Parris Island 70th Anniversary Celebration 2013

March 2013 started off with the sights and sounds of Parris Island. Fourth Battalion was the perfect location to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve (officially on February 13, 2013) and kick-off Women’s History Month. It was an honor to represent WMA during this memorable 70th year milestone.

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Posted in: Awards, Boot Camp, Events, History, Marksmanship, Martial Arts, Membership, Military, Physical Fitness, Professional Development, Training, USMC, Values, WMA

History of the USMC Women Reserves

 The Marine Corps was strictly male until World War II except for 305 Marine Reservists (F), popularly termed “Marinettes,” who served during World War I. By 1942, unprecedented manpower demands of the two-front war led to personnel shortages. Although Corps Commandant, General Thomas Holcomb opposed recruiting women, he followed the example of the Army, Navy

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Posted in: History, Military, veterans, WMA, Women of the Corps History Project

Women Marines Association 27th Biennial Convention and Professional Development Conference

Event:   Women Marines Association 27th Biennial Convention and Professional Development ConferenceWhen:  August 31 – September 4th 2012 Where:  Hyatt Regency Penn’s Station, Philadelphia, PA Press Release For Immediate Action Press Release For Immediate Action Since 1918, American women have answered their country’s call to serve. We have served proudly with distinction and honor; each generation

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Posted in: Afghanistan, Conflicts, Events, Female Engagement Teams, History, Military, Professional Development, USMC, veterans, WMA

The Best of the Season

Bay State Chapter MA-1 held their annual Christmas party and meeting at the Adams Inn in North Quincy, MA on December 4, 2011 at 1200. Everyone brought in donations for Toys for Tots, our Veteran’s Hospitals, cards for Morgan and donations for the homeless. Our special guest was Lorna Dupouy, Area Director. WWII Marine Ruth

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Posted in: History, Military, Personal Stories, Training, USMC, WMA

Lucille Ellen McClarren The FIRST woman Marine 1943

Recently I have had the great pleasure to be exchanging emails with Betty Harper the niece of Lucille McClarren. In her quest to know more about her Aunt and her illustrious career she has shared a bit with us in hopes that others who knew her will share memories of Lucille with her. Below are

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Posted in: History, Military, Personal Stories, veterans, WMA, Women of the Corps History Project

Living History: Quantico docent shares the legacy of women Marines

By Master Sgt. Sal Cardella TRIANGLE, Va. (March 14) — Her still-dazzling baby blue eyes and brilliant smile seemed even brighter as she talked about joining the Marine Corps during World War II. A thick New England accent flavored the quick pace of her speech, emphasizing her point with laughter, sometimes a hushed tone and

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February 1944 The Grand Rapids Platoon

On February 12, 1944, 29 women left Grand Rapids, Mi to go to Camp Lejuene, NC.  Now over 67 years later Phyllis Savio Barnard Lee is trying to track down who is left from this Michigan Platoon. By Phyllis Savio Lee It was Sunday morning, Dec 7, 1941. My family radio was on and we

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Posted in: History, Military, Personal Stories, WWIITagged in: , , , , , , ,

Golda’s Story

   A momentous day in history, December 7, 1941, changed the lives of many people including myself.   On  March 2, 1944, in Seattle, Washington, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and left for boot camp on April 28th, 1944.   Boot camp was at Camp Lejeune, N.C where I was in Co. E, Plat

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Posted in: History, Military, Personal Stories, USMC, veterans, WMA, Women of the Corps History ProjectTagged in: ,

A Special Veteran

By Kelly Wilkinson It’s funny how for most of life, Veterans Day was just a day to sleep in and not have to go to school, and then later, work. Veterans were old guys in hats with pins. But now, veterans are my contemporaries, and this day is a good one to visit one of

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Posted in: History, Military, Personal Stories, USMC, veterans, WMATagged in: ,

Ah, Boot Camp!

Whether you’re a Marine who served in 1918, 1942, 1955, 1968, 1977, 1985, 1999, or 2010, boot camp is a memory no female Marine will ever forget!  Think back to that first day when you were herded off the bus in the wee hours of the night. The yelling began almost immediately! You were a

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Posted in: Boot Camp, History, Military, Personal Stories, TrainingTagged in: , , , , , , ,

Women’s History Month and Women Veteran Contributions

Today is the first day of National Women’s History Month. This marks the 30th Anniversary of celebrating Women’s History Month and this year’s theme is “Writing Women Back into History”. Women are particularly missing from Military history…not that are aren’t accounts, they’re just not widely known. Women comprise ~14% of the armed forces today. Approximately 1.7 million

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Posted in: History, MilitaryTagged in: