Women Marines - 75 years of service - Camp Pendleton

contents

23 Hats Off to Women Marines! by Nancy Wilt and Mary Karcher for Leatherneck Magazine

40 Fences Come Tumbling Down, by Laura Kaufman, Traditions Magazine Contributor

50 Uniforms over the Decades

2

| Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

4 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 26 27 28 30 31 32 33 34 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 43 44 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 62

Capt. Vernice Armour Cpl. Kimberly Ababa Sgt. Lena (Riggi) Basilone 1st Lt. Lara Bennett Master Sgt. Cassandra Best Col. Susan (Seaman) Boré Sgt. Phyllis Bourque Sgt. Veronica Bradley Sgt. Lily (Chow) Brockmeier Sgt. Maj. Grace A. Carle Staff Sgt. Karla Cervantes Chief Warrant Officer 3 Carmen E. (Spruell) Cole Master Gunnery Sgt. Charlotte Conover Sgt. Maj. Victoria Evans Sgt. Maj. Barbara Farrell Sgt. Judy Freeman Cpl. Maria Elena (Gandara) Gamboa Sgt. Phyllis (Shaw) Ghio Chief Warrant Officer Annie L. Grimes Lt. Col. Lillian (Hagener) Bell Article: Hats Off to Women Marines!

Lt. Col. Theresa M. Hayes Women Marine Units, Camp Pendleton 1951-1974 Staff Sgt. Anna (Orlando) Hopkins Lt. Col. Charlene (Summers) Itchkawich Cpl. Linamarie (Knittle) Johnson Cpl. Mildred Kosanovich Lt. Col. Eileen (Callaghan) Malik Col. Mitzi Manning Col. Patricia Halsey-Munroe 1st Sgt. Barbara McCurtis Maj. Megan McClung Cpl. Kathy (Parrish) Montira Master Sgt. Kara Morin Lance Cpl. Daisy (Hersey) Orr Article: Fences Come Tumbling Down Technical Sgt. Marie Proulx Sgt. Angela Rodriguez Sgt. Amanda Sandoval Gunnery Sgt. Cydney Rose Sgt. Maj. Jennifer Simmons Staff Sgt. Theresa “Sue” Sousa Col. Emily (Elder) Swain Pfc. Angelina (Fusckino) Stambough Uniforms over the Decades Staff Sgt. Andriele Stodden Pfc. Harriet (Harley) Taber Sgt. Maj. Sandra Torres-Pintos Cpl. Lillian “Lee” (Bailey) Tusa Col. Marianne Waldrop Sgt. Brandy Wallace “...We are Proud to Claim the Title of United States Marine.”

Staff Sgt. Reckless camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Pfc. Carolyn Youmans and Pfc. Rachelle Mutchler at the main gate of Camp Pendleton, March 25, 1954. Official Marine Corps photo.

Editor’s Note: This publication grew from an initial idea to celebrate and honor, in print media, the 75th anniversary of women Marines who had served and continue to serve at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

From an early concept discussion in January 2018 between the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, two local chapters of the Women Marines Association and the Camp Pendleton Historical Society to the release of the Chamber’s commemorative magazine on Aug. 13, 2018, the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

Unable to publish all of the individual stories that were submitted to us in one magazine, we knew we had to take the extra step and create a publication in order to further promulgate stories of the service and achievements of the Marines.

Contributors Lillian Cross Faye Jonason Ron Jonason Carol Kaliff / Hearst Connecticut Media Laura Kaufman Angelique Murray Lillian “Lee” Tusa Leatherneck Magazine of the Marines (Marine Corps Association & Foundation) San Diego County CA-2 Chapter, Women Marines Association Edith Macias Vann CA-7 Southern California Chapter, Women Marines Association Camp Pendleton History and Museum Division Camp Pendleton Historical Society

After encouraging Marines to write and submit their individual stories in their own words, we created this publication which we feel complements the excellent work done by the talented team at the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce in producing the magazine, “Celebrating 75 Years - Women Marines on Camp Pendleton.”

Editorial Director Col. Robert “Bo” Hellman, USMC (Ret) Editor Col. Marianne Waldrop, USMC (Ret), PhD In addition to our contributors, this publication would not have been Design, Layout and Prepress possible if it weren’t for the drive, enthusiasm and writing talent of our Deb Hellman editor, Col. Marianne Waldrop, USMC (Ret), PhD and the vision, layout and Photos design provided by Deb Hellman, who devoted countless hours creating this Unless otherwise noted photographs were publication. provided by the individual Marine.

Without the generous support of Pacific Marine Credit Union, a printed version of this publication would not have been possible. FedEx shipped copies of the Chamber’s magazine to the 2018 Women Marines Association Conference and Convention, allowing 700+ women Marines and attendees from across the country to receive a copy.

Sponsors Pacific Marine Credit Union FedEx

There are many more stories to tell. I am hopeful the magazine and this publication will encourage more Marines to share their stories and tout their achievements.

Camp Pendleton Historical Society is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation.

Happy 75th anniversary, Marines! Semper Fi.

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org Facebook @camppendletonhistoricalsociety

CAMP PENDLETON HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS A NON-FEDERAL ENTITY. IT IS NOT A PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OR ANY OF ITS COMPONENTS AND IT HAS NO GOVERNMENTAL STATUS.

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 3

Vernice armour

Capt., USMC 1998-2007

Vernice Armour joined the Marine Corps in October 1998 and was commissioned a second lieutenant on Dec. 12, 1998. She attended flight school at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas and later Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. and earned her wings in July 2001. Capt. Armour was the first African-American female naval aviator in the Marine Corps as well as the first African-American female combat pilot in the U.S. Armed Forces.

A AH-1W SuperCobra pilot, (MOS 7565), Capt.

Armour was assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station, Camp Pendleton from 2001 through 2004. She flew the AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopter in combat during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. While at Camp Pendleton, she was named Camp Pendleton “Female Athlete of the Year” in 2001

Vernice Armour

and twice won Camp Pendleton’s annual “Strongest Warrior” competition.

After leaving the Marine Corps in 2007, Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour became a motivational public speaker and is the author of the book, “Zero to Breakthrough: The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter,” published in 2011.

Kimberly ababa

Cpl., USMC 2014-current

Originally from Woodbridge, Va., Cpl. Kimberly Ababa enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2014. After graduation from boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., she attended military occupational specialty (MOS) training at 29 Palms, Calif. and was assigned MOS 7242 Air Support Operations Operator. Cpl. Ababa arrived at Camp Pendleton, Calif. in 2015 and was assigned to Marine Air Support Squadron 3, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. She is currently serving as the Crew Chief, Direct Air Support Center.

Cpl. Ababa participating in a training exercise

4

| Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

lena (Riggi) basilone Sgt., USMC 1943-1946

Lena Mae Riggi was born to Italian-Sicilian immigrants in 1916. Growing up in Portland, she graduated from Salem High School and attended business school when she left Oregon.

In support of the war effort, she enlisted in the Sgt. Lena Basilone to christen the USS Basilone, a destroyer named after her husMarine Corps in July 1943 and was stationed as band Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone on Dec. 21, 1945. field cook on Camp Pendleton, Calif. in February 1944. She attained the rank of sergeant and secured a position with an electrical company. She became chief cook. She was known for her can-do, often shared her good cooking to entertain her large take charge attitude, which John Basilone, a Pacific network of friends. She bought a home in Lakewood War hero, found attractive. While others took note of near Los Angeles where she lived for 50 years until his Medal of Honor and his resulting many successful her death. bond drives and nation-wide fame, she did not. Both were tough, good looking enlisted Marines. Sgt. She was an active volunteer with the Long Beach Lena Riggi married the charming Gunnery Sgt. John Veteran’s Hospital, American Veterans Auxiliary, Basilone at St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church Women Marines Association, and as a member of the in Oceanside, Calif. on July 7, 1944.

