>> BONNIE: HELLO, I'M BONNIE ERBE.

WELCOME TO TO THE CONTRARY'S ANNUAL FILM FESTIVAL CALLED, 'ALL ABOUT WOMEN AND GIRLS.'

THIS WEEK WE BRING YOU THE WINNER FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY ABOUT WOMEN IN U.S. HISTORY.

IN HELLO GIRLS, FILMMAKER JIM FARRIS, BRINGS US THE UNTOLD STORY OF 223 WOMEN SENT TO FRANCE AS TELEPHONE OPERATORS BY THE U.S. ARMIY TO HELP WIN WORLD WAR I.

IT'S THEIR EXPERIENCES AND THEIR FIGHT FOR RECOGNITION.

THE HELLO GIRLS CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT OF 2018 IN SUPPORT OF THE WOMEN'S SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE U.S. DURING WORLD WAR I WAS NEVER VOTED ON, BUT IT COULD BE REINTRODUCED IN THE NEXT SESSION OF CONGRESS.

>> COKIE ROBERTS: I WRITE WOMEN'S HISTORY AND I DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE STORIES OF HELLO GIRLS.

>> MARK HOUGH: I HAD NEVER HEARD ABOUT THEM.

THEY WERE SWITCHBOARD OPERATORS.

>> WILMA VAUGHT: AND BACK HOME, DO THEY HAVE VETERAN STATUS?

NO!

THEY DID NOT!

>> DENISE ROHAN: ALL THESE THINGS WE ENJOY TODAY, ALL OF THE THINGS, ALL OF THOSE RIGHTS, COULD COME BACK DOWN TO THOSE FEW WOMEN WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY.

[GUNSHOTS] [BOAT HORN] ABOARD AT LAST AFTER TWO MONTHS IN THE USA.

32 GIRLS IN MY CHARGE.

THE YOUNGEST IS 19, AND THE OLDEST IS AT LEAST 35 YEARS OLD, I THINK.

WE ARE THE ONLY WOMEN ABOARD THE SHIP, THE FORMER CELTIC OF THE WHITE STAR LINE.

THE FACES GLUED TO THE PORTHOLES, WE WATCH DISAPPEAR THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.

WHAT A RESPONSIBILITY I HAVE ON MY SHOULDERS.

I CROSSED THE RUBICON NOW.

THERE CAN BE NO TURNING BACK.

[SINGING] >> DR. SHELDON HOCHEISER: THE THING TO KNOW ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE TELEPHONE SYSTEM IS ALL TELEPHONE CALLS REQUIRED AT LEAST ONE HUMAN BEING, ONE TELEPHONE OPERATOR.

IF A SUBSCRIBER WANTED TO MAKE A CALL, THEY WOULD PING THE RECEIVER ON THEIR TELEPHONE.

THAT WOULD SEND AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL WHERE IT WOULD CAUSE A LIGHT TO FLASH ON A SWITCHBOARD AND AN OPERATOR WOULD SEE THAT LIGHT, PLUG A CORD INTO -- THERE WOULD BE A JACK UNDER THE LIGHT AND NOW SHE WAS ATTACHED TO THE OTHER END OF THE LINE AS THE -- AND SHE WOULD THEN SAY NUMBER PLEASE.

THE SUBSCRIBER WOULD GIVE HER THE NUMBER OF THE TELEPHONE.

IF IT WERE A LOCAL CALL THE OPERATOR WOULD SIMPLY THEN TAKE ANOTHER CORD.

PLUG IT INTO THE JACK CORRESPONDING TO THE REQUESTED NUMBER.

IT WOULD RING ON THE BELL TELEPHONE AND EITHER THE SUBSCRIBER WOULD PICK UP OR NOT.

ONCE THE CALL WAS COMPLETE, SHE WOULD GO ON AND DO ANOTHER CALL AND THEN EVENTUALLY WAIT FOR THE LIGHT TO GO OUT.

WHEN THE LIGHT WENT OUT, THAT MEANT THAT THE CONVERSATION WAS DONE AND SHE COULD DISCONNECT.

>> ELIZABETH COBBS: THE WOMEN ARE RECRUITED FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES, THEY COME FROM REALLY EVERY CORNER.

THEY ALL WERE TRAINED IN DIFFERENT LOW CALLS BY AT&T.

BUT WHEN PERSIAN GOT TO PARIS HE WAS NOT THINKING ABOUT LET'S RECRUIT WOMEN FOR THE ARMY.

