Joy Bright Hancock (1898-1986), 1946
Courtesy, Special Collections/University Archives,
Rutgers University Libraries. U. S. Navy photograph.

Joy Bright Hancock (1898-1986), a native of Wildwood, saw temporary duty in the United States Navy in World War I. She joined the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) in World War II, becoming one of its first officers. In 1946 she was appointed director of the WAVES and successfully lobbied to have women accepted into the regular U.S. Naval Reserves.