Deborah Gannett Women In The Military

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With a new alias and disguise, the first woman enlisted in the Army as a man. It was one 1778 early morning when Deborah Sampson Gannett, an average woman, left her life behind to join the Army. Gannett took on the name of her deceased brother, Robert Shurtleff, and disguised herself in men's clothing. After serving for almost two years in the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment, Gannett's true identity was discovered. Despite her fearless courage and many successes, such as leading a raid that resulted in the capture of 15 men in Troy, Gannett was discharged from the Army due to her gender after suffering a head wound and a bullet to the left thigh (National). Unfortunately, it is widely believed that women lack the general qualifications required