Liberty Baptist Church of Long Beach. The much John Basilone had beforehand decided to return to his men and was shipped out soon after the wedding. He was fighting alongside his Marines on Iwo Jima when he was killed on Feb. 19, 1945. Lena was notified on March 7, 1945, her 32nd birthday. John Basilone was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross and Purple Heart medals. Lena Basilone was discharged from the Marine Corps on Jan. 23, 1946.

loved and very dedicated Lena Basilone died on June 11, 1999 at age 86. She was buried at the National Cemetery in Riverside, Calif.

In 1949, Lena christened the Navy destroyer named after her husband and was present at the commemorative naming of Camp Pendleton’s major thoroughfare, Basilone Road. Soon after the war, a development in the San Fernando Valley named Basilone Homes was built for veterans.

Lena never remarried, often saying that she had married the best so could not settle for less. As a civilian, Lena Basilone took a secretarial course and camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Sgt. Lena Riggi and Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone pictured with their wedding party on July 7, 1944 at St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Oceanside, Calif.

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 5

lara bennett

1st Lt., USMC in 2003

1st Lt. Lara A. Bennett, stationed at Camp Pendleton, granted an interview just prior to her deployment to the Persian Gulf. Married to a Marine already on deployment to the Middle East with two daughters age five and three, Lt. Bennett served in the Joint Public Affairs Office for the 1st Marine Division. Their five-year-old attended Mary Fay Pendleton School.

“Thirty years ago, if you were pregnant you were administratively separated, no questions asked,” said Bennett. “Now it’s an opportunity to stay in with children. I feel fortunate to be able to experience it as a mother. If I had my way, I would fulfill my obligation to the Marine Corps in addition to taking my children with me on the deployment…I really would.” Lt. Bennett noted that usually both parents are not deployed at the same time.” If given a choice, I would rather stay than deploy,” said Bennett.

Friends of the family took care of her children during their deployment.

Lt. Bennett has been in the Marine Corps for seven years. She is known as a “mustanger” having gone from being an enlisted Marine to that of a commissioned officer through the Marine Corps Meritorious Commission program. She was the first female to be depicted carrying a weapon (a 9mm pistol) on a uniform plate.

Uniform plates, named for the old style of printing used in the 1800s, have long been a historical record of the uniforms Marines have worn through the years.

1st Lt. Bennett depicted on a U.S. Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniforms Plate (2003).

When asked why she joined the Marine Corps, Bennett said, “I joined not just to serve my country, but, to serve as a Marine. I serve the Marine Corps. Additionally, I joined for leadership and organizational challenges. I need to learn how to work with a team so that I would be successful in anything I did.”

Bennett’s advice to female wanna-beMarines: “Get in shape first! Once you become a Marine, you continuously have to prove yourself, which isn’t a bad thing.

Tough girls join the Marine Corps. Be tough and you’ll be fine.”

Excerpt from Fallbrook/Bonsall Village News article, “We are Marines” by Ron Jonason (April 10, 2003).

6

| Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

cassandra best

Master Sgt., USMC (Ret) 1981-2004 I was born in Barbados West Indies where I lived until the summer of 1979. I was raised predominantly by my mother and grandmother; I am the youngest of three children. The rules in the house were that once you graduated high school, you must go to college or find a job; the recruiter found me.

When I enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1980, I literally had no idea what I was getting myself into, considering that I had only recently immigrated to the United States.

I graduated boot camp and went on to Food Service School, finishing at the top of my class. I loved my 3381 MOS. My first experience at Camp Pendleton was in 1981 when I flew into California to go to the Joint Reception Center in transit to my first oversees assignment. I spent about 10 days waiting for a flight to Iwakuni, Japan.

I would later spend three tours at Camp Pendleton. From 1984 through 1986, I worked at the 13 Area Mess Hall while assigned to Headquarters and Service Battalion (H&S Bn), MCB Camp Pendleton. I returned back to the same battalion in 1988 and was the Chief Cook and Admin Clerk at the 13 Area Mess Hall. In 1989, I was reassigned to Base Food Service where I was a Quality Assurance Evaluator. In 2002, I reported for duty at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Camp Pendleton as the Mess Hall Manager assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron. I departed MCAS Camp Pendleton for Supply Company, 1st Supply Battalion, 1st Force Service Support Group in 2003 and spent two years as the Rations Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge.

I had an adventurous Marine Corps career highlighted by the ability and the support of numerous commanders that allowed me to participate in my true love, playing sports and supporting the Marine Corps Sports program. camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Master Sgt. Best in front of the parade grounds at Marine Barracks 8th & I in Washington, District of Columbia, 1998.

I played on the All-Marine and Armed Forces Basketball teams for many years and was also a member of the AllMarine Volleyball and All-Marine Bowling teams.

I was Female Athlete of the Year twice while on active duty; once in 1985 while stationed aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and again in 2003 while at Camp Pendleton. I was the Marine Corps’ representative to the Revlon and Women’s Sports Foundation’s Outstanding Woman Athlete in the Armed Forces in 1985.

The highlight of my career, while stationed aboard Marine Barracks 8th & I, was the opportunity to be a member of the parade staff and participate in the Commandant of the Marine Corps’ Change of Command ceremony for Generals Carl E. Mundy and Charles C. Krulak.

When I left home in the wee hours of the morning on Dec. 31, 1980 on the way to boot camp at MCRD Parris Island, I had no expectation, yet I have gained so much from being a United States Marine.

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 7

Susan (Seaman) Boré Col., USMC (Ret) 1989-2016

Col. Susan B. (Seaman) Boré, USMC (Ret) served in the Marine Corps from 1989 through 2016; she was a MOS 0180 Adjutant.

At Camp Pendleton, she was assigned to Col. Pat Howard, Commanding Officer, 11th Marines, promotes his adjutant, Susan Seaman, to the 11th Marine Regiment as the Adjutant first lieutenant. would meet most Fridays to compare notes, mentor each from August 1990-July 1993, including other and build friendships that have lasted a lifetime. deploying in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm; the Adjutant and Deputy Assistant Chief Another great memory is the annual 24-hour swim at of Staff (AC/S) G-1, 1st Force Service Support Group the base’s Mainside 50-meter pool. In 1992, soon after from September 1995-September 1997; and and AC/S, returning from Desert Storm, I joined 9 other swimmers G-1, 1st Marine Division from 2003 - 2006, including from the Headquarters Battery, 11th Marines and we a deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi won the race in a clean sweep.

Freedom.

Here are Susan’s memories of her Camp Pendleton time: “I served at Camp Pendleton three times in my career.

I wanted to serve on the West coast because I was from the East coast and I was interested in getting to know another part of the country, especially such a beautiful and temperate area. I have so many good memories of Camp Pendleton. I arrived to Camp Pendleton in 1990 after completing The Basic School (TBS) with the idea that I would work in the 1st Marine Division headquarters. Not long after, I received orders to report to 11th Marines to be the adjutant (a captain’s billet) and I would go to Saudi Arabia to meet the regiment.

I served at 11th Marines for three years and it was a great tour full of hard work, a steep learning curve and lifelong friendships.

One of my best memories of Camp Pendleton is meeting at the San Luis Rey Officers Club at a large table in the corner where a rotating group of us from our TBS class 8

| Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

Another great memory is the many beautiful trails near Las Pulgas and Mainside, and the fragrant flowers and bushes all along those trails on many early morning runs.

Finally, I loved riding my bike to work from Carlsbad to Las Pulgas in the early mornings. The ride home was much more arduous after a long day at work!”

1st Lt. Susan Seaman swimming in summer (1992) as part of the 11th Marines team at the annual Camp Pendleton 24-hour swim. 11th Marines came in first that year, in no small part due to 1st Lt. Seaman’s Division I swimming experience. camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Phyllis bourque Sgt., USMC 1962-1967

Phyllis joined the Marine Corps in 1962 upon graduation from high school. Following boot camp, she remained at Parris Island, S.C., and was assigned as permanent personnel in Depot Property Control where records of all property valued at $25 or more were kept. She had a civilian supervisor there who told her to ask a question as many times as necessary for her to understand the answer; she says that still works for her.

