From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (African American Women Veterans in and from Kentucky)

Edwean Irvin is recognized as the first African American woman in Hopkinsville, KY, to enlist in the Women's Army Corps. She enlisted in September of 1949 and completed her basic training at Fort Lee, VA. Irvin was a graduate of Attucks High School in Hopkinsville, and she attended Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN. While enlisted, she completed an 8-week finance course at the Army Finance School in Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN.

In 1951, Edwean Irvin was a Mess Sergeant at Camp Lee, VA. The following year, she was a cook for the Women's Army Corps Battalion at Headquarters, Far East Command (Japan). While in Japan, Irvin re-enlisted in the WACs in 1952. She was stationed in Japan for two years. Irvin had a 20-year career in the WACs, she retired in October of 1969. Her last assignment was as a supervisor of finance at Fort Benning, GA. While in the service, Irvin married John McDuffie. The couple planned to make their home in Washington, D.C. after Irvin's retirement.

Edwean Irvin was born in Hopkinsville, KY, the daughter of Silas and Nettie Watkins Irvin. In 1989, Edwean Irvin McDuffie died at the Jennie Stuart Medical Center in Hopkinsville and she is buried in Tennessee at the Nashville National Cemetery.

Sources: "The first Hopkinsville colored WAC, ..." Kentucky New Era, 14 September 1949, p.8; Sgt. Edwean Irvin in "Gordonsville News." The Louisville Defender, 22 September 1951, p.16; "Serving in Japan." Kentucky New Era, 05 August 1952, p.8; "Personals." Kentucky New Era, 07 October 1952, p.5; Sgt. Edwean Irvin in "News from Hopkinsville." The Louisville Defender, 22 January 1959, p.15; see "...former Miss Edwean Irvin ..." Kentucky New Era, 21 October 1969, p.13; see Edwean I. McDuffie at Find a Grave; see Edwean Irvin McDuffie in "Kentucky Deaths." The Courier-Journal, 28 November 1989, p.8; see Edwean McDuffie in "Deaths, Pennyrile." Kentucky New Era, 28 November 1989, p.2.