'Women Have Come A Long Way,' Says 93-Year-Old World War II Veteran, UC Alumna

As a young woman, Rosa Sanders-Moore was determined to go to college “come hell or high water.” And she did just that more than 70 years ago.

Moore, now 93, first joined the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) and served from 1944 to the end of World War II.

After returning to her home in  Alabama, she was able to attend Tuskegee Institute for three years until her G.I. Bill assistance ran out.

Moore eventually settled in Cincinnati where she completed her education, earning a bachelor's of science degree from the University of Cincinnati.

Her courage and determination, first demonstrated as a World War II WAC, were also useful in her teaching career. 

A school teacher in Cincinnati for more than 35 years, Moore was nominated in 1986 for the YWCA Career Women of Achievement and was awarded the Miriam Joseph Farrell Award for Outstanding Catholic Teachers.

The distinctions have continued for Moore even in her advancing years. Most recently, she was among several female veterans honored at UC in March at a Sisters-In-Arms event, sponsored by the University of Cincinnati

Veterans Programs & Services

.

“In the lifetime of Ms. Moore, we have gone from a time when women could only serve in the military as support in a women’s unit to a time where we are actually training women for front-line combat duty today,” said Debra Merchant, UC vice president for student affairs.

“As of spring 2016, UC reported 2,402 students with student-veteran benefits. Of the 2,402 UC students with veteran benefits, 48 percent are women — almost half.

Merchant continued, “So thank you Rosa Sanders-Moore and to all the women-veteran honorees for your time, sacrifice, talent and for our freedom. It is an honor to be in the room with you today, and I thank you for your service.”

The awards ceremony was especially memorable for the student veterans as they shared the spotlight with Moore, who was a special honoree and an award presenter during the event sponsored by the UC Academic Excellence and Student Services (AESS)

Veterans Programs and Services

.

“It is truly a distinct pleasure to name the [Sisters-In-Arms] award after Rosa Sanders-Moore and is a special honor to present her with one of her own,” said Terence Harrison, program manager for the AESS Veterans Programs and Services. “After meeting Moore on the first-ever all-women’s honor flight to Washington, D.C., last year, I was so inspired by her, as she is everything that exemplifies the University of Cincinnati.”

“The Moore award will always be a symbol of her military service, as a professional educator and for her inspiration to women veterans everywhere.”

According to Harrison, women have served in the United States military alongside men since the Revolutionary War –– sometimes dressed as men –– to help protect the freedoms of Americans. By the end of World War II, the number of women serving in the military rose to more than 350,000 women, “and Rosa Sanders-Moore was among those women.”

During the event, Moore reflected on how her life unfolded, detailing how strongly she was influenced, after moving from Alabama to Chicago in 1942, by an advertisement with women in military uniforms. It encouraged women to join to get money for college, and she saw her opportunity.

“Being in the military really shaped my life and got me going,” Moore said at the award event. “It strengthened my belief in what I wanted to do. It felt like it was a job and somebody had to do it, and it was my turn to do my part.

“This kind of recognition event has been a long time coming, but it is never too late to do good,”

Moore said after receiving her award. “I can still recall how in every one of my 93 years of life something good has happened to me and I feel so blessed.

“Just in case I’m not here next year,

I want to say how happy I am that this event is finally happening to recognize the valuable efforts of these brave women.”

“WE CAN DO IT!”

According to Harrison, UC is the only college in the region that has a woman’s military award event such as this. The Sisters-In-Arms award gives UC women student-veterans across all UC campuses –– including long-distance learning –– the recognition they deserve for their

outstanding military service, academic achievement and exemplary role modeling for future women students in the military.

“We always like to keep that connection to the past, too, because if it wasn’t for women like Ms. Moore who answered the call in World War II, we wouldn’t have the women making it through Ranger School like we did this past year,” says Harrison.

The 2016 Sisters-In-Arms women student-veteran awardees were

Christine Henry and Maureen Holliday

, who both served with the U.S. Army;

Christina Peterek

, who served with the U.S. Air Force;

Catie Wambaugh

, who served with the U.S. Army National Guard; and

Sheena Wheeler,

who served

with the U.S. Navy.

For more information about

University of Cincinnati Academic Excellence and Support Services (AESS) – Veterans Programs and Services