Lourdes “Alfie” Alvarado-Ramos
Women’s Army Corps (WAC), 1971-1978
U.S. Army, 1978-1993

Title

Lourdes “Alfie” Alvarado-Ramos
Women’s Army Corps (WAC), 1971-1978
U.S. Army, 1978-1993

Description

Inspired by her father, who served in Korea, and her siblings, Lourdes “Alfie” Alvarado-Ramos long dreamed about serving in the military. She enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1971, at the age of 17, and served for 22 years. Challenged by her gender, minority status and small stature, Alvarado-Ramos worked hard to attain respect and authority over her troops. Her final assignment as the Command Sergeant Major and Troop Command Sergeant Major of Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in 1993, is testament to her leadership despite the obstacles she faced. Since leaving the U.S. Army, Alvarado-Ramos has served as the Director of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs. She visits veterans’ facilities almost every day and with female veterans several times a month. Alvarado-Ramos says of the Department, “We need to keep our eye on the ball, and the ball is the veterans.”

Files

Lourdes Alvarado-Ramos.jpg

Citation

“Lourdes “Alfie” Alvarado-Ramos
Women’s Army Corps (WAC), 1971-1978
U.S. Army, 1978-1993,” The Military Women's Memorial - Exhibits , accessed March 28, 2024, https://mwm.omeka.net/items/show/18.