The Women's Overseas Service League was formed in 1921 after the expulsion of female veterans from the American Legion.
Based in the United States, the WOSL had applied for and was denied a federal charter by the senate to provide financial support to servicewomen who
had returned from World War I. These women, who had served, came back to no benefits unlike their male counterparts. The members consisted of women who
had served in the Army, YMCA, Red Cross, Salvation Army and other agencies. They served in France as nurses, telephone operators, canteen workers, librarians and
entertainers. After the war they would visit with soldiers in hospitals providing books, flowers, photographs and entertainment. They had begun as localized groups before
becoming national. They began in May 1921 and have continued to meet every year since. After World War II, the women who had served were added to the membership in
1946 and have since grown to include female veterans of other wars.
They currently represent all branches of the armed forces and social service agencies that give support to the military and have had at least one assignment within a foreign country
during or after a war. In 1994, the WOSL started a scholarship program which now has applicants from the entire United States.
The Women's Overseas Service League was formed in 1921 after the expulsion of female veterans from the American Legion.
Based in the United States, the WOSL had applied for and was denied a federal charter by the senate to provide financial support to servicewomen who
had returned from World War I. These women, who had served, came back to no benefits unlike their male counterparts. The members consisted of women who
had served in the Army, YMCA, Red Cross, Salvation Army and other agencies. They served in France as nurses, telephone operators, canteen workers, librarians and
entertainers. After the war they would visit with soldiers in hospitals providing books, flowers, photographs and entertainment. They had begun as localized groups before
becoming national. They began in May 1921 and have continued to meet every year since. After World War II, the women who had served were added to the membership in
1946 and have since grown to include female veterans of other wars.
They currently represent all branches of the armed forces and social service agencies that give support to the military and have had at least one assignment within a foreign country
during or after a war. In 1994, the WOSL started a scholarship program which now has applicants from the entire United States.