HE WAS TRYING TO DO WHAT WE ALL DO, PICK UP THE PHONE AND HAVE SOMETHING HAPPEN ON THE OTHER END.

YOU COULD WAIT ON AVERAGE 60 SECONDS FOR THE PHONE TO BE CONNECTED.

WHEN THE WOMEN GOT THERE THE AVERAGE TIME IT TOOK TO CONNECT A CALL WAS 10 SECONDS.

PART OF IT HAD TO DO WITH THE ARMY SAID WOMEN HAD BETTER NERVES N WARTIME, THAT DIFFERENCE, 50 SECONDS IS THE DIFFERENCE IN GETTING KILLED OR NOT.

SO WITHIN A FEW MONTHS, PERSIAN PUT OUT THE ORDER AND HE SAID TO THE US WAR DEPARTMENT, I WANT WOMEN TELEPHONE RUPTURES, I WANT THEM UNIFORMED AND SO IT TOOK THE ARMY A COUPLE OF MONTHS.

THEY SENT OUT LETTERS.

THEY GO AHEAD 7600 LETTERS FROM WOMEN APPLYING FOR 100 POSITIONS.

SO HALF OF THE WOMEN IN THE US ARMY VOLUNTEERED AND ALL OF THEM VOLUNTEERED.

>> GRACE BANK HAD A VERY STRONG FAITH.

SHE GRADUATED AND WENT TO AT&T.

GOT THE VERY BEST JOB A WOMAN FROM BARNARD COLLEGE UNIVERSITY COULD GET AT THE TIME.

WHICH WAS A TELEPHONE OPERATOR.

SHE WAS THERE UNTIL LO AND BEHOLD SHE SAW AN ADVERTISEMENT LOOKING FOR WOMEN TO SERVE IN THE SIGNAL CORPS OVERSEAS.

>> AS SOON AS SHE READ IN THE "NEW YORK POST" THEY WERE LOOKING FOR OPERATORS ESHE NOT THAT DAY.

>> IN JANUARY OF 1918 SAID, I AM VERY INTERESTED AND I WILL SERVE THE DURATION OF THE WAR.

>> TO HER ENORMOUS SURPRISE SHE WAS MADE THE LEADER OF THE EXHIBITION.

THERE WERE NOT WOMEN OFFICERS BUT THEY NEEDED WOMEN OFFICERS.

SO THEY MADE HER THE CHIEF OPERATOR.

>> A WOMAN CAN LIVE 12 DAYS AT SEA.

SOME AMERICAN BOYS WERE LOST.

THE GRIP THEY SAY ITS WARTIME.

THEY ARE SIPPING AWFUL BARLEY COFFEE.

THE BREAD HARD AS A ROCK.

A FEW DAYS LATER WE CROSS THE IRISH SEA.

THE GREENEST WATER I HAVE EVER SEEN.

THE PASSAGE WAS DANGEROUS.

AND I AWOKE ONE MORNING IN THE DISTANCE I SAW A LIGHTHOUSE.

THE FOG LIFTED.

I COULD SEE THE HARBOR ITSELF.

FINALLY FRANCE.

>> WE TOOK A TRAIN TO THE HOTEL IN PARIS.

ROOMS WERE ASSIGNED AND WE WENT TO THE BED.

IT'S MIDNIGHT.

I AM SO WEARY.

I WORRY ABOUT MY GIRLS.

>> >> AT THAT MOMENT THE OFFICERS SECOND, WE KNEW THEN THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE OKAY.

THOSE WOMEN DID NOT F LINCH.

>> THE WOMEN ALL WANTED TO GO TO THE FRONT.

THEY WANTED TO GET AS CLOSE TO THE FRONT LINES AS POSSIBLE.

THIS WAS EXCITING.

IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A VERY SERIOUS JOB BUT THEY JUST WANTED TO BE IN IT.

>> THEY CAME BACK UP.

THE NEXT DAY THEY WERE READY.

WE'RE EAGER.

WE WANT TO START.

LET'S START CONNECTING CALLS TODAY.

>> COLONEL GIBBS CALLED AND ASKED ME WHAT I KNEW ABOUT GOING TO THE FRONT.

I KNOW NOTHING.

I HAVE LEARNED NOTHING FROM THE ARMY.

THE MIDDLE OF THE MORNING WE WERE TOLD TO GO BACK AND PACK UP.

