License to Thrive

Martha Putney, African American historian

Martha S. Putney was one of the first black women to serve in the Women's Army Corps (WC) during World War II.  She attended Howard University on scholarship and earned both a bachelor's degree as well as a master's degree in history in 1939.  She entered the military after being unable to find a teacher's position in the public school system in Washington.  The newly-formed WAC offered an opportunity to become a commissioned officer.

Putney drilled female recruits in Iowa and also commanded a unit of African American medical technicians in Chicago.  She left the WAC with the rank of first lieutenant in 1946.  Putney went on to earn her doctorate in European history at the Univ. of Pennsylvania as part of the G.I. Bill and taught at Bowie State College where she was chairwoman of the history and geography departments.  She also taught at her undergraduate institution, Howard University, and went on to write several books documenting the history of African Americans in the military. Her works included the 1992 book "When the Nation Was in Need:  Blacks in the Women's Army Corps During World War II" and 2003's "Blacks in the United States Army: Portraits Through History."

Ms. Putney was also featured in Tom Brokaw's "The Greatest Generation."  Ms. Putney died on December 11 in Washington, DC, at the age of 92.