From there, Phyllis was re-assigned to the Woman Recruit Training Battalion to work in property maintenance and control. She began bowling at Parris Island and participated in the All-Marine tournament where she placed second. On leaving that assignment for duty at Camp Pendleton, Phyllis received quite a surprise, a Meritorious Mast from the Commanding Officer, Col. Dorothy Knox.

At Camp Pendleton Phyllis was assigned to the

Woman Marine Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion, working in police and property maintenance.

She continued to bowl and, Sgt. Phyllis Bourque after her promotion to along with sergeant. four other women Marines, won three straight tournaments while competing against other military teams.

Phyllis served four and one-half years in the Marine Corps and attained the rank of sergeant. Thereafter, she settled in Northern San Diego County and became involved in Youth Bowling. She has coached and mentored hundreds, if not thousands, of youngsters over some fifty years. During that time, she has also held many offices in the adult bowling programs and has received many accolades and tributes in recognition of her service to the bowling community.

Phyllis has been a member of the CA-7 Chapter, Women Marines Association for quite some time.

During the past few years, she volunteered her time and shared her veteran bowling connections in support of the chapter’s sponsorship of Wreaths Across America. Phyllis recently left California to reside on the East Coast to be closer to her family.

Cpl. Phyllis Bourque during promotion to sergeant. camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 9

veronica bradley Sgt., USMC 1943-1946

Veronica Bradley enlisted in the Marine Corps on March 16, 1943 and was about one of the 25 women selected in New York for the first round of recruitment for the newly formed Marine Corps Women’s Reserve.

Walking to her job on Wall Street, she saw a picture hanging in a store window of a woman wearing a Marine Corps hat. She wanted to know how to get one of the hats - the hat drew her in - so she wrote down the phone number on the poster. When she called the number, she was offered to enlist in the

newly formed Marine Corps Women’s Reserve.

After enlisting, she went to boot Sgt. Veronica Bradley, US Marine Corps camp at Hunter College (Bronx, NY) followed by additional aircraft mechanic training at the University of Indiana (Marine Training Detachment) before being assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara, Calif.

While at the air station, she was photographed standing by an aircraft in a Marine uniform and that hat. Unbeknownst to her, she was chosen to be the subject of an iconic Marine Corps recruiting poster, “Be a Marine. Free a Marine to fight.”

Veronica was in the Marine Corps for three years and honorably discharged in 1946. “The best thing I ever did was go into the Marine Corps,” Bradley said.

Veronica “Ronnie” Bradley, of New Milford, was among one of the first women to join the U.S. Marine Corps. She later became the subject of a recruitment poster to get other women to join the Marines. Photo courtesy of Carol Kaliff / Hearst Connecticut Media

Veronica died on Feb. 25, 2018, soon after receiving the World War II Victory Medal and the Connecticut Wartime Service Medal.

Have you picked up your copy?

The 56-page commemorative magazine, celebrating the 75th anniversary of service of Camp Pendleton women Marines was published by the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce on Monday, Aug. 13.

Print copies of this free magazine are available at the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce (928 N. Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054) and aboard Camp Pendleton.

An online version can be accessed via: issuu.com/oceansidechamber/docs/2018cp_womenmarinesmag_finallr_issu 10 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

lily brockmeier Sgt., USMC 1981-1990

Sgt. Lily (Chow) Brockmeier served from 1981-1990 in the U.S. Marine Corps, ultimately making the rank of sergeant. Her career included five years at Camp Pendleton. Upon completing boot camp and Communication Center Operator School at 29 Palms, Calif., she became a MOS 2542, Communications Center Operator.

In January 1982, she reported to her first operational assignment with Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division where she would serve a little over two years.

Brockmeier recalled many opportunities that were afforded her during her time serving with 1st Marine Division. As a field Comm Center Operator, she participated in a variety of field exercises, both on and off base, including Nuclear Weapons Accident Exercise (NUWAX), a joint DoD/DoE/FEMA exercise held at the Nevada Test Site, April – May 1983, Gallant Knight in June 1984 at Fort Bragg, N.C., and other smaller exercises. She also participated in a hostage crisis exercise, roleplaying a civilian hostage who was rescued by helicopter crews.

to corporal a few months later.

In January 1985, she returned to active duty and was Cpl. Brockmeier on the rifle range. assigned to 9th Communications Battalion as the battalion Training Non-Commissioned Officer, where she was again meritoriously promoted, this time to sergeant, in May 1986. Sgt. Brockmeier was one of five women Marines who attended the NCO Course in June 1986 at Camp Pendleton, graduating 11th of 50. A year later, she re-enlisted in the Marine Corps.

To balance her professional skills, she also played volleyball on the 1st Marine Division and 9th Communications Battalion teams and briefly with the 9th Communications Bn softball team.

An even more memorable, extracurricular highlight was performing as a member of an all-women Marine trick drill team, where they performed at the Oceanside Parade in 1982. She fondly recalled the excitement they felt performing in Cpl. Brockmeier attending a Marine Corps She was meritoriously promoted Birthday Ball at Camp Pendleton. front of a large audience with taps on to lance corporal in early 1983. their black oxford shoes so that their Soon thereafter, Brockmeier was selected as the steps could be heard; and members of the drill team Marine of the Quarter (MOQ) and subsequently struggling to kept their bearing even when they heard nominated for the Division MOQ. Although not “smile” throughout the parade. selected, she was invited to join the 1st Marine Division Band aboard the USS New Orleans where As a young Marine in 1983, Brockmeier recalls she had the opportunity to visit Acapulco and to being invited to her first Women Marines Association experience the Navy’s shipboard lifestyle.

(WMA) banquet held at the South Mesa Staff NCO Club. At this event, she recalls meeting women In July 1984, she transferred to a reserve unit, Marines who were veterans of World War II, Korea, Headquarters & Service Company, 4th Medical Bn, and Vietnam eras, those who paved the way for 4th Marine Division in San Diego and was promoted women Marines who followed. camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 11

grace a. carle Sgt. Maj., USMC (Ret) (1943-1976)

Sgt. Maj. Grace A. Carle became the sixth and last Sergeant Major of Women Marines in ceremonies held at Marine Barracks, Washington, District of Columbia, on April 30, 1974.

Born in Yankton, S.D., she graduated from Pender High School, Pender, Neb., in 1940. She enlisted in the Marine Corps in April 1943 and was a member of the last regiment trained at Hunter College, N.Y. During World War II, she saw service at Headquarters Marine Corps and in Hawaii. She was released from active duty in November 1945.

The all-woman Volunteer Training Unit which she joined in 1948 became the nucleus of the WR Platoon, 13th Infantry Battalion and was mobilized in 1950 at the beginning of the Korean War. Before leaving for San Francisco, she, along with others in the platoon, was ordered to the home armory for two weeks active duty during which the women helped the men to pack and to get their paperwork in order.

Initially, she served in San Francisco as a Reservist and then integrated into the Regular Marine Corps in 1951.

Other duty assignments took her to El Toro, Parris Island, Camp Pendleton, and to New Orleans, as assistant to

Grace A. Carle, Sergeant Major of Women Marines.

Official Marine Corps photo

the woman officer selection officer. She served as First Sergeant of the Woman Marine Companies at Camp Lejeune and on Okinawa. At the time of her selection as Sergeant Major of Women Marines, she was Sergeant Major, Woman Officer School, Quantico.

At the end of her tour as Sergeant Major of Women Marines, a woman Marine mess night was held at the Sheraton Hotel on Oct. 29, 1976, an occasion attended by women Marine officers and enlisted, from all East Coast posts. The next day, upon retirement, she was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal and honored at parade at the Marine Barracks, 8th and I Streets, Washington, District of Columbia.

Sgt. Maj. Carle currently resides in Lemon Grove, Calif.

Retired Sgt. Maj. Grace Carle with Staff Sgt. Hillary Aguirre at the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce 75th anniversary magazine release event, Aug. 13, 2018.

