On March 8, 1945, Phyllis Dailey became the first African American to swear in as a Navy nurse. Before swearing in, Dailey graduated from the Lincoln School of Nursing in New York and was a public health student at the Teacher’s College at Columbia University. When she wanted to serve her country, the Army denied her because of her skin color. Dailey joined the Navy Nurse Corps, which previously excluded black women. Dailey’s determination to break down racial barriers in the military laid the foundation for numerous historical moments for racial equality. “[I] knew the barriers were going to be broken down eventually and felt the more applicants, the better the chances would be for each person,” she said.

Source: https://news.va.gov/84808/veteranoftheday-navy-veteran-phyllis-mae-dailey/

Photo Credit: https://blackdoctor.org/phyllis-mae-dailey/