Images: A look at women's military service
Through the years, women's roles in wartime have evolved — not that women ever have been inclined to just stand by.
During the American Revolution, Nancy Morgan Hart was famously depicted with a musket, defending her home and children from British soldiers in Georgia.
In World War II, members of the Women Army Corps worked in a support capacity, while in Iraq and Afghanistan women have served closer to the front.
Those roles evolved further Thursday when Defense Secretary Leon Panetta signed an order ending the Pentagon's ban on women serving in combat.
Here's a collection of images showing some of the ways women have served their country in the U.S. military:
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.
Associated Press
Sept. 11, 1943: Women Army Corps (WAC) soldiers unload supplies somewhere in North Africa.
Associated Press
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.
Associated Press
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.
Associated Press
May 5, 1944: Five members of the WomenÂ’s Army Corps serving with the army service of supplies, salute an officer at a base in England.
Associated Press
Oct. 7, 1944: Women Army Corps (WAC) switchboard operators put military calls through at their base in France.
Associated Press
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.
Associated Press
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.
Associated Press
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.
Associated Press
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.
Associated Press
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,
Associated Press
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.
Associated Press
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.
Associated Press
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