Photo by Deb Hellman

12 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

karla cervantes Staff Sgt., USMC 1995-2003

Staff Sgt. Karla Lucia Cervantes served eight years in the Marine Corps from 1995 until 2003. During her career in the Marines, she held military occupational specialties (MOS) of MOS 0121 Personnel Clerk and MOS 0659 Data Chief. Staff Sgt. Cervantes served at Camp Pendleton for 4-1/2 years from December 1998 through June 2003, having served with 9th Communications Battalion. She recalls her time at Camp Pendleton: “I served in the Marine Corps from March 1995 to June 2003. During my first enlistment, I served as a Personnel Clerk, MOS 0121. I changed military occupational specialties (MOS) when I re-enlisted in 1999 to communications (MOS 0659) and was assigned to 9th Communications Battalion (9th Comm Bn) aboard Camp Pendleton.

While with 9th Comm Bn, I was assigned to Charlie Company and deployed to Bahrain from July 2002 until December 2002 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). I was married at the time; my husband is a civilian and never served in the military.

In our case, he was the dependent that stayed home while also working and caring for our four year old son while I was deployed. The hardest thing for me as a deployed mother, was not the deployment itself but having to leave my child at such a young age and not knowing if you will see him again. Needless to say, there was no technology as today back then so there were no pictures and only voice calls every other week to my family.

Upon my return I decided to get out of the Corps but I was subject to stop-loss due to OEF and remained on active duty. I was selected to deploy once again and left for Japan, awaiting orders back to theater. I camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Boot camp photo, 1995.

trained Marines from 7th Communications Battalion in preparation for deployment and was actually returned home to the States once Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) started in March 2003. Shortly after stop-loss was lifted, I left active duty as a staff sergeant.

I have worked in the contracting business since leaving the Marine Corps, primarily aboard Camp Pendleton. I have another daughter, who was born in 2007. My son who is now 20 and is about to start his third year at UC Berkeley. My husband and I have been married for 22 years.

Family portrait of Sgt. Cervantes with her husband and son.

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 13

Carmen E. (spruell) Cole

Chief Warrant Officer 3, USMC (Ret) 1980-2001

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Carmen E. (Spruell) Cole, a native of Milwaukee, Wis. with roots in Louisville, Mo., began her military career enlisting in the Marine Corps in November 1980. She completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD), Parris Island S.C., in June 1981 and was trained as a motor transport maintenance mechanic at Camp Johnson, Jacksonville, N.C. From 1981 until 1988, as a lance corporal through sergeant, she had tours of duty at Camp Lejeune, N.C., MCRD Parris Island (as a Drill Instructor and Senior Drill Instructor) and Okinawa, Japan. She was also on the All-Marine Track Team in 1982 and 1983.

Her Camp Pendleton time began in 1988 with 7th Motor Transport Maintenance Battalion at Camp Pendleton, Calif.; she served as a Platoon Sergeant and Marine Corps Integrated Maintenance Management System (MIMMS) clerk. In 1990 she was promoted to staff sergeant and became the first female Motor Transport Maintenance Shop Chief in the battalion. In 1993 she was selected to be a warrant officer, becoming the first female in Marine Corps history to be a Motor Transport Maintenance Officer.

After warrant officer school and MOS training, she was assigned a Motor Transport Maintenance Officer and assigned to operational commands at Beaufort, S.C. and Okinawa, Japan. She was the Inspector-Instructor (I&I) at Detachment-2, 4th Maintenance Battalion in Augusta, Ga., becoming the first female I&I to command the active duty staff in support of a Marine Reserve unit.

14 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Carmen Cole at Officers Spring Soiree, April 1998.

In 2001, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Cole retired from the Marine Corps and became the Senior Marine Instructor of Marine Corps Junior ROTC, at Butler High School, Augusta, Ga., becoming their first female MCJROTC instructor in their 30-year history. She was selected as Teacher of the Year in 2007.

In 2010 she relocated to Marine Corps Junior ROTC Headquarters Marine Corps Base, Quantico,Va. to become the Marine Corps Junior ROTC Instructional Systems Specialist (ISS). In 2011 she became the first female to be the Operations Manager for Marine Corps Junior ROTC programs. In 2017 Carmen became the Operations and Instructional Support Branch Manager of four Regions with 268 MCJROTC programs.

Carmen is currently the National Montford Point Marine Assoc. Inc. Quantico Chapter No.32 President and National Recording Secretary. She is an active member of the Virginia-1 Chapter, Women Marines Association, and the Marine Corps League Mickey Finn Detachment #333. camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Charlotte Conover

Master Gunnery Sgt., USMC (Ret) 1969-1994 Originally from Philadelphia, Pa., Master Gunnery Sgt. Charlotte Conover enlisted in the Marine Corps on Oct. 9, 1969. After graduation from boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD), Parris Island, S.C., she received her military occupational specialty (MOS) training at Parris Island and became a MOS 0151 Administrative Clerk. She reported to her first duty station, Camp Lejeune, N.C., in 1970.

From private through master sergeant (1970 - 1992), Charlotte served in various operational units and bases and stations throughout the Marine Corps and worldwide to include Hawaii, Pico Rivera (Inspector - Instructor duty with 23rd Marines), Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni (Japan), MCAS El Toro (Marine Aircraft Group 46), Headquarters Marine Corps (Manpower Management Enlisted Assignments), and MCAS Yuma (Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13). During various assignments, she was also on the All-Marine Bowling team.

Master Gunnery Sgt. Charlotte Conover

important administrative position during the tours of four Sergeants Major of the Marine Corps: Sgt. Maj. Dailey, Sgt. Maj Puckett, Sgt. Maj. Black, and Sgt. Maj. Massaro.

Master Gunnery Sgt. Conover is a resident of Oceanside, Calif. She is a Life Member of the Edith Macias Vann CA-7 Southern California Chapter of the Women Marines Association.

From Leatherneck Magazine of the Marines - 1943

Departing MCAS Yuma, Ariz., she reported to the 1st Force Service Support Group (1st FSSG) at Camp Pendleton, Calif. in February 1992 for assignment as the Group Administrative Chief in the G-1 Section.

She was promoted to master gunnery sergeant the same year. Master Gunnery Sgt. Conover oversaw eight (8) Marines in the performance of their G-1 administrative and personnel duties and held that key administrative position until December 1994 when she retired from the Marine Corps, after 25 years of active duty service in the Corps.

A highlight during her Marine Corps career was while she was assigned to Fleet Marine Pacific at Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii; she was selected to work directly for the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps in Washington, District of Columbia. She held that camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 15

victoria evans Sgt. Maj., USMCR (Ret) 1988-2017

Sgt. Maj. Victoria Evans retired from the Marine Corps in 2017 after 24 years of both active and reserve service and fondly remembers her time at Camp Pendleton.

Cpl. Victoria Evans served as an air traffic controller (MOS 7257) aboard Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Camp Pendleton from June 1989-July 1992 and later in a Reserve capacity from 1999 to 2004. Subsequent to that assignment ending in 2004, Victoria was called up for active duty for a special assignment with Marine Corps Tactical System Support Activity (MCTSSA) at Camp Pendleton.

In looking back on her career, Victoria now recognizes significant gender and racial diversity during her time in the Corps. At MCAS Pendleton in the early 1990s, she remembers an African-American woman first sergeant serving as the senior enlisted advisor aboard the Air Station. Not only that, but she remembers recognizing the racial diversity in 1988 at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. while she was going through boot camp.

While serving in the air traffic control field, she also recalls a significant number of women both junior and senior enlisted that served with her. There seemed to be no lack of diversity in her community within the Marine Corps. This theme continued as she remembers her active duty time with Marine Air Command and Control System - Experiment (MACCS-X) aboard MCTSSA in 2005-06. It was then that she served with a woman who was selected in April 2018 as our 12th woman Marine

Sgt. Maj. Evans being re-enlisted by her son who is administering the oath of enlistment.

16 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

Sgt. Maj. Evans (middle) promotion to sergeant major by her son (with her daughter to her left).

general officer as the first African-American woman Marine Corps general, Col. Lorna Mahlock.

One of her fondest memories during her MCAS Camp Pendleton tour occurred during a visit by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Al Gray.

