Grace Hopper, a groundbreaking computer scientist and United States Navy Rear Admiral, made significant contributions to technology and the military. She joined the Navy’s WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) in 1943, during World War II. Her work on the USS Cassin Young included contributions to its missile system.
A mathematician by training, Hopper is best known for her work on the early development of computer languages, including the development of COBOL, a programming language still in use today. Hopper retired from the Navy in 1986, marking a distinguished career that spanned several decades. Her retirement ceremony was held aboard the USS Constitution in Charlestown, symbolizing her longstanding connection to the Navy. Throughout her career, Hopper received numerous accolades, including the National Medal of Technology – the first woman to earn this prestigious honor. She was also posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama. Her legacy continues to inspire generations in the fields of computing and military service.
Florence L. Johnson (1923-2014), a lifelong Charlestown resident, served in the WAVES during WWII and later became an advocate for veterans and Gold Star Mothers after her son’s death in the Vietnam War. She held leadership roles in veterans’ organizations and was actively involved in community projects, including being the President of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Gold Star Mothers and Commander of the American Legion Bunker Hill Post #26
