SSgt Elize McKelvey

2023 National Women’s History Month “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories” “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories” is not only the theme for National Women’s History Month but is also the Women Marines Association theme for March, Women’s History Month. Print, radio, TV, art, music, and social media are all platforms used to tell stories.

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Posted in: Afghanistan, Female Marine, History, Life After the Corps, Marine Corps, Personal Stories, USMC, veterans, Women Marines Association, Women of the Corps History Project, Women Serving in Combat

Corporal Germaine Laville

Corporal Germaine Laville   Laville lived in Plaquemine, La., graduated from LSU in 1942 with a bachelor’s degree in education and was a member of Chi Omega sorority. The oldest of seven children, she decided to represent her family in the World War II effort by enlisting in the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve in July,

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Posted in: Fallen Warrior Women, Female Marine, History, Marine Corps, Military, USMC, Values, WMA, Women Marines Association, Women of the Corps History Project, WWIITagged in:

Mary Bacon Hale

Mary Bacon Hale 1921-2014 (Leisure Village, Camarillo CA) Just touching the life led by Mary Peterson Bacon Hale was a unique event. Mary was born at Fort Sheridan, IL, into the family of Adolph Peterson, US Army. Born of noble birth, her father escaped Russia as did his brothers just prior to the Russian Revolution.

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Posted in: Female Marine, History, Military, Personal Stories, USMC, Values, veterans, WMA, Women Marines Association, Women of the Corps History Project

Women Marines Reserve Band

Women Marines Reserve Band by Colonel Mary V Stremlow, USMCR (Ret) Probably the most colorful of all the Women’s Reserve units was the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve Band formed in November 1943 by Captain William F. Santelmann and trained by members of the Marine Band. Prominent music schools and colleges were canvassed for candidates and

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Posted in: Female Marine, veterans, Women of the Corps History Project, WWIITagged in: , , ,

E. Louise Stewart, MCWR

Who’s that pretty lady on the magazine cover? By Sabrina Messenger You may recognize this highly glamorized iconic picture on the cover of the May 1943 issue of a popular general interest magazine of the time called Collier’s.  Her face shows up on a lot of USMC related merchandise, including t-shirts, mugs, and computer mousepads. 

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Posted in: Female Marine, History, Marine Corps, Military, USMC, Women of the Corps History Project, WWII

The History of the Women Marines Association

In the upcoming weeks we will go over the history of the Women Marines Association. The book was compiled by the WMA National Historian, Nancy Wilt in honor of the 50th anniversary of our Association in Denver in 2010. We start with a greeting written by Col Julia Hamblet Greeting from Colonel Julia E. Hamblet,

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Posted in: Female Marine, History, Military, USMC, Values, veterans, WMA, WMA History, Women Marines Association, Women of the Corps History Project

Rooted in Service

By Sharon Tutt My family background has military roots that span as far back as World War I. My maternal grandfather, L. W. Knox, served in the Army in France for three years. Three of his sons joined the military during World War II; Uncle Curtis served in the Army and was stationed in the

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Posted in: Female Marine, History, Life After the Corps, Marine Corps, Military, Personal Stories, Professional Development, Training, USMC, Values, veterans, Women of the Corps History ProjectTagged in: ,

War Time Memories

Center for Oral and Public History Captures Recollections of Veterans and Others Once Stationed at El Toro By Natalie M. Fousekis When I asked Junamay Leatherby Coffey about the impact her years in the Marines had on her life, she responded: “Oh, great. My life would have been entirely different … I am so glad

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

Native American Woman Marine Barbara Beltran Steele

This Marine Was One of ‘A Few Good Women’ The U.S. Marine Corps prides itself, and rightly so, on the “few good men” in its ranks. But let’s not overlook the “few good women” who have played, and are playing, vital roles in the realm of Leatherneckdom. I know of one such person, a Prescott

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Posted in: Conflicts, Family, Female Marine, History, Korean, Life After the Corps, Military, Personal Stories, USMC, veterans, WMA, Women of the Corps History ProjectTagged in: , ,

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

WA and MCA Announce Essay Contest

April 2, 2012 – 9:00am – July 15, 2012 – 5:00pm is the entry time. The Marine Corps Association and Foundation (MCA&F), in coordination with the Women Marines Association (WMA), is looking for military personnel—active duty, retired, Reserve, or veterans—and civilians employed by the Department of Defense to enter an educational essay contest. The essay must

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Posted in: Military, Personal Stories, Professional Development, USMC, Values, veterans, WMA, Women of the Corps History Project

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