War is one of the most explicit embodiments of both triumph and tragedy -- one side's triumph is inevitably the other's tragedy, and both the triumph and the tragedy are usually on an immense scale. Although women didn't officially serve in the U.S. military until World War II, they have always played an important role on the home front and as nurses, cooks, and other support staff on the front lines. More recently, women have enlisted in large numbers or have spoken out for peace. This section is divided by war, with each page providing a list of collections pertaining to women who experienced, served in, or fought against that particular war. For more collections, see our subject guide on Women and the Military.