She recalls an encounter with the Commandant when he took the opportunity to hold her baby boy. This baby ultimately grew up to become a Marine officer, himself.

But, not to be outdone, her daughter also became a Marine Corps officer, both of them having been born aboard base at the Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital during her tour at MCAS Camp Pendleton.

Her Marine Corps legacy continues with her two children. Her son is presently a Marine Corps captain.

He graduated from Purdue University on a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship and then became an infantry officer. He previously served with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines and is now on staff at The Basic School. He was able to promote Victoria to sergeant major after he was commissioned.

Her daughter attended University of Illinois, and then chose to be a Marine Corps officer. She was the retiring officer for her mother in 2017. She is currently in flight training in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Sgt. Maj. Evans renders the first salute to her daughter, a Marine Corps second lieutenant. camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Barbara Farrell

Sgt. Maj., USMC (Ret) 1964-1994 Sgt. Maj. Barbara Farrell was born in Winnipeg, Canada. She was enlisted in the Marine Corps in April 1964 in Detroit, Mich. and reported for boot camp to Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) at Parris Island, S.C. After boot camp, she remained at Parris Island as an MOS 0100 Basic Administrative Marine working at Recruit Classification.

Her other duty stations included Hawaii, Detroit, Quantico, Atlanta, and then to Camp Pendleton, Calif. in 1975 where she was assigned to the Administrative Assistance Team, Headquarters and Service Battalion (H&S Bn), Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Pendleton. In 1977 she was transferred to Okinawa, Japan, serving as the Administration Chief for the Provost Marshall Office.

As a gunnery sergeant, she returned back to Camp Pendleton in 1978 and was assigned to H&S Bn as the Personnel/Administrative Chief in the Base Order Writing Section. Next, Gunnery Sgt. Farrell served the Administrative Chief with Corrections Battalion, MCB Camp Pendleton and served in that capacity until she was selected to first sergeant. In 1980, she was the first woman Marine to be assigned to the Assault Amphibian School, Schools Battalion at Camp Del Mar aboard Camp Pendleton.

In 1986 she was transferred to 2nd Force Service Support Group (FSSG) and assigned as the First Sergeant of Bridge Company and Headquarters and Service Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion.

During this assignment, she was the Detachment Sergeant Major for a NATO exercise that took place in Norway, Denmark and Germany. While in Germany, she was promoted to sergeant major.

Returning to Camp Pendleton in 1988 after a tour in camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Sgt. Maj. Barbara Farrell (right) assumes Sergeant Major duties for Headquarters and Support Battalion at the Post and Relief ceremony at the 11 Area Parade Field, Camp Pendleton, June 1990

Okinawa, she was assigned as the Sergeant Major for 1st Medical Battalion, 1st FSSG. In 1989, she became the Sergeant Major of Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity, a technical unit consisting of both male and female Marines. In 1990, she was selected to be the sergeant major for the largest West Coast battalion, H&S Bn, MCB Camp Pendleton. During this tour, she was heavily involved and committed to the support of I Marine Expeditionary Force personnel deployed to Southwest Asia and Somalia and the enormous challenges associated with mobilization of the Marine Corps Reserve.

Sgt. Maj. Farrell retired from the Marine Corps in April 1994 after 30 years of service. She joined the Edith Macias Vann Southern California CA Chapter (CA-7) of the Women Marines Association and has been an active member for over 20 years while she was on active duty and after she retired from the Corps.

Sgt. Maj. Farrell resides in Murrieta, Calif.

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 17

judy (Lieblein) freeman

Sgt., USMC 1982-1989

There were not many women who wanted to ride over the years I was a member. When I started, women always rode as either the American or Marine Corps flag bearer. They were never a Guard carrying the NCO sword but shortly after we were authorized and I loved riding as the Right Guard. There were no regulations I knew of at the time that said we could not.

Cpl. Lieblein on Bonnacia w/Sgt. Freeman (future husband).

I was stationed at Camp Pendleton from July 1983-August 1987 and September 1988 - October 1989 (with one year in Okinawa, 1987-1988). All of my time at Camp Pendleton was spent with the MUX Platoon, Communication Company, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division except for a few months I was on temporary additional duty at the base stables working with the mounted color guard before going to Okinawa in 1987.

I joined the Camp Pendleton Mounted Color Guard (CPMCG) in the fall of 1983 as a lance corporal after volunteering at the base stables while learning how to ride. I became the Non-Commissioned in Charge (NCOIC) shortly after being promoted to corporal.

There was a high turnover rate within the CPMCG because it was volunteer and required a lot of time on weekends and holidays to get all our riding gear, horses, and uniforms ready for parades.

On the rare weekends there were not any parades, we were practicing or exercising our horses. We had parades all over Southern California, including the color guard for Maj. Gen. Robert Haebel (base commanding general) when he retired and for the Marine Corps Birthday celebration on the 13 Area football field before all of the construction.

18 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

I met my husband at the base stables and recruited him to join the CPMCG and he became the NCOIC the following year. I had almost 5 years with the CPMCG and still had a small part after coming back from Okinawa since my husband was still a part until the CPMCG was disbanded in July 1995.

I also played volleyball on the Headquarters Bn, 1st Marine Division team in the Marine Corps Regional Championships in 1985 (Camp Pendleton) and for Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego in 1986 and 1987. We were team champions all of those years.

I was honorably discharged in October 1989 as Sgt. Lieblein (a twin sister Cpl. Lieblein). My husband, Gunnery Sgt. Freeman, (then-Sgt. Freeman in the pictures) retired in July 2001; we’ve been married for 32 years.

The Camp Pendleton Mounted Color Guard at the Ranch House, 1988 camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Maria Elena (gandara) gamboa Cpl., USMC 1985-1989

I lived in the Los Angeles area when I enlisted in the Marines. In February 1986, I was assigned to Recruit Field Training Division (RFTD) in the 52 Area aboard Camp Pendleton, which reported to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego. During this time, this is where Marine recruits received their field training, grenade, infiltration course, navigation, and then they would go to Edson Range to get their rifle qualification. Since then, all of this training was moved to Edson Range.

I was the Admin Clerk at RFTD. I handled the Service Record Books, Page 11 (Administrative) entries, and typed the training schedules for all training modules that the Drill Instructors used to train recruits. Policy was that all permanent personnel had to go thru the infiltration course just like the recruits. I also was offered the opportunity to rappel....oh how I miss it!

I had just been promoted to corporal on Jan. 2, 1989, when on Jan. 26, 1989 I was in a terrible automobile

Lance Cpl. Maria Gandara

accident. I was hit head on by a drunk driver coming back aboard Camp Pendleton from Fallbrook with my 2-year old son. After many months of physical therapy, I was transferred to the disability list on Nov. 22, 1989; I am presently 100 percent disabled.

Despite this disability, I am an avid volunteer and belong to the Marine Corps League (MCL), Elk Grove Detachment 1238, where I’ve held many offices from Paymaster to Commandant of my detachment and enjoy supporting our fundraising events. I also belong to the American GI Forum, Cesar Chavez Sacramento Chapter.

Lance Cpl. Gandara going through the Infiltration Course in the 52 Area, Camp Pendleton. camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 19

phyllis (shaw) ghio Sgt., USMC 1943-1945

Phyllis (Shaw) Ghio was born in October 1922 in Portland, Ore. and grew up in Southern California (Los Angeles area). Phyllis enlisted in the Marine Corps in July 1943 and went to boot camp at Camp Lejeune, N.C. After completing boot camp, she received orders to the West coast (although she wanted to be stationed on the East coast). Taking the troop train to the West coast and arriving in California, she was one the first (95) women Marines to report to Camp Pendleton on Oct. 26, 1943.

Phyllis noted that when they arrived at Camp Pendleton, they were billeted (housed) in Quonset huts - six women Marines to a hut - until they moved into the refinished women’s barracks located in the 24 Area.

Assigned to the Headquarters Company, Marine Corps Women’s Reserve Battalion, Marine Barracks, Camp Joseph H. Pendleton, Phyllis worked in the Company office as an administrative clerk and was in charge of typing the unit muster roll. She explained that the muster roll had to be absolutely perfect with no mistakes otherwise she would have to re-type a new muster roll.

