Charlotte Winters

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Charlotte Louise Berry Winters (November 10, 1897 - March 27, 2007) was the last surviving female American veteran of The First World War.

She was born Charlotte Louise Berry in Washington, D.C. When the Navy opened support roles to women, Charlotte and her sister, Sophie, joined in 1917. By December 1918, more than 11,000 women had enlisted and were serving in support positions. In 1919, most of the Yeoman (F) were released from the service. At that time she had attained the rank of Yeoman (F) Second Class in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Winters was was able to return to the same position as a civil servant. Winters served as a secretary, and retired in 1953.

Winters helped to found the National Yeoman (F) Association in 1926 and served as its eighth commander in 1940 and 1941. She was active in the American Legion for 88 years.

A U.S. Navy honor guard bears the casket of Charlotte Winters, March 30, 2007

She died, aged 109, in Boonsboro, Maryland. At the time of her death, she was the oldest living WWI veteran in the USA, leaving only one living WWI female veteran left in the world, 108-year-old Gladys Powers from Abbotsford, British Columbia in Canada, who served for the United Kingdom.