Who was the first woman to be commissioned as an officer in the Marine Corps in 1943?

• A. Anne Lentz
• B. Opha Mae Johnson
• C. Lucille McClarren
• D. Annie Grimes

Answer: (A)

In 1943 the Marine Corps opened officer ranks to women through the Women Marines Reserve, marking a shift from women serving as enlisted personnel to holding formal officer appointments. Anne Lentz is identified as the first woman to be commissioned as an officer in the Marine Corps in that year, symbolizing this historic transition and the expansion of women’s leadership within the service.

It’s helpful to note that Opha Mae Johnson is recognized as the first woman to enlist in the Marine Corps (in 1918), which is a different milestone—enlistment rather than commissioning. The other two names aren’t typically cited in this 1943 commissioning milestone, so they aren’t the historical firsts in this context.