Female War Heroes You Should Know

1. Noor Inayat Khan

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Also Known As: Noor-un-Nisa Inayat Khan, Nora Baker

Birthday: 01 January 1914

Born In: Moscow, Russia

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Died On: 13 September 1944

Century: 20th Century

Famous As: British Resistance Agent in France in World War II

Noor Inayat Khan was a British Special Operations Executive (SOE) agent who worked as a wireless operator. In June 1943, Khan was sent to occupied France from where she transmitted important information back to Britain. She was the first British female wireless operator to be sent to aid the French Resistance during the Second World War. Noor Inayat Khan was killed at the Dachau concentration camp after being caught by the Nazis.

2. Dahomey Amazons

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Born In: Benin

Century: 18th Century, 19th Century

Dahomey Amazons were an all-female military regiment that came into existence due to the high casualty rate of the male population in the Kingdom of Dahomey. The frequent warfare with neighboring states and the kingdom's obligation to give men as slaves to the Oyo Empire forced the kings of Dahomey to enlist women into the army. The Dahomey women soldiers often fought in the wars against Abeokuta.

3. Violette Szabo

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Also Known As: Violette Reine Elizabeth Szabo

Birthday: 26 June 1921

Born In: Paris, France

Sun Sign: Cancer

Died On: 05 February 1945

Century: 20th Century

Famous As: British-French Special Operations Executive Agent During the Second World War

Violette Szabo served the British Army during World War II where she was a Special Operations Executive (SOE) agent. Szabo was sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp after she was arrested by the German army during her second mission in occupied France. Szabo was tortured, interrogated, and finally executed by an SS officer. On 17 December 1946, Violette Szabo became the second woman in the history to be honored with the George Cross, which was bestowed posthumously.

4. Aleda E. Lutz

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Also Known As: Aleda Ester Lutz

Birthday: 09 November 1915

Born In: Freeland, Michigan, United States

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Died On: 01 November 1944

Century: 20th Century

Famous As: American Flight Nurse Who Became the First American Woman to Die in Combat During the Second World War

Aleda E. Lutz was an American flight nurse in the United States Army. Lutz became the first American woman to lose her life in combat during the Second World War. One of the most decorated women in U.S. military history, Lutz was honored with the Air Medal, the Purple Heart, and the Red Cross Medal. She also became the first army nurse to be honored with the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross, which was awarded posthumously by President F

5. Leigh Ann Hester

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Birthday: 12 January 1982

Born In: Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Century: 21st Century

Famous As: Military personnel

Leigh Ann Hester is a US Army National Guard soldier. On 20 March 2005, when Hester and her military police squad were escorting a 30-truck supply convoy in Iraq, about 50 insurgent fighters attacked the convoy with RPK machine gun fire, AK-47, and rocket propelled grenades (RPG). Hester and her team retaliated and over 27 insurgents were killed during a 25-minute firefight. For her heroic actions, Leigh Ann Hester was honored with the Silver Star Medal. She is the first female U.S. Army soldier