Cathay Williams

Cathay Williams was born a slave in Independence, Missouri in 1844. (Ironic, right?) She was "freed" by Union Forces who then volun-told her she'd be a cook and laundress. Not wanting to be a financial burden to her family after the Civil War, Cathay laced up her boots — and went back to work posing as a man named William Cathay.

She enlisted in the U.S. Regular Army, passed the medical exam, and was assigned to the all-black 38th Infantry Regiment, becoming a Buffalo Soldier. After years of service and four hospital stays, her gender was revealed and Cathay was discharged. The Army then denied her medical pension, claiming her health was poor before service. (Insert eye roll.)