The bilingual women who kept the American Expeditionary Force connected during WWI

History · Published 7 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: When the American Expeditionary Force arrived in France in 1917, overloaded telephone lines threatened military communications. General John J. Pershing's solution was to recruit skilled, bilingual women. These "Hello Girls" donned Army uniforms and operated switchboards across Europe, but their service sparked a sixty-year battle for official recognition.

In 1917, the complexity of communication on the Western Front necessitated a specialized workforce. General John J. Pershing called for experienced, bilingual switchboard operators to manage the overloaded telephone lines. This led to the formation of the Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators Unit. While over 10,000 women applied for the role, only 223 to 233 women were ultimately selected to serve in the unit.

Under the leadership of Chief Operator Grace Banker, the first operators departed for Europe in March 1918. They were stationed in various locations, including Paris, Chaumont, London, Southampton, and Winchester, to facilitate communications for the American Expeditionary Forces. Their technical expertise proved vital; by July 1918, telephone communications had notably improved due to the addition of these female operators. They even maintained critical communication lines during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

Despite wearing Army uniforms and being subject to Army regulations, the "Hello Girls" faced a long struggle for legitimacy. Because the Army classified them as civilian employees rather than military personnel, they were denied honorable discharge papers and the benefits afforded to other veterans. This sparked a sixty-year fight for legal veteran status. It was not until November 1977, through the efforts of women like Merle Egan Anderson, that President Jimmy Carter signed a bill into law officially recognizing their service.

The legacy of these women is a testament to the essential role of specialized labor in modern warfare. While Grace Banker was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the broader unit had to fight for decades to ensure their contributions were not erased from military history.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• From clandestine combatants to frontline soldiers: the long, hidden history of women in war
• How the American Expeditionary Forces transformed from a minor force into a decisive power.
• Dorothy Lawrence: The English Woman Who Infiltrated the Front Lines of World War I
• How American troops helped halt the German advance at the Marne River in 1918
• How 1,074 women flew millions of miles to free male combat pilots
• How a 23-year-old widow became America's first female detective
• How a British diplomat's wife led troops out of a Victorian war zone
• In Bissago society, women hold the ultimate power over life and death
• History's most successful pirate may have been a woman who retired rich.
• How a 19th-century actress invented the modern art of the celebrity brand
• Tracing the lineage of Hoodoo, Conjure, and Witchcraft
• The era when the Ottoman harem held the reins of power

More in Women in history · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics