Author: Mary Merritt

  • MY TWENTY YEARS BEFORE THE MAST

    by Eileen Neiler Eileen A. Morgan Neiler born in East Conemaugh, Pennsylvania on 16 December 1923, the only child of John and Edna Morgan. Growing up during the Great Depression required moving many times as my father sought work. This sometimes meant spending only one year in any particular school. Most of my elementary school…

  • Hana Romer

    Meet Hana WMA Member and Camp Lejeune Spouse of the year Following hundreds of nominations nationwide and a national vote yielding more than 20,000 votes, Hana Romer has been named the 2024 Armed Forces Insurance Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune’s Spouse of the Year. Romer is currently stationed with her husband, Captain Nicholas Romer, at…

  • Golda Fabian

    By Golda Fabian Golda is a WMA Life member who is among our centenarians. She is still active in her chapter and WMA. A centenarian is a person who has reached the age of 100 years. Because life expectancies worldwide are below 100, the term is invariably associated with longevity. WMA is proud to have approximately…

  • Barbara PreLi 1923-2023

    Barbara Preli, a long-time resident of the Hartford, CT area and later of Greensburg, PA, departed this life on July 4, 2023 She recently celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends. Barbara was a beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, aunt, and friend.Barbara was born in Hartford, CT on May 24, 1923, to Ralph and Josephine…

  • CPL. RIVIERE’S JOURNEY TO AND IN THE MARINE CORPS

    Story by Lance Cpl. Kristy Ordonez  1st Marine Logistics Group CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — From helping U.S. Marines at the age of 12 during the Haiti earthquake to joining the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of 21, U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Nailey Riviere, a motor transport operator with Combat Logistics Battalion 15, Combat Logistics Regiment…

  • Barbara Hoadley

    Barbara Hoadley

    USMC Enlisted in 1950 Greetings from Clovis, CA. My name is Barbara Hoadley and I am a proud WMA Life Member #379. I recently attended the WMA Convention in Las Vegas and have also attended conventions in Buena Park, Minnesota, and Charleston as well as the Memorial Dedication in October 1997. These events have given…

  • 80th Anniversary Message

    80th Anniversary Message

    Celebrating 80 years since the USMC Women Reserves 13 Feb 2380 years ago, the slogan “Free a Marine to Fight” drew 19,000 women to the USMC Women Reserves during World War II. Today we are approximately 18,000 strong. We have moved from performing mainly clerical positions to filling combat infantry MOS slots worldwide. Every generation…

  • Ruth Holman USMCWR

    CEDARBURG — As friends and family members gathered in Cedarburg on Nov. 4 to celebrate Ruth Holman, it wasn’t just to commemorate the Lasata Senior Living resident’s 100th birthday. It was also an opportunity to recognize and honor a woman who was a pioneer in so many ways — as a member of the United…

  • Meet Kassie Diaz

    WMA LIFE MEMBER An Interview with Kassie Marie DiazBy Alyssa Diaz Known as the first, and only, female to operate unmanned aircraft as an external pilot for the United States Marine Corps and the United States Army, Kassie Diaz also qualified as a Pioneer UAV1 External Pilot in 2002. Additionally, she served as a Corporal…

  • 2022 – 2024 National Board

    2022 – 2024 National Board

    The new WMA National Board WMA presents the slate of officers for the 2022-2024 WMA National Board.   The WMA National Bylaws dictates no ballot was necessary. Article Eight, Section 3. Ballots: “An election ballot shall be published only for the office(s) which have received more than one nominee.” The Nominating Committee conducted due diligence…

  • Soldiers’ Angels

    Soldiers’ Angels

    The Women Marines Association is proud to partner with Soldiers’ Angels in taking care of our military members and veterans. Soldiers’ Angels is a national nonprofit headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, founded in 2003 by the family of General George Patton. Through its global network of thousands of volunteers,they fulfill its mission of providing aid,…