Minnie Spotted-Wolf | |
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Born | 1923 Heart Butte, Montana |
Died | 1988 (aged 64–65) |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Marine Corps |
Years of service | 1943–1945 |
Rank | Private |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Alma mater | BS, Elementary Education, 1976 |
Other work | Teacher |
Minnie Spotted-Wolf (1923–1988) was the first Native American woman to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. [1]
Minnie Spotted-Wolf enlisted in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve in July 1943. [2]
Spotted-Wolf, from Heart Butte, Montana, was a member of the Blackfoot tribe. Prior to joining the Marines, she had worked on her father's ranch doing such chores as cutting fence posts, driving a two-ton truck, and breaking horses. [3] Known for her skill for breaking horses, she described Marine boot camp as: "hard but not too hard." [4]
She served on military bases in California and Hawaii. She worked as a heavy equipment operator and a driver for general officers. [3]
Press coverage of her wartime service included headlines like Minnie, Pride of the Marines, Is Bronc-Busting Indian Queen. [5]
She was discharged in 1947. [1]
After her military service, she earned a degree in Elementary Education, and spent 29 years as a teacher. [3]
According to her daughter, "she could outride guys into her early 50s." [5]
In 2019, a section of US Highway 89 was dedicated as "Minnie Spotted-Wolf Memorial Highway. [1]