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One Woman's Journey to the Medal of Honor and the Fight for Women's Rights

D'Angelo Carter

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Published in Dr Mary Walker S Civil War: One Woman S Journey To The Medal Of Honor And The Fight For Women S Rights

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Mary Edwards Walker was a pioneering surgeon, suffragist, and abolitionist who became the first and only woman to receive the Medal of Honor.

Dr. Mary Walker's Civil War: One Woman's Journey to the Medal of Honor and the Fight for Women's Rights

by Theresa Kaminski

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Language	:	English
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Print length	:	327 pages

Walker was born in Oswego, New York, in 1832. Her father was a physician, and she grew up learning about medicine and anatomy. She attended Syracuse Medical College and graduated in 1855, becoming one of the first female physicians in the United States.

During the Civil War, Walker served as a surgeon with the Union Army. She was assigned to the 52nd Ohio Infantry Regiment, and she quickly gained a reputation for her skill and bravery.

In 1863, Walker was captured by Confederate forces and held as a prisoner of war for four months. During her captivity, she continued to treat the sick and wounded, and she even performed surgery on her fellow prisoners.

After the war, Walker continued to work as a physician and a suffragist. She was a founding member of the National Woman Suffrage Association, and she worked tirelessly for the right of women to vote.

In 1866, Walker was awarded the Medal of Honor for her service during the Civil War. She was the only woman ever to receive the medal, and her award was a controversial one.

Some people argued that Walker did not deserve the Medal of Honor because she was a woman. They said that she had not fought in combat, and that she had not performed any of the heroic acts that were typically required to receive the medal.

However, Walker's supporters argued that she had more than earned the Medal of Honor. They said that she had risked her life to save the lives of others, and that she had shown great courage and determination in the face of adversity.

In 1917, the War Department revoked Walker's Medal of Honor. The department said that she had not met the requirements for the medal, and that she had only received it because of her gender.

Walker was devastated by the revocation of her Medal of Honor. She fought to have it reinstated, but she was unsuccessful. She died in 1919, and she was buried with full military honors, despite the fact that she had been stripped of her Medal of Honor.

In 1977, Congress passed a bill to reinstate Walker's Medal of Honor. The bill was signed into law by President Jimmy Carter, and Walker's Medal of Honor was finally restored.

Mary Edwards Walker was a pioneering woman who dedicated her life to fighting for the rights of others. She was a skilled surgeon, a brave soldier, and a tireless advocate for women's suffrage. She was the first and only woman to receive the Medal of Honor, and she is an inspiration to all who believe in the power of one person to make a difference in the world.