, 2008: Army Spc. Monica Brown, a medic from the 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, is the second female since World War II to earn the Silver Star award for her actions while in combat.

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April 12, 2009: An Iraqi woman is searched by a female U.S. soldier before reuniting with her husband, who was among 32 men released from U.S. military detention at Camp Bucca to their families in Tarmiyah, 30 miles north of Baghdad, Iraq,

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Aug. 10, 2009: U.S. Marine Female Engagement Team members Lance Cpl. Mary Shloss, right, of Hammond, Ind., Sgt. Monica Perez, center, of San Diego, Calif. and Cpl. Kelsey Rossetti, of Derry, N.H. wait for the signal to begin their patrol in the Helmand province of Afghanistan.

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May 9, 2012: Capt. Sara Rodriguez of the 101st Airborne Division walks through the woods during the expert field medical badge testing at Fort Campbell, Ky.

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