Jeanne M. Holm

Major General Jeanne Marjorie Holm (June 23, 1921 – February 15, 2010) was the first female one-star general of the United States Air Force and the first female two-star general in any service branch of the United States. Holm was a driving force behind the expansion of women's roles in the Air Force. She was then assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force in Washington, DC, as a personnel plans and programs officer in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel. For her exceptionally meritorious service in this assignment, she was awarded the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal.

Awards and recognition Holm was a member of the Board of Trustees, Air Force Historical Foundation; member of the Board of Directors of Camp Fire Girls; member of Board of Directors of the Pentagon Federal Credit Union; and member of the Air Force Association. She received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Lewis and Clark College in 1968; Citation of Honor from the Air Force Association in 1971; and the Eugene Zuckert Leadership Award from the Arnold Air Society in 1972. In 2003, the Air Force Association conferred upon her their Lifetime Achievement Award. Holm was inducted into the International Women in Aviation Hall of Fame in 2006. A section of Air University was reorganized in 2008 and renamed the Jeanne M. Holm Officer Accession and Citizen Development Center.

Military Decorations Air Force Distinguished Service MedalLegion of MeritWomen's Army Corps Service MedalAmerican Campaign MedalWorld War II Victory MedalArmy of Occupation Medal with Berlin Airlift DeviceMedal for Humane ActionNational Defense Service Medal with bronze service starAir Force Longevity Service Award with silver and bronze oak leaf clustersSmall Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon

Effective dates of promotion

Author Holm wrote two books about women in the military, beginning with Women in the Military: An Unfinished Revolution in 1982. Holm updated the book in 1992–1994, filling in American women's combat and military experiences in the invasions of Grenada, Panama and in the Gulf War. In 1998, Holm published a history of American women serving in World War II, entitled In Defense of a Nation: Servicewomen in World War II, summarizing the experiences of women serving all of the military arms.

In 2003 Holm assisted author Linda Witt in her writing of the book A Defense Weapon Known to be of Value: Servicewomen of the Korean War Era, published in 2005. Holm described for Witt the history of the WAF in the early 1950s and the trials women experienced as they made their way through the male-dominated military.

Personal life Holm was an accomplished snow and water skier, student of ancient history, scuba diver and skipper of her own power cruiser. Prior to entering military service, she was a professional silversmith. She was survived by her family members such as a brother, nephews, and nieces. Funeral services for Holm were conducted at Arlington National Cemetery on March 29, 2010, with full military honors.