March Was Women's History Month
Thirty-five years ago, 2nd Lieutenant Sally Murphy walked across
a stage at Fort Rucker, AL and stepped into US Army history. It was
1974 and Murphy became the first woman to graduate from the Army
Aviation School. She was the Army’s first female helicopter
and fixed wing pilot. She retired as a Colonel in 1999.
Murphy was honored in a formal ceremony last week at Fort Myer
in Arlington, VA and received the US Army Freedom Team Salute
Veteran Commendation to commemorate her 27 years of service and her
place in military history.
"I come from an Army family that is dedicated to service," said
Murphy, now 60 years old. "My husband was an Army combat helicopter
pilot in Vietnam. My son and daughter-in-law are Army officers and
have served overseas in Afghanistan and Iraq. I am humbled and take
great pride in receiving the Freedom Team Salute Commendation."
Murphy joined the Army's Women Army Corps (WAC) program in 1972 and
entered the Aviation School when the Army opened its ranks to
women. She had previously attended the Military Intelligence School
at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. After graduating from Aviation School,
she served with the 330th Army Security Agency Company (Guardrail
II) flying RU-21 airplanes as an intelligence officer along the
border between Germany and the Soviet Union. Later she flew Huey
helicopters and commanded a Company for the 1st infantry Division
at Fort Riley, Kansas and went on to command the 62nd Aviation
Company in Germany and the 78th Aviation Battalion (Provisional) in
Japan.
"I was the only woman in Army Aviation School in the early 70s
and if I told you I did not have problems with a few people, I
would not be truthful," said Murphy. "But things were changing and
with the Vietnam War winding down, the Army needed to fill some
voids. There were some tough times but it made me stronger. The
Army is a family and there was always someone giving me
encouragement and ready to assist me anytime I needed help."
"Colonel (Ret.) Sally Murphy is an Army Aviation legend," said
Colonel David Griffith, Director of the Army's Freedom Team Salute
Program. "It is not often we have the opportunity to honor someone
with a commendation who was a trailblazer. Sally Murphy has paved
the way for hundreds of women to follow her footsteps and become
Army Aviators. She is truly living history."
Freedom Team Salute Commendations consist of a personalized
letter and certificate signed by the Secretary of the Army, Pete
Geren and the Army Chief of Staff, General George W. Casey Jr.
Honorees also receive official Army Lapel pins and The Salute, a
quarterly newsletter that contains information of interest to the
Army family.