THE NAVY’S FIRST ENLISTED WOMEN: PATRIOTIC PIONEERS
Reviewed by Mary S. Bell, PhD.
Women have volunteered to serve during every war or conflict since the U.S. fought for its independence in the 18th century. However, there is little written on women’s roles in winning the nation’s wars relative to the amount written on men’s roles. The contributions of women and other minorities are less understood, but no less important. As an author, it takes a special interest and dedicated research to document the more subtle, yet critical, contributions women made to enable the rise of the U.S. as a hegemonic power in the 20th century.
PAUL NITZE, GRAND STRATEGY, AND THE UNITED STATES NAVY
Paul Nitze, SECNAV
Fifteen years ago today (March 5, 2005), the USS Nitze (DDG-94) was commissioned. An Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, Nitze has deployed many times in her service history, and was involved in a confrontation with Iranian vessels in August of 2016.
She was named for former Secretary of the Navy Paul Nitze – Nitze served in this capacity under President Lyndon Johnson from 1963 to 1967, and for nearly forty years was one of the chief architects of the United States strategy in the Cold War, in addition to serving as Director of Policy Planning at the Department of State and Deputy Secretary of Defense.