Col. Geraldine Pratt May (April 21, 1895 – November 2, 1997) was the first director of the

Women's Air Force The Women's Air Force (WAF) was a program which served to bring women into limited roles in the United States Air Force. WAF was formed in 1948 when President Truman signed the Women's Armed Services Integration Act, allowing women to serve dir ...

(WAF) and the first woman colonel in the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...

Military career

May joined the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in July 1942. She was promoted to staff director of WAAC’s Air Transport Command in March 1943. In 1948, May became the first director of the newly created the

(WAF) and was promoted to the rank of colonel making her the first woman colonel in the United States Air Force. May received the

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States military, military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievemen ...

for her service during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Death and legacy

May died in

Menlo Park, California Menlo Park ( ) is a city at the eastern edge of San Mateo County, California, San Mateo County in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. It is bordered by San Francisco Bay on the north and east; East Palo Alto, California, Eas ...

at the age of 102. She is interred at

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the United States National Cemetery System, one of two maintained by the United States Army. More than 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington County, Virginia. ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:May, Geraldine Pratt 1895 births 1997 deaths Burials at Arlington National Cemetery United States Air Force colonels