TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Of the 76 veterans aboard the Tallahassee Honor Flight's 10th mission, only three were women.

Although their military experiences were different, all three served in the same war and in the same branch of service!

Throughout the day, these women repeated two messages: that they deserve to be here and that women can achieve anything they set their minds to.

All three women served in the Navy during the Vietnam War.

Ritaan Shultz served as a boatswain's assistant second class and held the Netop qualification on a P-3.

Lynette Halter was an employee who worked with personal files.

Melinda Topicz was also a member of the first wave of staff assigned to the fleet's sonar training unit.

“I think we can all say we are very touched by today’s honor,” said veteran Ritaan Shultz.

For these women, the flight is an honor.

“For the three of us as female veterans. It's emotional, it's touching, it's an honor. It's a word I keep coming back to because so many people don't even know we're soldiers,” Shultz said.

This honor is not only for them, but also for the other women who did not make it home.

Although women were not allowed to take part in combat missions during the Vietnam War, many women were still sent into action and exposed to danger.

“There were women who were in danger in Vietnam, there were women who were killed in Vietnam,” said veteran Lynette Halter.

Inside the National Mall is the first and only memorial honoring female soldiers. It is the Vietnam Women's Memorial, dedicated to the 265,000 civilians and soldiers who served in the Vietnam War.

“It was very emotional and makes you proud. I think it showed both strength and compassion. It showed that they don't all look the same,” Halter said.

The memorial represents the many roles women played at that time, from military nurse to war correspondent.

The dedication to women came more than a decade after the Vietnam Veterans Memorial sparked recognition for female soldiers of that era.

“Even though we haven't been in combat, we are equals. It doesn't matter what branch of service we're in. We all happened to choose the great Navy, but it doesn't matter what branch of service we're in, as long as we've served and can represent and motivate other women to do the same,” said veteran Melinda Topicz.

While the role of women in the military has evolved since the 1970s, these women remember the challenges they face today regarding women's rights.

“The things I was qualified to do, I couldn't get in civilian life because there weren't any women yet. I was the first in the Navy to do those things, but when I got out, I thought I could get a job, and I had to move in different directions, so a lot of things changed,” Shultz said.

Honor Flight organizers said one-third of the participants in the Honor Flight in Tallahassee were women.

All three said the trip was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity and are extremely grateful for the recognition they received.

To stay up to date with all the latest news, follow WCTV on Facebook And X (Þjórsárden).

Do you have a news tip or do you see an error that needs to be corrected? Write to us here. Please include the title of the article in your message.

Stay up to date with the most important headlines with the WCTV News app. Click Here to download it now.

All rights reserved.