Phyllis also worked in the Post Exchange (PX) briefly. During her time in the Marine Corps, she also helped to sell War Bonds, accompanied by a Marine

Phyllis Shaw, boot camp, 1943.

Corps jazz band from Camp Pendleton.

Phyllis was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in December 1945 and moved to Honolulu, Hawaii and worked for the American President Lines for two years before moving back to San Diego.

Phyllis resides in La Jolla, Calif.

Sgt. Phyllis Shaw holding a flag during a ceremony at Camp Pendleton circa, 1944.

20 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

annie L. grimes

Chief Warrant Officer, USMC (Ret) 1950-1970 Annie Laurie Grimes was born in Arlington, Tennessee and graduated from high school in Tennessee in 1946. She went on to Ray Vogue Trade School where she completed coursework in photography in Chicago.

Woman Marine Chief Warrant Officer Annie L. Grimes receives her certificate of retirement from Camp H. M. Smith Commandant, Col. Robert G. Lauffer, during ceremonies at the Oahu, Hawaii headquarters of FMFPac, Sept. 30, 1970. Official Marine Corps photo.

On Feb. 2, 1950, she became the third AfricanAmerican woman to enlist in the Marine Corps and was integrated with other women recruits at Parris Island, S.C. Upon completion of recruit training the following May, Annie was promoted to private first class. She served as a procurement clerk with the Supply Branch at Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps until May 1953. During this tour of duty, she was promoted to corporal, sergeant and staff sergeant.

Immediately following transfer to the West Coast, Staff Sgt. Grimes was promoted to technical sergeant and served as Procurement Chief, Marine Corps Depot of Supplies (later known as the Marine Corps Supply Forwarding Annex), San Francisco, Calif. through January 1958.

In February, she assumed duties as Procurement Chief at Camp Pendleton, California, and served in that position until August 1962. While there, she was promoted to gunnery sergeant.

She served in that same capacity with the Marine Corps Supply Activity in Philadelphia. She completed the Senior Supply Chief Course at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and returned to Philadelphia where she was assigned an additional MOS 3049, Comptroller. camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

During her tour as Procurement Chief at Camp Lejeune, she was promoted to Master Sergeant and then Warrant Officer. With her selection and promotion to warrant officer, she was the first AfricanAmerican woman to achieve this rank.

Warrant Officer Grimes was ordered to Marine Corps Supply Center, Barstow, California and was assigned to Material Division. While at Barstow, she was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer in 1969.

Chief Warrant Officer Grimes was transferred to Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, Camp Smith, Hawaii in January 1970 and was assigned duty with the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4.

With her retirement on Oct. 1, 1970, she became the first African-American woman to retire as an officer after a full 20-year career. As the first black woman Marine officer, Grimes holds a position of honor in the nation’s history.

Commenting on her career, Chief Warrant Officer Grimes said, “Looking back, I thoroughly enjoyed my career. I made many lifelong friends.”

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 21

lillian (hagener) Bell

Lt. Col., USMC (Ret) 1953-1992 Lt. Col. Lillian “Lil” (Hagener) Bell was the youngest of the first set of twins born in Silverdale, Wash. She graduated from Central Kitsap High School in 1946 and worked for the telephone company for eight years before joining the United States Marine Corps in 1953.

WHO’S IN CHARGE - When Marine Gunnery Sgt. William D. Bell met Marine Sgt. Lillian Hagener and decided to marry her a year ago he figured he had the situation well in hand because he was senior by one stripe. This year the Marine Corps chose one woman to elevate to warrant officer. It was Staff Sgt. Hagener (who else?).

Here Bell pins the bars on his wife. She is the 12th Marine warrant officer in the nation and now outranks her husband. AP Wirephoto from The Arizona Republic newspaper, April 2, 1965

Lil was commissioned as one of the first women officers in the Marine Corps. She and her husband, Sgt. Maj. William D. Bell, made the newspapers in 1965 after she was promoted from sergeant to warrant officer as “he would now have to salute his wife”.

As a captain, Lil held the position of Commanding Officer, WM (Woman Marine) Company, Headquarters Battalion, Headquarters Regiment, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton from August 1971 until August 1973. She retired from the Marine Corps as a lieutenant colonel in 1992.

She had a collection of covers (hat) for nearly every uniform worn by women Marines during several decades she was in the Marine Corps, from the 1950s through the 1980s.

After retiring, Lil remained busy volunteering as an “ambassador” to Oceanside, at the Oceanside Visitors Center, and at the Oceanside Library where she was a “Friend of the Library.”

Lillian Bell passed away on Oct. 23, 2016.

Pride in Appearance...a Marine Corps Tradition

22 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Courtesy of Leatherneck Magazine of the Marines

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 23

24 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 25

TherEsa M. hayes Lt. Col., USMC (Ret) 1953-1973

After living in upper New York State, Theresa “Terry” Hayes moved to San Diego, Calif. in 1951 and joined the Marine Corps in 1953. A college graduate, she was commissioned a second 2nd Lt. Theresa Hayes supervises a written examination at Camp Pendleton, where she serves as Information and Education Officer. Official Marine Corps photo. lieutenant in the Marine Corps the same year after attending officer candidate school at Quantico, Va. After being commissioned, she Professional highlights of her career included: attended follow on woman officer training and was • as a first lieutenant, she was the Commanding assigned the military occupational specialty (MOS) as Officer, Company A, Headquarters and Service Adjutant (MOS 0130).

Battalion, Fleet Marine Force Pacific, U. S. Naval Base, Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii from December Theresa’s first duty station was Camp Joseph H. 1955 through January 1956; Pendleton; she was at Camp Pendleton from 1953 • as a captain, she was the Commanding Officer, through 1955 and assigned to Woman Marine Woman Recruit Training Company, Women Company, Headquarters Battalion, Marine Barracks, Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Camp Pendleton, Calif., as the Information and Depot, Parris Island, S.C. from November 1956 Education Officer of the Special Services Activity, through December 1957 Base Activities. She returned to Camp Pendleton • as a major, she was the Commanding Officer, seventeen years later as a lieutenant colonel in 1972, Woman Marine Company, Headquarters and assigned to Headquarters and Service Battalion, MCB Service Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Camp Pendleton as the Adjutant and remained here San Diego, Calif. from December 1959 through until 1973.

January 1963 • as a lieutenant colonel, she was the Commanding Officer, Woman Officer School, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Va. from April 1970 through January 1972.

Lt. Col. Hayes retired from the Marine Corps in 1973 after 20 years of service.

After retirement from the Marine Corps, she enjoyed traveling to various parts of the world to include Europe and the Far East.

Reception for the Secretary of the Navy and the Commandant of the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton, 1954. From left to right: Ruth O’Halloran, Sue Smith, Capt. Johnson, Theresa Hayes, and Jenny Wrenn.