WE WERE GOING FORWARD.

SUDDENLY THE RAIN STOPPED AND THE SUN CAME OUT.

>> THE TELEPHONE OPERATORS, HELLO GIRLS PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE OFFENSE I THE LARGEST BATTLE IN AMERICAN HISTORY BOTH IN LENGTH BUT ALSO IN SIZE OF RESPECT PARTICIPANTS.

RELAYING MESSAGES BACK AND FORTH.

IT'S A VERY CHAOTIC SITUATION.

>> WHEN THEY WERE AT THE ARMY HEADQUARTERS A GERMAN PRISONER OF WAR KNOCKED OVER THE OIL.

THE WOMEN'S BARRACKS WERE WOODEN TINDER BOXES THAT THE FRENCH HAD USED AND THEY WENT UP IN FLAMES.

>> WHAT A DAY.

OUR BARRACKS BURNED UP ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHERS.

GREAT FUNNELS OF BLACK SMOKE AND LICKING TONGUES OF FLAME.

GET WHAT YOU CAN.

SWITCHBOARD EXCHANGE WAS MOVED THE DAY BEFORE.

THE BUCKET BRIGADE SAVED IT.

AFTER WE SEARCHED FOR OUR BELONGING, MY TOOTHBRUSH CAME TO LIGHT IN THE SHOE.

>> THEY KNEW THAT IF THEY STOPPED THEIR WORK FOR EVEN A MOMENT THAT SOME BATTALION COULD COME UNDER FIRE.

THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET COMMUNICATION BACK TO HEADQUARTERS.

THE ARMY COULD NOT ALERT THE MEN AND SO THEY KEPT CONNECTING CALLS UNTIL FINALLY THEIR OFFICERS AGAIN SUPERIOR OFFICERS CAME AND IN SAID OKAY YOU HAVE TO GET OUT NOW.

>> WHEN THE ARM U.S.A. WAS DECLARED AND THEY -- THEY BASICALLY END OF THE FIRST ARMY FOR GRACE BANKER SHENDED UP GOING TO PARIS, I BELIEVE, WAS THE NEXT PLACE.

IT WAS KIND OF -- IT JUST FIZZLED OUT AND SHE EVENTUALLY DID END UP IN KOBLANCE AND GOT THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL.

>> IT WAS PART OF THE DINNER TABLE CONVERSATION VERY TYPICAL 1950S.

STORIES WOULD GET TOLD.

PART OF THE JOKE AND SORT OF CASUAL CONVERSATION WAS MY GRANDMOTHER AND GRANDFATHER BOTH SERVING IN THE ARMY IN WORLD WAR I AND CHASING EACH OTHER AROUND FRANCE DURING THIS ROMANCE THAT THEY HAD.

WHILE HE WAS THE DRIVER AND CHAUFFEUR AND BODYGUARD AND SHE WAS THE SIGNALED CORPSE TELEPHONE OPERATOR.

HAVING MET MY GRANDFATHER WOULD GET TRANSFERRED SOMEWHERE.

PARTLY BECAUSE PERHAPS THE SUPERVISORS WERE A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS YOUNG LOVE HAPPENING.

NEVERTHELESS, OH GOLLY DO WE REALLY WANT THIS UNFOLDING LOVE STORY.

THEY WOULD TRANSFER MY GRANDMOTHER SOMEWHERE AND MY GRANDFATHER WOULD GET TRANSFERRED.

WONDERFUL STORIES OF THE SIGNAL CORPSE GIRLS BECAUSE THE SWITCH BOARDS WERE THE PULL CORD BUTTON THINGS AND AND IN THE EVENING IF JACK WAS OVER HERE ACROSS, ADDUE WAS OVER HERE.

THE SIGNAL CORPSE GIRLS ALL IN ON THIS ROMANCE WOULD PLUG THEM IN ACROSS THE SWITCH BOARDS ACROSS FRANCE SO JACK AND ADDIE COULD TALK OF AN EVENING AND THERE WAS ALWAYS THE JOKE THAT THEY WERE UNPLUGGING THE GENERALS AND SAYING OOPS BUT PLUGGING IN JACK AND ADDIE.

>> FEBRUARY 1ST, 1919.

PERMISSION FROM THE FIRST LIEUTENANT COMMANDING COMPANY OFFICER GIVING THEM M M M SION TO BE MARRIED IN FRANCE DURING WARTIME.

