In WWI, the U.S. Army Signal Corps recruited bilingual (French and English) female telephone operators to serve in France. Known as the 'Hello Girls,' they were essential for connecting calls between front-line commanders and headquarters. They worked under combat conditions and often very close to the front. Despite wearing army uniforms and being subject to military discipline, they were considered 'civilian contractors' after the war and denied veteran benefits for decades. It wasn't until 1977 that they were finally recognized as veterans by the U.S. government.