Interestingly, one of her many patients was the brother of poet Walt Whitman. The serendipitous meeting of these individuals provided the inspiration for the naming of the Whitman-Walker Clinic in Washington, D. C., a medical facility founded to provide compassionate, inclusive care, regardless of background or circumstance. The Whitman-Walker Clinic continues to serve marginalized communities in the nation’ s capital. 2
Civil War Service
In an unparalleled time of national turmoil, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker displayed her patriotism and sought to apply her medical training in service to the Union Army during the Civil War. Though she aspired to be a military surgeon, she was initially offered only a position as a nurse, a reflection of the unfortunate gender norms of the time. 3 This affront didn’ t deter Walker from serving, as she soon received an appointment as a contract surgeon. In this position, she treated the wounded in field hospitals across war-torn regions of the country. She often wore modified men’ s clothing while performing surgery. She considered the attire more practical for the demands of battlefield medicine. 2 As Rev. George DeMass explains, traditional women’ s attire was simply“ less functional” for her profession. 1 During her service, Walker was captured by Confederate forces and endured four months as a prisoner of war in Richmond, Virginia. Even in captivity, she continued providing care to the injured, demonstrating an unshakable commitment to her duty as a physician. 2
After her release as part of a prisoner exchange in August 1864, Dr. Walker came to Louisville to serve as the medical director for a hospital for female prisoners. This service was cited as part of her qualification for the Medal of Honor.
Among her personal effects found after her death was a letter from Union soldier Seth Morrison, a native of Oswego, which offered a poignant glimpse into the emotional toll of her time in the Civil War. The final paragraph of his letter reads,“ I can’ t wait to get home.” Sadly, his wish was never fulfilled, as Morrison died from complications following the amputation of his leg at Cold Harbor, a procedure about which Dr. Walker was skeptical. 3
Despite the disapproval of her male peers, for her desire for sterility in the operating room and refusal to conform to gendered expectations, Dr. Walker’ s service to the country did not go unrecognized. Generals William Tecumseh Sherman and George H. Thomas both recommended her for the Medal of Honor. 2 According to Rev. De- Mass, President Abraham Lincoln considered formally commissioning her, but ultimately refrained, reportedly fearing backlash from male surgeons and military officers. 1, 3
Medal of Honor and Legacy
Dr. Mary Edwards Walker was awarded the Medal of Honor in November 1865, by President Andrew Johnson, the highest recognition bestowed to the U. S. government. Her citation praised her“ patriotic zeal, her fidelity to the sick and wounded and her unwavering devotion to duty.” 3 To this day, she remains the only woman in American history to have received this distinction. While the award marked a significant step toward the formal recognition of women’ s contributions to military service, its permanence was challenged decades later. During a 1917 review of military records, Walker’ s medal was rescinded on the grounds that she had not served in a traditional combat role. 2 Defiant, she refused to return the medal and continued to wear it with pride until her death in 1919. The honor was officially reinstated in 1977, because of the advocacy of Massachusetts Senator Edward Brooke. 2
A common myth suggests that Walker was buried with her medal; however, as Rev. George DeMass clarifies, this belief stems from a photograph taken of Walker lying in a casket while wearing the medal. 1 However, this was a staged portrait taken while she was still alive, underscoring her fondness for photography. 3 The original medal is now housed at the Oswego County Historical Society, preserved through a $ 45,000 community fundraising campaign. The reissued version is stored at the Pentagon. 1 Dr. Walker’ s service to the nation is immortalized at the Medal of Honor Grove in Valley Forge, with formal recognition in Kentucky and her home state of New York. 2
Advocacy and Public Perception
Dr. Walker was as steadfast in her pursuit of gender equality as she was in her medical expertise. She spoke publicly and passionately on issues that were considered radical at the time, including women’ s suffrage, dress reform and equal pay for equal work. 2 Her commitment to challenging restrictive norms extended even to her clothing. Often criticized for wearing tailored suits, Walker remained resolute. She argued that the traditional women’ s attire was not only lacking in utility, but also unsanitary for the demands of surgical work. 3“ When you see someone dressed differently; remember, they may just be 50 years ahead of their time,” said her colleague Dr. Bertha Van Hoosend. 2
Relevance Today
Dr. Mary Edwards Walker’ s life story remains a powerful testament to her motivation to achieve“ justice for all.” Her service, activism and refusal to conform in the face of adversity continue to provide inspiration. Dr. Walker is a role model of courage for generations to come. As Rev. George DeMass aptly states,“ She wasn’ t ahead of her time. She was on time. The world was just late catching up.” 1
References
1
Buck, Robert D., Head, Maggie., and DeMass, G. Interview with Rev. George DeMass. 10 July 2025
2
Harris, Sharon M. Dr. Mary Walker: An American Radical, 1832-1919. New Brunswick, Rutgers University Press, 2009
3
Walker, Dale L. Mary Edwards Walker. Forge Books, 1 June 2005
Robert Buck is a second-year medical student at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.
Maggie Head is a third-year medical student at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.
Morton Kasdan, MD, is a retired plastic surgeon and ULSOM professor emeritus.( non-member)
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