26 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

She is a member of the San Diego County CA-2 Chapter of the Women Marines Association. camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Women Marine Units Camp Pendleton 1951 - 1974 Woman Marine Company, Service Battalion, Marine Barracks, Camp Joseph H. Pendleton, California, activated 1 June 1951 • Redesignated Woman Marine Company, Headquarters Battalion, Marine Barracks, Camp Pendleton, California, 20 September 1952 • Redesignated Woman Marine Company, Headquarters Battalion, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California, 1954 • Redesignated Woman Marine Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, 21 January 1958 • Redesignated WM Company, Headquarters Battalion, Headquarters Regiment, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, 1 July 1962 • Deactivated 1 April 1974 COMMANDING OFFICERS Captain Jeanette I. Sustad 1 Jun 1951 - 27 Aug 1952 Second Lieutenant Valeria F. Hilgart 28 Aug 1952 - 29 Nov 1952 Second Lieutenant Catherine M. Gregory 30 Nov 1952 - 27 Mar 1953 Captain Frances M. Johnson 28 Mar 1953 - 6 Sep 1954 Second Lieutenant Ruth J. O’Holleran 7 Sep 1954 - 3 Dec 1955 Captain Jenny Wrenn 4 Dec 1955 - 28 Feb 1957 First Lieutenant Dorothy A. Olds 1 Mar 1957 - 10 Mar 1957 Captain Marguerita C. Russell 11 Mar 1957 - 26 Jan 1958 Captain Clarabelle M. Merritt 27 Jan 1958 - 10 Jan 1960 Captain Martha A. Cox 11 Jan 1960 - 19 Sep 1961 Captain Shirley L. Mink 20 Sep 1961 - 9 Oct 1963 Major Florence E. Land 10 Oct 1963 - 4 Jul 1964 First Lieutenant Carla H. Bednar 5 Jul 1964 - 1 Dec 1964 First Lieutenant Sara R. Beauchamp 2 Dec 1964 - 1 Mar 1965 First Lieutenant Jolana Johnson 2 Mar 1965 - 1 Oct 1966 Captain Estella C. Rhodes 2 Oct 1966 - 30 Jun 1967 Captain Mary S. Stevens League 1 Jul 1967 - 2 Dec 1968 Captain Anna H. Williams 3 Dec 1968 - 2 Jul 1969 Captain Sharyll A. B. Plato 3 Jul 1969 - 9 Sep 1969 Captain Anna H. Williams 10 Sep 1969 - 19 Nov 1969 Second Lieutenant Alice F. Jones 20 Nov 1969 - 30 Dec 1969 Captain Barbara A. Schmidt 31 Dec 1969 - 29 Nov 1970 Major Georgia L. Swickheimer 30 Nov 1970 - 6 Apr 1971 First Lieutenant Sue E. Vanhaastert 7 Apr 1971 - 19 Jul 1971 Second Lieutenant Roberta M. Baro 20 Jul 1971 - 2 Aug 1971 Captain Lillian Hagener 3 Aug 1971 - 16 Aug 1973 Captain Nancy J. Lewis Hackett 17 Aug 1973 - 12 Jan 1974 First Lieutenant Donna M. Hug 11 Jan 1974 - 10 Feb 1974 First Lieutenant Maria T. Hernandez 11 Feb 1974 - 1 Apr 1974 Source: A History of the Women Marines 1946-1977 by Col Mary V. Stremlow History and Museums Division, Washington D.C., 1986 2nd Lt. Ruth J. O’Holloran stands before her company of Woman Marines at a Camp Pendleton parade, December 1955. Official Marine Corps photo.

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

| 27

anna (Orlando) hopkins Staff Sgt., USMC 1949-1952

Born in Dickerson Run, Pa. on Feb. 9, 1926, Anna Orlando enlisted in the Marine Corps on May 16, 1949 while working as a civil service employee at Headquarters, Marine Corps, Washington, DC. She attended Personnel Administration School after graduating from boot camp at Parris Island, S.C. In May 1950 she was assigned to Yeoman Class B School at the Naval Training Center, San Diego; 15 women Marines attended Yeoman School along with WAVES and male Marines and Sailors. Anna was part of the first Armed Forces Unification Parade in San Diego in May 1950.

She was transferred to Headquarters, Department of the Pacific, San Francisco after graduation from Yeoman School. In 1951, she was transferred to Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, Calif. assigned as secretary to the commanding officer of Service Battalion.

Anna Orlando, boot camp, 1949.

Anna was married at the Ranch House Chapel at Camp Pendleton on June 25, 1952. She was discharged from the Marine Corps as a staff sergeant on June 27, 1952.

Anna was a library technician for the Carlsbad Unified School District, Carlsbad, Calif. for 13 years. In 1981, she went back to civil service with the Marines at Camp Pendleton and retired from civil service in 1988.

During her time as secretary to Col. Barbara Weinberger, Commanding Officer, Support Battalion, MCB Camp Pendleton, some of her cartoon sketches were published in the Pendleton Scout newspaper.

Anna was a member of the Women Marines Association, a volunteer at the Historical Society Museum at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, and a Docent at the Santa Margarita Ranch House and Chapel at Camp Pendleton.

Cpl. Clarice Van Hooser, Pfc.Miram Thomas, Cpl. Nancy Stock, Sgt. Anna Orlando and Pfc. Dorothy Lognion take the place of a regular tank crew for the photo at Camp Pendleton on Dec. 27, 1951. Official Marine Corps photo.

28 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

Highlights included being able to travel; working for some of the finest people she has ever met while serving in the Marine Corps; and experiencing her first hurricane while in boot camp. She is very proud to have been a Marine. camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Art by AnnA (Orlando) hopkins

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 29

charlene (Summers) itchkawich Lt. Col., USMC (Ret) 1964-1984

Lt. Col. Charlene S. (Summers) Itchkawich was stationed at Camp Pendleton on two separate occasions during her career in the Marine Corps. Her first tour of duty at Camp Pendleton was from 1966 until 1967; the second tour was from 1981 until 1984.

Lt. Summers was the Adjutant of Base Material Battalion, MCB Camp Pendleton from 1966 - 1967.

While at Camp Pendleton, she received orders in February 1967 to report to a Marine Security Guard (MSG) battalion, thus becoming the first woman Marine officer to serve with a MSG unit. She was assigned to Company C, MSG Battalion which at that time had its headquarters in Manila, Philippines.

Lt. Col. Charlene Itchkawich on her retirement in 1984.

In 1981 through 1982, Lt. Col. Itchkawich was the G-l (Admin/ Personnel) Officer for the 1st Force Service Support Group (1st FSSG) and later as the 1st FSSG Human Resources Officer from 1983 until 1984. As Human Resources Officer, she was instrumental in establishing Group’s first substance abuse recovery and education unit.

In 1982, she was the pitcher on Camp Pendleton’s women’s varsity softball team. The team won the 11th Naval District Softball Championship beating the U.S. Navy Balboa team 3-0.

Lt. Col. Itchkawich retired from the Marine Corps in 1984.

Lt. Itchkawich (right) at Camp Pendleton in 1967.

30 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Linamarie (knittle) johnson Cpl., USMC 1988-1993

Envision a Warrior Do you see a pretty face?

Make up done precisely, Hair coiled firmly, neckline showing?

Shiny black heals to save the day?

Gaze into the heart below, A shackled tiger pacing, restless in a graceful cage.

A raging fury ready to explode.

Liberate this vicious fighter.

Boot camp, 1988.

Cpl. Linamarie (Knittle) Johnson was in the Marine Corps from 1988 through 1993. She was a Personnel Administration Clerk (MOS 0151) in the Marine Corps where her main duties included maintenance of individual Marines’ official service record books, a separations auditor, and as the librarian for an aviation squadron.

She served aboard Camp Pendleton from January 1989 until 1992, serving in headquarters units at the 1st Force Service Support Group (1st FSSG) and 1st Marine Division (1st MarDiv). Her parent command was the 1st FSSG but was temporarily assigned to Headquarters, 1st MarDiv for the majority of that tour.

“I always tell people that the “grunts” of 1st Marine Division “raised” me. Without them, my training as a Marine would not have been complete.”

Her last year in the Marine Corps was spent at Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 (VMGR-352), 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro as the squadron librarian.

In September 2012, she wrote a poem celebrating women Marines.

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

She requires only simple things.

A familiar weapon, silent signal, fire-cover, and MREs. She’s at the enemies’ door step, They too believe she’s pretty.

Inviting her in was their mistake.

Now they’re crying out for mercy, “Pleeeease STOP! For Heaven’s sake!”

Cheer up my fellow BAM sisters!

We’re Broad shades of earthy green, Persistent “Asses” in devotion to the Marine Corps Motto and family .

When you see a pretty face in uniform, She has many titles and dreams.

For she’s a mother, daughter, sister, Guardian of your freedoms, Leatherneck and Marine!

Yes! Forever and always a United States Marine.

Semper Fi Linamarie Johnson Cpl. USMC (1988-1993) Sept. 16, 2012

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 31

Mildred Kosanovich Cpl., USMC 1943-1945

Mildred S. Kosanovich enlisted in the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve from June 1943 to December 1945.

