Jeanne M. Holm
Jeanne Holm | |
---|---|
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit |
Major General Jeanne Marjorie Holm (June 23, 1921 – February 15, 2010)[1][2] was the first female one-star general of the United States Air Force and the first female two-star general in any service branch of the United States.[3] Holm was a driving force behind the expansion of women's roles in the Air Force.[4]
Early career
Holm was born Jeanne Marjorie Hannes on June 23, 1921, in
World War II
During
In October 1948, during the
Cold War
Holm returned from overseas in 1952 and became the first woman to attend the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.[5] She was then assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force in Washington, DC, as a personnel plans and programs officer in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel.[3]
Her next assignment was as chief of manpower in Allied Air Forces Southern Europe, a
WAF
In November 1965 Holm was appointed director of
Air Force leadership
Holm was promoted to the grade of brigadier general July 16, 1971, the first woman to be appointed in this grade in the Air Force. She was promoted to the grade of major general effective June 1, 1973, with date of rank July 1, 1970, and was the first woman in the Armed Forces to serve in that grade.[3]
On March 1, 1973, Holm was appointed director of the Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council. In this position, she was responsible for administration of the council and functioning of its boards and served as president of: the Air Force Discharge Review Board, Personnel Board, Board of Review, Physical Disability Appeal Board, Decorations Board and the Disability Review Board.[3]
Holm retired from the Air Force in 1975.
White House
After retiring, Holm consulted for the Defense Manpower Commission. In March 1976 Holm was named special assistant to President Gerald Ford for the Office of Women's Programs. Holm helped Ford attract more female voters by reaching out to women's groups and making note of women's issues. Holm detailed for Ford a plan for presentation to the Justice Department which would authorize a full re-examination of the United States Code to determine whether the wording of any law was sex-based and not justified. Ford directed the attorney general to begin the task and announced it to the public on July 1, 1976. At the polls, women voters favored Ford by a small percentage but were outnumbered by a larger male turnout. Males favored Jimmy Carter just enough to give him 50.1% of the popular vote.[6]
Awards and recognition
Holm was a member of the Board of Trustees, Air Force Historical Foundation; member of the Board of Directors of
Holm was inducted into the
- Military Decorations
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
| |
Legion of Merit | |
Women's Army Corps Service Medal | |
American Campaign Medal | |
World War II Victory Medal
| |
Army of Occupation Medal with Berlin Airlift Device | |
Medal for Humane Action | |
National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star | |
Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
| |
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
|
Effective dates of promotion
Insignia | Rank | Date |
---|---|---|
Major General | June 1, 1973 | |
Brigadier General | July 16, 1971 |
Author
Holm wrote two books about women in the military, beginning with Women in the Military: An Unfinished Revolution in 1982. Holm updated the book in 1992–1994, filling in American women's combat and military experiences in the invasions of
In 2003 Holm assisted author Linda Witt in her writing of the book A Defense Weapon Known to be of Value: Servicewomen of the Korean War Era, published in 2005. Holm described for Witt the history of the WAF in the early 1950s and the trials women experienced as they made their way through the male-dominated military.[11]
Personal life
Holm was an accomplished snow and water skier, student of ancient history, scuba diver and skipper of her own power cruiser. Prior to entering military service, she was a professional silversmith.[3]
On February 15, 2010 in Annapolis, Maryland, Holm died from pneumonia in both lungs.[12] She was survived by her family members such as a brother, nephews, and nieces. Funeral services for Holm were conducted at Arlington National Cemetery on March 29, 2010, with full military honors.[13]
See also
References
- ^ 1999 Women In Military Service calendar. Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute. Retrieved on February 17, 2010.
- ^ "Face of Defense: Military Community Loses Pioneer". Washington, D.C.: United States Department of Defense. American Forces Press Service. February 18, 2010. Archived from the original on March 1, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k United States Air Force Biographies: "Major General Jeanne M. Holm". Archived from the original on 2012-07-16.
- ^ ISBN 9781429901802.
- ^ "First female Air Force major general dies". United Press International. February 18, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2010.
- ISBN 1-58544-245-3.
- ^ National Women's Hall of Fame, Jeanne Holm,
- ^ "Ground-breaking Female Officer Dies". Airforce-magazine.com. Arlington, Virginia: Air Force Association. February 18, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2010.
- ISBN 0-89141-513-0.
- ISBN 0-918339-43-X.
- ISBN 1-58465-472-4.
- ^ Vaught, Wilma L., Brigadier General USAF (Retired). President, Women's Memorial Foundation. Email notice to Foundation members, February 17, 2010.
- ^ "Jeanne M. Holm". The Washington Post. February 21, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
Further reading
- The Lady Is a General, by Robert P. Everett (Airman Magazine, Vol.XV No.9, Sep 1971)
- Seed, Suzanne (March 1974). Saturday's Child : 36 women talk about their jobs. Bantam Books. pp. 149–153. OCLC 5462796.