The Hello Girls: Women Telephone Operators of WWI

Honoring the 280 Women of the U.S. Army Signal Corps in World War One

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About TheHelloGirls.org

TheHelloGirls.org is an all-volunteer organization. The founding members joined together in 2018 for the quest to have a Congressional Gold Medal awarded by Congress in recognition and celebration of the women who served as bi-lingual telephone operators for the U.S. Army Signal Corps in France in World War One. In December 2023 the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to the Hello Girls.

Our mission is two-fold: To ensure their legacy by promoting awareness of the vital contribution the women made in securing victory in WW1. And to see that the women of The Hello Girls receive the honor and recognition they were denied for 60 years.

The majority of the women passed away before receiving veteran status, and therefore have no indication of their military service at their burial places. Some of the women were buried in unmarked graves. The volunteers of TheHelloGirls.org have formed "The Hello Girls Honors and Remembrance Project" to see that the women receive the honors they earned and deserve.

Our Mission

Education

We educate the public about the crucial roles women played in WW1 wartime communications.

Preservation

We collect, preserve and share historical documents to honor these women telephone operators.

Empowerment

We aim to inspire and empower future generations through the stories of these pioneering women.

The Hello Girls Military Honors and Remembrance Project

Most of the Hello Girls passed away before receiving veteran status and therefore were buried with no recognition of their military service. The volunteers at TheHelloGirls.org are working to see that the women receive veteran's medallions for their grave sites. Some women were buried in unmarked graves and TheHelloGirls.org is working to see that these women receive grave markers. As of January 2026 two women have received their head stones with a full military honors ceremony. In February 2026 two more women will receive headstones with military honor ceremonies.

The Hello Girls Organization Is partnering with the Doughboy Foundation to see that all Hello Girls of WWI receive the grave site recognition they have earned and deserve. Some grave markers are provided by the Veterans Administration, and some are not. A new headstone on an unmarked grave requires site preparation which usually is not free.

PLEASE visit The Hello Girls MHARP Donations Page and make a contribution today.

PLEASE also visit and Support the Doughboy Foundation!

Grace Banker receives a foot stone and a Service Medallion.

Our Services

Education and Advocacy

We provide links to educational resources and materials aimed at raising awareness of the historical contributions of these

veteran women as well as the times in which they served.

Historical Research

Our team conducts extensive genealogical research to identify descendants of Hello Girls to inform them of their ancestor's (sometimes unknown) history, and, when possible, to collect any stories they heard from their ancestor.

Military Honors and Remembrance Project

Please visit our FAQ page

FAQ Page

Community Outreach

We engage with the community through local workshops and seminars to share the stories of these remarkable women. If a library or school would like to host a presentation please contact us and we may have someone in your area to visit and talk about the Hello Girls.

Online Resources

We will provide links to a variety of online materials, including articles, videos, "The Hello Girls Musical" productions and more.

Collaborative Projects

We partner with the Doughboy Foundation as well as with museums, educational institutions, historical and community organizations to enhance awareness and education.

Join Us in Making History

Your support keeps their stories alive!

We are looking for interesting stories and articles about individual Hello Girls

If you have stories to tell about your ancestor Hello Girl please submit them to us at stories@thehellogirls.org. Stories need not be about WW1. We are also interested in documenting the lives of the women before and after WW1.

If you have historic documents or personal artifacts that need to be preserved and/or donated please send an email to artifacts@thehellogirls.org. We can advise you on preservation basics as well as making donations to museums.

Please visit the Hello Girls MHARP Donations Page and make a contribution today.

Also PLEASE Visit and Support the Doughboy Foundation!

And The Doughboys MIA Mission

FAQs

What is The Hello Girls Honors and Remembrance Project?

Most of the Hello Girls passed away before receiving veteran status and therefore were buried with no recognition of their military service. Some women were buried in unmarked graves. The TheHelloGirls Organization is working to see that these women receive grave markers. As of January 2026 two women have received their head stones with a full military honors ceremony. In February 2026 two more women will receive headstones with military honor ceremonies.

The Hello Girls Organization is searching for descendants of the original Hello Girls to facilitate adding U.S. Army Service Medallions to their grave markers.

How can I support this project?

You can support us through donations, volunteering, or by spreading the word about our initiatives.

More information how to participate will be published here in the near future.