>> FEBRUARY 4TH, I MET ADDIE AT 8:45, WE HAVE BREAKFAST BEFORE GOING TO THE OFFICE OF THE AND THEN TO THE MAYOR OFFICE.

LESSON 25:00 A.M., MARRIED IN FRENCH BY THE MAYOR OF THE 9TH DISTRICT.

MARRIED TO THE DEAREST AND SWEETEST LITTLE GIRL IN THE WORLD.

SURE AM SO HAPPY FOR I LOVE HER WITH ALL MY HEART.

>> AS WE SAILED OUT OF NEW YORK HARBOR, A YOUNG AVIATOR ASKED ME, WHY ARE YOU IN THAT UNIFORM?

I LOOKED HIM STRAIGHT IN THE EYE.

SAME AS YOU.

I'M ON MY WAY TO FRANCE TO HELP WIN THE WAR.

>> WELL, SHE'S A FLAMBOYANT PERSON.

SHE HAD TO BE.

SHE HAD A LOT OF ENERGY.

A LOT OF ENERGY.

SHE DIDN'T SPEAK FRENCH.

SHE DIDN'T JOIN THE HELLO GIRLS UNTIL JULY.

BUT THEY NEEDED HER BY THAT TIME BECAUSE SHE WAS A HIGHLY EXPERIENCED TRAINER.

ESPECIALLY ON THOSE LITTLE MAGNETO SWITCH BOARDS THAT WERE GOING TO GO UP INTO THE TRENCHES.

AND SO SHE TRAINED 60 MEN ONE TIME IN THREE DAYS AND THE MAN SAID TO -- IN THE GROUP AS THEY WERE ASSEMBLING, WELL, WHEN DO WE GET OUR SKIRT?

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET ONE.

BUT THINK ABOUT THIS, WHEN YOU'RE IN THE TRENCH WITH YOUR RIFLE, YOU HAVE A RIFLE.

WHEN YOU GO INTO THE TRENCH WITH YOUR LITTLE MAGNETO, YOU COULD SAVE A WHOLE BATTALION.

>> I DID FINALLY WENT TO SEE THE ARMY DOCTOR.

THE INFECTION IN MY TOE WAS SEVERE.

HE TOOK ONE LOOK AND PRESCRIBED COLD STEAL.

LAND IT WITHOUT ANESTHESIA.

I THINK HE WAS SURPRISED WHEN I DIDN'T SQUEAL.

I GOT TO FRANCE A WEEK LATE.

>> SHE STAYED LONGER IN FRANCE.

SHE STAYED THREE OR 4 MONTHS LONGER.

SHE TOOK OVER AS THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER IN THE PARIS OFFICE WHEN GRACE BANKER DIDN'T WANT IS.

AND SHE HAD A FUN TIME AND SAID THAT I ALWAYS THOUGHT OF HER AS ONE OF THOSE SOLDIER THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN TO PARIS?

ARE YOU GOING TO GET BACK ON THE FARM, YOU KNOW, AND SHE WOULD SAY THAT SHE DIDN'T WANT TO GO HOME RIGHT AWAY.

BUT THEN SHE HAD.

SHE WAS ENGAGED.

THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING MARRIED.

LIFE WAS GOING TO INTERVENE.

>> MY MOTHER TOLD ME SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY.

SHE SAID IF YOU LIVE LONG ENOUGH, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE EVERYTHING COME FULL CIRCLE AND MAKE SENSE.

SO I'VE PAINTED ALL MY LIFE.

I DID PAINT MY MOTHER STANDING PROBABLY RIGHT THERE BECAUSE THAT BUILDING BEHIND US IS IN THE PAINTING.

>> A PLAYED FOR THE TROOPS LAST NIGHT.

THE YMCA DIRECTOR ASKED ME IF I COULD STAY IN ENGLAND.

HE NEEDED A PIANO PLAYER.

I CAN'T, I SAID.

I HAVE BEEN SWORN INTO THE ARMY AND I'M GOING TO FRANCE.

>> AT THE END, 223 OF THESE WOMEN WERE CHONS AND I'M VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT MY MOM WAS ONE OF THEM.

SHE WAS FROM A VERY SMALL TOWN IN MICHIGAN FROM MARINE CITY.

AND SHE HAD -- SHE WAS A FRENCH CANADIAN DESCENT.

SPOKE SOME FRENCH IN THE HOUSE AND HAD TAKEN LESSONS FROM A JESIT PRIEST.

SHE WAS CHOSEN AND IT WAS GREAT HONOR FOR HER BECAUSE YOU SEE HER OLDER BROTHER, HERE IS A PICTURE OF HER OLDER BROTHER WHO WAS BY THE WAY THE GOOD-LOOKING ONE.

THAT IS WALLACE JOURE.

ALSO FROM MARINE CITY.

THEY BOTH SERVED.

HE WAS WITH THE FIRST ARMY CORPS AT THE TIME.

WE ALL USED TO TEASE HIM I SAID.

HEY, UNCLE WALLY, YOUR SISTER WAS ON FRONT LINE AND YOU WERE SINGING TIPPERARY AND HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

MY MOTHER WHO WAS A BE ANIST A GREAT PIANO PLAYER HAD PLAYED FOR GENERAL PERSHING AND SHE SAID THE NIGHT SHE WAS DOING A GREAT JOB ON THE PIANO THE NIGHT SHE WAS PLAYING FOR THE ARMISTICE.

>> THE WAR CAME TO AN END SO CONTINUOUSLY.

PEOPLE DIDN'T SEE IT HAPPENING ALMOST.

>> THE HELLO GIRLS ARRIVED BEFORE MOST OF THE DOO BOYS AND LEFT AFTER MOST OF THE DOO BOYS WERE HOME BECAUSE COMMUNICATIONS WERE ABOUT LOGISTICS AND SOMEBODY HAS TO HELP GET THOSE GUYS OVER THERE AND HELP GET THEM BACK.

THEY WERE DISARMED WHEN THE ARMY SAID YOU CAN GO NOW.

THE LAST TELEPHONE OPERATORS LEFT IN JANUARY OF 1920 TO COME HOME.

AND WHEN THEY CAME HOME, THEY WERE TOLD, YOU WERE NEVER SOLDIERS.

>> DEAR SENATOR JACKSON.

I AM ONE OF THE SIGNAL CORPSE TELEPHONE OPERATORS WHO ENLISTED AND WERE SENT TO FRANCE DURING WORLD WAR I TO OPERATE ARMY SWITCHBOARDS.

>> DEAR MADAME.

REFERENCES IS MADE TO YOUR APPLICATION OF JUNE 16, 1941, FOR THE PURPLE HEART.

>> WE HAVE NOT SIGNED ANY CONTRACTS.

WE WORE REGULATORY UNIFORMS WITH MILITARY BUTTONS AND THE SIGNAL COREG INSIGNIA.

"THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS UNIT ASSIGNED TO OVERSEAS TELEPHONY HAD NO MILITARY STATUS.

BUT WERE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.

>> ONLY MALES CAN SERVE.

MANY OF OUR WOMEN ARE GONE NOW.

THE GOVERNMENT NEED TO BEAR NO FINANCIAL BURDEN BUT WE DO WANT OUR RECOGNITION TO WHICH WE ARE ENTITLED.

>> INASMUCH AS YOU ARE NOT A BONA FIDE MEMBER OF THE ARMY BUT SERVED IN THE CAPACITY OF A CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE, I REGRET THAT YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE.

>> PLEASE, SENATOR JACKSON.

WILL YOU WORK ON OUR TEAM?

WE WANT OUR RIGHTFUL PLACE IN HISTORY.

SINCERELY YOURS, MERLE I. ANDERSON.

>> IT WAS MYSTIFYING TO THE WOMEN HOW THEY COULD NOT HAVE BEEN SOLDIERS WHEN THEY WERE TOLD AGAIN AND AGAIN YOU'RE IN THE ARMY NOW.

AND THE ARMY SAID SUCH THINGS AS, YOU NEVER TOOK THE ARMY OATH.

BUT THEY SAID IN OUR PERSONNEL FILES WE HAVE MANY THAT'S WE TOOK.

OATH OF LIST LOYALTY TO THE U.S. ARMY THAT THEY TOOK LOTS OF TIMES AND THEY HAD TO ALWAYS TAKE THE OATH AGAIN.

THE ARMY SAID WELL YOU WERE CIVILIANS UNDER CONTRACT.

BUT WE HAVE NO CIVILIAN CONTRACTS.

WE TOOK NO CONTRACT.

WE TOOK AN ORAL.

>> WHEN THE ARMY WROTE THEIR REGULATIONS, ONE WORD, THEY ALL REALIZED THOSE THAT WERE STILL LIVING.

