Loretta Ford (1920–2025), pioneering nurse practitioner

Loretta Ford was a nurse who co-founded the first nurse practitioner program in the United States.

Madeleine Riffaud (1924–2024), French Resistance fighter

Madeleine Riffaud was a journalist and fighter with the French Resistance in World War II, refusing to bow to the Nazis despite capture and torture.

Lily Ebert (1923–2024), Holocaust survivor and author

Lily Ebert was a Holocaust survivor and author who became a social media sensation when she took her quest to find the soldier who rescued her from a concentration camp to TikTok.

Romay Johnson Davis (1919–2024), WWII Women’s Army Corps vet

Romay Johnson Davis was a World War II veteran and a member of the first all-female, all-Black Army Corps unit deployed overseas during the conflict. 

Colette Maze (1914–2023), world’s oldest recording pianist 

Colette Maze was a French pianist whose recording career began in her 80s and continued throughout her life, with her most recent album released just this year.

Elinor Otto (1919–2023), one of the original Rosie the Riveters

Elinor Otto was one of the original Rosie the Riveters, who continued building airplanes for decades after World War II. 

Beverly Willis (1928–2023), pioneering female architect

Beverly Willis was a pioneering architect whose influence helped break gender norms in the industry, co-founding the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., and designing a number of notable landmarks. 

Simone Segouin (1925–2023), heroine of the French Resistance

Simone Segouin was a French Resistance fighter during World War II, who helped capture German troops and deliver crucial messages.

Jean Landis (1918–2022), World War II WASP pilot

Jean Landis served with the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during World War II, flying crucial non-combat missions.

Dorothy “Dot” Cole (1913–2021), oldest living U.S. Marine

Dorothy “Dot” Cole was a U.S. Marines veteran of World War II who was the oldest living Marine.

Cecilia Chiang (1920–2020), restaurateur who brought authentic Chinese cuisine to the U.S.

Cecilia Chiang was a restaurateur whose San Francisco restaurant, the Mandarin, introduced a more authentic style of Chinese food to U.S. diners.

Viola Smith (1912–2020), pioneering female swing drummer

Viola Smith was a drummer billed as the “fastest girl drummer in the world,” playing for big bands in an era when few professional musicians were women.

Ruth Kluger (1931–2020), Holocaust survivor who wrote “Still Alive” memoir

Ruth Kluger was a Holocaust survivor known for her memoir, “Still Alive: A Holocaust Girlhood Remembered.”

Vera Lynn (1917–2020), singer known for WWII hit “We’ll Meet Again”

Vera Lynn was a singer, songwriter, and actress known for the wartime hit songs “We’ll Meet Again” and “White Cliffs of Dover.”

Cécile Rol-Tanguy (2020), World War II French resistance hero

Cécile Rol-Tanguy was a French resistance hero during World War II who helped liberate Paris from the Nazis.

Sybil Peacock Harmon (2019), one of Delta’s first flight attendants

Flew on Delta DC-3's before leaving during World War II to assist the war effort.

Dorothy Olsen (1916–2019), one of WWII's last surviving Women Airforce Service Pilots

Dorothy Olsen was one of the last surviving WASPs, women pilots who flew non-combat missions for the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. The WASPs—Women Airforce Service Pilots—were stationed across the U.S., ferrying planes from factories to airbases, test-flying new and recently repaired planes, and training new pilots in order to free up male Army Air Forces members to fly combat missions. Olsen had earned her private pilot’s license after a childhood dreaming of flight, and she joined the WASPs in 1943, the year they were first established. She was one of just 1,074 women to complete the WASP training program. Though they were of vital importance to the war effort, the WASPs weren’t officially military, and their contributions went largely unrecognized for decades. It wasn’t until 1977 that they received veterans’ benefits, and in 2010 they were collectively presented the Congressional Gold Medal.

The Times Square Kiss Photo: An Unrequested Legacy

You may not know Greta Friedman's name or her face, but you almost certainly know what she looks like when she's been bent over backward and kissed by a stranger.

The Greatest Generation Falls in Love

Legacy’s database is full of stories of couples who fell in love during World War II service.

Alene Duerk (1920 – 2018), Navy’s first female rear admiral

Enlisted in the Navy Nurse Corps during World War II and ascended the ranks over 30 years.

Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga (1925–2018), Japanese-American researcher uncovered truth behind World War II internments

Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga (1925–2018), activist and researcher uncovered U.S. government documents that proved the was racially motivated. Her research led Congress to approve reparations to camp prisoners, and a formal apology by President Ronald Reagan.

Naomi Parker Fraley (1921–2018), inspiration for iconic WWII "We Can Do It" poster

Naomi Parker Fraley was an inspiration for iconic WWII female factory workerRosie the Riveter.

