Women's History: Kathy Dean

Kathy Dean of Huntingdon, Tennessee, was a big part of American military history when she and her sister Florence joined the first group of women to enlist in the Army in July 1948.

President Harry S. Truman signed into law on June 12, 1948, Public Law 625: The Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948. This allowed, for the first time, women to serve as regular members of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines Corps.

Kathy and Flo were born and raised on the family farm in Mulkeytown, Illinois, which today has a population of only 63. Sadly, the population has decreased since the last census of 2020 when they boasted a population of 128.

In 1948, it was uncommon for women to leave the family farm and go off into the military. They were faced with an arduous task to convince their father to allow it. Finally, he gave in. Florence was underage, so her father had to sign a consent so she could enlist in the military.

The girls flew to San Francisco, California, to enlist in WAC, the Women’s Army Corps. They both had visions of traveling and seeing the world, quite an adventure for two girls from such a small town. Kathy and Flo were excited to be trained in a career which might not have been possible in tiny Mulkeytown.

They went to boot camp at Fort Gregg in Virginia. In a brief time, they traveled across the entire United States. Kathy never forgot when she led a large rank of women in the front line of a parade. She was terrified of being trampled because she stood barely five feet tall.

Kathy and Flo went to tech school in San Antonio, Texas, and became dental assistants. Together they were transferred to their permanent duty station at Greenville AFB, in South Carolina.

Kathy met her husband, Captain Dean, a dentist from Michigan. After he served his two-year commitment and she served her four-year commitment, they moved back to Michigan. He practiced as a dentist in that state.

They had five children; one daughter and four sons. Two of their four sons followed their family’s military history and served in the United States military. Kathy’s brothers also served in the military. One of her brothers served in WWII and was part of the invasion of Normandy. Today, Kathy has grandchildren serving.

This is an unbelievable story of a family of true American patriotism. It shows in Kathy’s face that she loves America and is filled with pride that she served her country! Even in her now under-five-foot size she is “a giant patriot in a small package”.