THE VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT
June Willenz
December 17, 1924 – May 3, 2020
“When you talk about veterans, most people think of men. They don’t think about women.” – June Willenz, 1985
Human rights activist and champion of women in the military. Executive Director, American Veterans Committee (AVC); first and only female head of a veteran’s organization which focused its attention on the rights of the less-than-honorably discharged and women veterans, 1965-2003. Developed the first legal aid project for veterans with discharge-related problems. Member, First Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, and Executive Committee, Veteran’s Administration, 1983-1986. Chair, World Veterans Federation’s Committee on Women, 1983–2006. Initiated effort to build the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, approved 1986. Author, Women Veterans: America’s Forgotten Heroines, published 1983. Bachelor’s degree, Chemistry, University of Michigan,1945. Master’s degree, Philosophy, University of Michigan, 1947. Doctoral studies, Philosophy (ABD), The New School for Social Research, New York.
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Photo 1. Women Veterans: America’s Forgotten Heroines’, by June Willenz, 1983. Photo 2. June Willenz with Hillary Clinton, 1990s.