Alison Robins (1920 – 2017), secret WWII code listener

She was part of the UK’s wartime intelligence network.

Penny Chenery (1922–2017), owner of Triple Crown champion Secretariat

The first female president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders' Association.

Venus Ramey (1924 - 2017), Miss America 1944 winner

Former Miss America helped inspire U.S. WWII effort...

Famous Girl Scouts in History (video)

A video tribute to some famous former Girl Scouts.

14 Mighty Women Whose Bold Lives Will Inspire You

The basketball player who led the U.S. to victory over the Soviet Union. The top-secret flight engineer who helped write NASA's Planetary Flight Handbook. The journalist who shone a spotlight on President Nixon's corruption during the Watergate hearings. These women may not have marble monuments marking their accomplishments, but wow: They got stuff done .

Clare Hollingworth (1911 - 2017), first to report outbreak of WWII

British journalist Clare Hollingworth was just 27 when she reported the scoop of the 20th century: the outbreak of World War II.

Marion Pritchard (1920–2016), Dutch Holocaust hero

Dutch woman helped save the lives of many Jews during the Holocaust.

Ruth Gruber (1911–2016), photojournalist and humanitarian

Ruth Gruber, photojournalist and humanitarian who helped 1,000 Jewish refugees come to the U.S. during World War II, has died at the age of 105.

These Obituaries Offer a Glimpse Into a Concentration Camp

In Holocaust survivors' obituaries, horrific places like Treblinka are mentioned alongside recollections of happy marriages and personal achievements.

Kitty Kallen (1922 - 2016), Little Things Mean a Lot singer

Kitty Kallen, a pop singer during the swing era whose best-known solo recording was 1954's "Little Things Mean a Lot," died Jan. 7 at the age of 93.

Charity Spotlight: Final Salute, Inc.

Donate to Final Salute, Inc. for Give to Remember December.

Opha May Johnson: Semper Fi

The first women to enlist in the Marines joined up on this day in history – a somewhat astonishing 95 years ago.

Nancy Wake, The White Mouse

One of the Allies' most decorated servicewomen of World War II, Nancy Wake was a key figure in the French resistance.

Rose Gorga, WWII Veteran

Until her death in March 2011, Rose Gorga was the oldest female World War II veteran.

Miep Gies, Hero of the Holocaust

For decades, schoolchildren the world over have learned about Anne Frank. The teenager who hid with her family from the Nazis, in an attempt to escape the concentration camps where she later died, has become a household name. From time to time, Frank's writing turned to the scant six visitors her family sometimes received in the annex. As we grow up, we learn less about them than we do about the Frank family, but they're as deserving of international fame as Frank was, because they were the brave friends who worked to keep the Franks hidden. Their names were Victor Kugler, Johannes Kleiman, Bep Voskuijl, Johannes Hendrik Voskuijl, Jan Gies and Miep Gies.

Peek-a-boo, Veronica Lake

The hairstyle that made Veronica Lake famous wasn't planned.

Mother of the Conservation Movement

On Earth Day, we remember a woman who was “one of the elders” of the environmentalist movement.

In Remembrance of Women Who Served

We honor 11 American servicewomen who gave their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Boogie Woogie Bugle Girls

Patty Andrews was the last surviving member of The Andrews Sisters, the trio that delighted and motivated World War II soldiers, as well as the folks holding down the home front.

Audrey Hepburn's Best Roles

Audrey Hepburn starred in some of the most memorable films of her era.

Never Got to Go for Gold

Not every Olympic-caliber athlete makes it to the Olympics. For some, injury intervenes and shuts down their chance to compete. For others, it may be financial hardship that prevents them from going to the Olympic Games. But for many athletes, it isn't their bodies or personal circumstances that get in the way — it's politics.

Clara Barton, Battlefield Angel

One hundred years ago today, Clara Barton died, leaving behind an enormous humanitarian legacy.

Gretchen Fraser Goes for Gold

Skiing sensation Gretchen Fraser waited a long time for her chance at an Olympic gold medal.

Semper Fi

In recognition of the Marine Corps' 236th birthday on Nov. 10, 2011, and Veterans Day today, we give an ooh-rah to a handful of former Marines who died in recent weeks.

Sgt. Linda Lamour Pierre, 28, killed in Afghanistan

The town of Immokalee, Florida, honored their hometown hero Army Sgt. Linda Lamour Pierre, who was killed in Afghanistan.

The Real Maria von Trapp

On the 24th anniversary of her death, here are 24 facts – some familiar, some a bit surprising – about Maria von Trapp.

Hedy Lamarr: Actress and Inventor

If you’re reading this over a Wi-Fi connection, you have Hedy Kiesler Markey to thank.