The Hello Girls of WWI: The Women Who Kept the Frontlines Connected by Krystal Teale

In the spring of 1917, as war consumed Europe, the United States tried to stay neutral. However, as Germany escalated attacks on American ships and sought an alliance with Mexico through the Zimmermann Telegram, the U.S. could no longer stand aside. Public outrage and national security concerns led President Woodrow Wilson to ask Congress for a declaration of war on April 2, 1917. Building up US troops and ensuring consistent battlefield communication became urgent priorities. When meeting the aforementioned troop and communication needs was slow going in the early days of US involvement, an unexpected group stepped up to fill the ranks: female telephone operators. Called the "Hello Girls" for their signature greeting, these women became essential to the vital battlefield communication. General John J. Pershing recognized that bilingual telephone operators were even more crucial. The first operators were men from the telegraph companies. It was reported that many customers complained that they were rude and lacked the discipline and speed needed to complete the tasks. The French women who were hired by the AEF often did not speak English and also did not work at the speeds expected under the circumstances. For these reasons, the War Department put out a call for French-speaking American women; over 7,000 applied, but only 223 were selected. After rigorous training with AT&T, the first group of Hello Girls landed in France in March 1918, finding the communication network in disarray. Three years of combat had left telephone lines in ruins, with wires constantly shot, shelled, and bombed. It was common for messages to not reach their intended recipients, leading to delays and miscommunications. The Hello Girls brought order and discipline to the system, ensuring that urgent commands were relayed promptly and accurately.

Unlike many women in support roles, these operators worked near the front lines. They endured freezing temperatures, shellfire, gas attacks, and air raids while working in drafty barracks. Many spent their free time visiting field hospitals to comfort wounded soldiers and boost morale. Following the Battle of St. Mihiel in September 1918, the Hello Girls transferred to Souilly in northeastern France for the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. As the largest battle involving U.S. forces, it required a massive communication effort. Operators worked around the clock, handling an unrelenting stream of calls to coordinate infantry advances, artillery placements, and troop movements. When German shrapnel shattered the windows of their exchange building, they kept working despite the freezing air. Their ability to maintain communication contributed to the battle’s success. On October 30, a wounded German POW knocked over an oil stove in U.S. headquarters, sparking a fire that spread to eight buildings, including the telephone exchange. The Hello Girls continued connecting calls as the flames approached, refusing to abandon their posts until officers ordered them out under threat of court-martial. Within an hour of the fire being extinguished, they were back at their switchboards, ensuring communication remained intact. This extraordinary bravery earned seven women the Distinguished Service Medal, an honor rarely awarded to women at the time.

After the war, some Hello Girls remained in Europe to aid in peace negotiations and occupation efforts. Others returned home expecting military benefits. Instead, the Army classified them as civilian employees, denying them veterans’ benefits, healthcare, and even burial honors. Two women who died of the Spanish flu in France were buried without flags on their coffins, underscoring the disregard for their service. Their legacy extended beyond their own recognition. Their wartime contributions influenced President Wilson’s stance on women’s suffrage. In 1918CE, he urged Congress to pass the Nineteenth Amendment, acknowledging the essential role women played in the war effort. In 1920, women won the right to vote—a fight the Hello Girls had helped advance through their service. For sixty years, these women fought for recognition. Led by Merle Egan Anderson, they lobbied Congress to acknowledge their service. Despite repeated rejections, they persisted. Finally, in 1977CE, President Jimmy Carter signed legislation granting them veteran status and benefits. Two years later, 31 surviving Hello Girls received their long-overdue WWI Victory Medals. Some of these women, well into their nineties, attended ceremonies where their service was finally honored. Though nearly forgotten, their determination broke barriers for future generations of women in the military. The Hello Girls proved that in war, as in life, communication is everything—and the women who made it happen deserved their place in history. Today, their service is honored at institutions like the National WWI Museum and Memorial, where their legacy continues to inspire new generations.