ONE WORD COST THEM 60 YEARS.

>> AND SO THERE WERE A GROUP OF WOMEN WHO PERSEVERED BUT REALLY THEIR LEADER BECAME ME OF RLE EGAN WHO WAS FROM MONTANA.

SHE'S A STUBBORN GAL AND SHE COULD NOT GIVE IT UP.

FOR DECADES THEY PETITIONED CONGRESS AND GOT BILLS INTO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND CONTACTED NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES.

SHE WENT TO SCHOOLS TO TELL SCHOOL CHILDREN SO THE STORY WOULDN'T BE LOST.

SHE HAD ORGANIZED THE POLITICAL CASE AND PUBLIC RELATIONS CASE BUT I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING HERE IN THE LAW.

AND THE INTERESTING THING, THE KEY CRITICAL PIECE OF EVIDENCE ULTIMATELY BECAME THE UNIFORM ITSELF.

AND SO IF THE GOVERNMENT HANDS YOU A UNIFORM AND TELLS YOU TO WEAR IT,.

GOVERNMENT HAS MADE YOU A SOLDIER.

>> AS AWE LAWYER I WAS FOCUSED FIRST ON DO WE HAVE A CASE HERE THAT WE COULD GO TO COURT ON.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THEY FOUND AND THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN TOLD MEARL EGAN, BARRY GOLDWATER WAS WORKING ON A BILL THAT WAS ALSO DISKED BY THE US GOVERNMENT.

>> WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT THIS ACTIVITY IT SEEMED LIKE A MORE FRUITFUL AVENUE.

>> SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT MARK HOUGH AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN AND MERL EATINGAN AND BARRY GOLDWATER AND LINDYE BECAUSE -- >> WHEN SHE WAS ELECTED TO CONGRESS ONE.

WOMEN THAT HAD BEEN OFFED WITH HELLO GIRLS GOT IN TOUCH WITH HER.

GOT IN TOUCH WITH THE TWO NEW FEMALE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

MY MOTHER AND MARGORY HOLT.

AND SAID HERE IS WHAT IS GOING ON.

HELP US.

SHE REALIZED AS DO MANY WOMEN WHO GO TO CONGRESS THAT NOT ONLY WAS SHE REPRESENTING THE SECOND DESTRUCT OF LOUISIANA, SHE WAS REPRESENTING UNBEKNOWNST TO HER THE WOMEN OF AMERICA.

>> WE CONVINCED THEM TO EXPAND THAT LEGISLATION EVER SO SLIGHTLY TO INCLUDE -- >> WASPS OF WORLD WAR II AND THE SIGNAL CORPSE WOMEN OF WORLD WAR I.

>> TODAY, THE FEW SIGNAL CORPSE TELEPHONE OPERATORS OF WORLD WAR I WHO ARE STILL LIVING CAN CELEBRATE OUR VICTORY.

THE ARMY HAS FINALLY ADMITTED WE ARE LEGITIMATE.

IN 1917, GENERAL PERSHING CALLED FOR AMERICAN WOMEN TO ENLIST TO OPERATE THE ARMY'S SWITCH BOARDS.

BUT WHEN THE JOB WAS FINISHED WE WERE TOLD WE HADN'T BEEN IN THE ARMY.

MORE THAN 50 BILLS WERE INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS WITHOUT SUCCESS.

IN NOVEMBER, 1977, A PACKAGED BILL WAS SENT THROUGH CONGRESS.

WE WERE FINALLY IN THE ARMY.

ON NOVEMBER 23RD, 1977, PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER SIGNED THE LEGISLATION.

THE CORPSE WOMEN OF WORLD WAR I WILL HAVE THEIR PLACE IN HISTORY.

>> SINGING] HER VOICE IN LINE, OVER THERE, OVER THERE, SEND THE WORD, SEND THE WORD, OVER THERE, THAT THE YANKS ARE COMING.

>> BONNIE: WE HOPE YOU FOUND THIS EDITION ALL ABOUT WOMEN AND GIRLS FILM FESTIVAL ENLIGHTENING.

PLEASE FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE: PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.

WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK, TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

FOR A TRANSCRIPT OR SEE AN ONLINE VERSION OF THIS EPISODE OF TO THE CONTRARY, PLEASE VISIT OUR PBS WEBSITE AT: PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.

>> BE MORE.