The WWII Army nurse who became the first Black woman major despite military segregation in 1946

Della Raney’s Historic Promotion

Della Hayden Raney made history in July 1946 at Camp Beale, California. She became the first Black woman to reach the rank of major in the Army Nurse Corps. This happened about a year after World War II ended.

At that time, very few Black women held high military ranks. Her promotion marked the highest position any African American nurse reached during the war years.

A Career of Historic Firsts

Raney spent years breaking barriers in military medicine. Born in Suffolk, Virginia in 1912, she studied nursing at Lincoln Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. In April 1941, she became the first African American accepted into the Army Nurse Corps.

Before this, military rules kept Black nurses from serving. She started as a second lieutenant and worked her way up. By 1945, she earned the rank of captain in the Army Air Corps, which later became the Air Force.

Camp Beale’s Significant Role

Camp Beale was a huge military base in California’s Central Valley. It covered 86,000 acres of land. The hospital where Raney worked had 100 buildings and 1,000 beds for patients.

The base played a key role in military medicine during and after World War II. By the time of Raney’s promotion in 1946, the base had started to scale back its operations as the military cut down in size after the war.

Breaking the Glass Ceiling

Raney’s rise to major happened while the military still separated Black and white service members. The armed forces would not officially end this practice until 1948. The nursing corps showed clear signs of this divide.

When World War II ended in 1945, only 479 Black nurses served among 50,000 total Army nurses. Strict limits blocked qualified Black nurses from advancing. Raney’s promotion cracked this unfair system and showed what was possible.

The Promotion Ceremony

In July 1946, Raney received her major’s rank during a ceremony at Camp Beale. Workers replaced her captain’s bars with a gold oak leaf, the symbol of her new rank. Her uniform now showed the patch of the 6th Army on her left shoulder.

Each part of her uniform showed her place in the military chain of command. The new insignia marked more than personal success – it showed progress for both women and African Americans in the military.

Recognition of Wartime Service

Raney’s promotion rewarded her excellent service during World War II. She had worked at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama, and Fort Huachuca in Arizona before coming to Camp Beale.

The military gave her several medals, including the World War II Victory Medal and American Campaign Medal. These awards showed how much she contributed to the war effort in the United States and in support roles overseas.

Immediate Impact of the Promotion

Soon after becoming a major in July 1946, Raney received orders to go to Japan. She joined American forces working there after the war ended. Japan was still rebuilding after surrendering in August 1945.

After finishing this assignment, she came back to Camp Beale with a bigger job. She became Director of Nursing for the base hospital, overseeing all nursing staff and operations.

Camp Beale in Post-War Transition

By summer 1946, Camp Beale had fewer operations than during the war. The base had processed over 225,000 service members for overseas duty during the fighting. It had trained new recruits, brought people into the military, and helped discharge others.

These jobs gradually ended after the war. In December 1946, some functions moved to Fort Ord. By April 1947, the Separation Center closed completely. Later, the base became Beale Air Force Base.

The Significance for Military Nursing

Raney’s promotion helped all African American nurses in the military. Her colleagues at Tuskegee called her “Maw Raney” because she guided and supported them. Her success challenged both race and gender barriers in military healthcare.

For years, Black nurses faced unfair treatment in training, hiring, and promotions despite their skills. Raney showed these obstacles could be overcome through hard work and excellence.

Post-Promotion Career

Raney served in the military for many years after becoming a major. She returned to active duty several times between 1948 and 1953.

She worked at Letterman Army Hospital in San Francisco, Percy Jones Army Hospital in Michigan, and Tokyo Army Hospital in Japan. Each job built on her experience and spread her influence in military medicine.

Her career spanned major changes in healthcare and military policies.

Legacy of the 1946 Promotion

Raney’s 1946 promotion secured her place in military and nursing history. Her career created opportunities for future generations of minority nurses in the armed forces. In 1978, the Tuskegee Airmen group honored her achievements and contributions to military service.

After her death in 1987, her impact continued. In 2012, the Tuskegee Airmen Foundation and National Black Nurses Association created a scholarship in her name to help nursing students.

Visiting National Museum of the United States Army

The National Museum of the United States Army is at 1775 Liberty Drive, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, about 20 miles south of Washington, DC. The museum opens daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closes only on Christmas Day.

Admission is free, but reserving tickets online through their website is recommended. The museum has a 300-degree theater, rooftop garden, and exhibits covering 245 years of Army history.

Notable features include the Medal of Honor Garden, Experiential Learning Center with hands-on STEM activities, and a café for refreshments. The museum offers accessibility accommodations and audio tours in nine languages.

All visitors go through security screening with metal detectors.

Read More from WhenInYourState.com:

• America’s final air-to-air kill in Vietnam was scored by an F-4B Phantom launched from this battleship
• California’s most polluted lake has a post-apocalyptic beach town that refuses to die
• The California fairgrounds where Hendrix set his guitar on fire and launched the Summer of Love