She was born in 1914 in a small coal-mining and railroad town in Western Pennsylvania. Her family of Yugoslavian descent resided in Penn Hills, where she decided to become a first grade teacher. She taught for 10 years until 1943, when her patriotism motivated her to join the Marine Corps. Both of her brothers were in the service, one in the Corps, the other in the Navy.

At the time of her enlistment, Kosanovich carried the last name of her former husband, Schikerle. Her peers dubbed her “Chick”, which she went by during much of her enlistment.

After completing recruit training at Camp Lejeune, N.C., she was stationed at Camp Pendleton. On Oct. 26, 1943, the first group of 95 Women’s Reservists arrived at the base for duty. Kosanovich was one of them.

For the first few months, barracks weren’t available for the women, so they were housed at Camp Elliot in San Diego. “We would get up real early every morning to ride a bus to Camp Pendleton. We made the best of it though by singing all the way to work.” Eventually, a women’s barracks was constructed in the 24 Area.

With a teaching background, her first assignment was to establish a library. With limited funds and resources, she and two other schoolteachers created the library that still stands today on Mainside. When her work with the library was done, she was assigned to the chaplain’s office and then special services. “I would go anywhere they sent me with a smile on my face. I took pride in doing even the simplest of tasks, like making coffee.’’

Before long she was sent to work at the Pendleton Scout (newspaper) as the circulation manager. Every week, 32 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

2nd Lt. William T. Kosanovich returned to Camp Pendleton after 14 months in the South Pacific to be greeted by his sister, Pfc. Mildred K. Schikerle.

She was the first member of the WRs he ever had seen. Official Marine Corps photo, 1944

“Chick” would distribute about 10,000 copies of the Scout newspaper and the Stars and Stripes. “Every Monday I’d get the truck loaded up and drive around to 40 different units or so and make my deliveries.” She spent the rest of her time running errands and writing stories for the paper.” They called me their ‘Girl Friday.’

I was doing a little bit of everything at that time.”

She left the Marine Corps as a corporal and returned to teaching in Penn Hills. She eventually earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education. She taught until 1977 when she retired and moved to Bradenton, Fla. Her retirement was short-lived; she soon found volunteer work at a local hospital and elementary school. By 1983 she was back in the classroom as a substitute teacher. Her second retirement came in 1996 at age 80 when she decided the school system wasn’t for her anymore.

Mildred Kosanovich passed away on Jan. 2, 2003.

Excerpt from The Pendleton Scout newspaper article, “History repeats itself…World War II-era pioneer returns to newsroom” by Sgt. Steven F. Gatlin (Feb. 25, 1999) camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Eileen (callAghan) malik Lt. Col., USMC (Ret) 1986-2009

Lt. Col. Eileen (Callaghan) Malik was commissioned in 1986 and served in a variety of operational and support billets with 1st Force Service Support Group (1st FSSG), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3d MAW), Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Headquarters, Marine Corps, and I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF).

After completing The Basic School, she attended military occupational specialty (MOS) training at Camp Johnson, Camp Lejeune, N.C. in 1987 and was assigned MOS 3502 Motor Transport Officer; later in her career, she became a MOS 0402 Logistics Officer.

Aside from operational and staff assignments, Eileen also attended Amphibious Warfare School, USMC Command and Staff College, and the Naval War College.

Eileen served five tours aboard Camp Pendleton over the period of 1987 to 2009 in varying positions from platoon commander and staff officer to executive officer and commanding officer. Specific assignments and units she was assigned to at Camp Pendleton were: • Motor Transport Platoon Commander and Maintenance Management Officer with 1st Landing Support Battalion, 1st FSSG from 1987 through 1990 • Reserve Liaison Officer with the I MEF Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) Detachment from 1996 through 2000 • Commanding Officer and Executive Officer, Reserve Support Unit, Camp Talega, MCB Camp Pendleton from 2001 through 2002 • Reserve Liaison Officer, Senior Watch Officer, and Security Officer, G-1 (Admin/Personnel), I MEF from 2002 through 2004 camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Lt. Col. Malik and son, Sam Brenner attend the I Marine Expeditionary Force Birthday Ball, 2003.

• Reserve Liaison Officer, G-1, I MEF from 2007 through 2009 Eileen played a critical role in Reserve mobilization efforts in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, coordinating and executing the mobilization of over 700 Reserve Marines for active service in support of the Global War on Terror.

While deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I (2002-2003), she was instrumental in developing accurate reporting and accountability of Marine casualty reports which ensured accurate and timely next of kin notification and also provided unit commanders with accurate status of their Marines.

A top performer, both professionally and physically, she set the bar for all those she served as demonstrated by her leadership, mentorship, and support to all Marines, setting a battalion high shooter record on the pistol range, and consistently scoring a 300 (maximum attainable score) on the physical fitness test throughout her career.

Lt. Col. Malik retired in 2009 after 23 years of service.

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 33

mitzi manning

Col., USMC (Ret) 1972-1999

Col. Mitzi Manning spent 27 years in the Marine Corps from June 1972 until October 1999. She was at Camp Pendleton at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Pendleton from 1986 through 1988.

As a major and Air Station Adjutant, she stood up Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron (H&HS), MCAS Camp Pendleton and was selected as its first commanding officer. The position of commanding officer was slated as a military occupational specialty (MOS) 9912 “any aviator” billet but since she had completed all paperwork and manpower coordination between 1987 and 1988 to make it happen, it was decided that she would be the unit’s first commanding officer.

Maj. Mitzi Manning and MAG-39 Chaplain Victor Krulak. Jr. at the H&HS change of command ceremony on Feb. 18, 1988

Maj. Manning took command of H&HS on Feb. 18, 1988. The unit activation ceremony included Crash Crew trucks as part of the “pass in review”. When she rotated to her next duty station at Fleet Marine Forces Atlantic (Norfolk, Va.), she was replaced as commanding officer by a MOS 9912, OV-10 Bronco pilot.

Patricia Halsey-Munroe

Col., USMC (Ret) 1974-2001

Col. Patricia F. Halsey-Munroe, USMCR (Ret) served in the Marine Corps from 1974 through 2001, having numerous tours of duty on active duty (1974-1983) and with the Marine Corps Reserve (1983-2001). She was the Honor Graduate from The Basic School and recipient of the Molly Marine Award. After receiving military occupational specialty (MOS) training, she was assigned as a MOS 4402 Judge Advocate.

Col. Halsey-Munroe was stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif. from 1976 through 1981, assigned to the 1st Marine Division. As a captain, she was the number one rated trial counsel/prosecutor at a time when her caseload was the second largest ever in the Department of Defense. As the Division Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, she was responsible for policies regarding legal assistance programs at Camp Pendleton.

34 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

Drawing of Capt. Patricia Halsey.

Throughout her 27 years of service in the Corps, other assignments included tours at Headquarters, Marine Corps, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, and various judge advocate positions throughout the Navy and Marine Corps. camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

barbara mccurtis

1st Sgt., USMC (Ret) 1976-1998

1st Sgt. Barbara McCurtis enlisted in the Marine Corps in March 1976. Her story of time spent at Camp Pendleton is as follows: “Operation Desert Storm started in December 1990 and I was a gunnery sergeant attached to a reserve unit at Camp Pendleton. The Detachment offices were in the 25 Area (Vado del Rio) of Camp Pendleton. Our mission was to mobilize and process Marines of the Marine Corps Reserve. The Marine Corps had spent years practicing mobilization. The Korean War was the last “official” call up, and when we were activated the processing center opened for business in ten Quonset huts.

The Marines received orders, Service Record Books and legal paperwork. Lawyers counseled them on wills, and the medical team provided shots and physical screening. Dental and medical work were handled by the navy clinics on base and the processed units were staged at one of the outer camps awaiting transportation overseas. We worked “day on stay on” starting before the sun rose and finishing long after dark.

1st Sgt. Barbara McCurtis

Several Marines reported with their families, and many needed help convincing employers that they had to report. Retirees reported needing medical attention.

The war proved to be a short exercise, and the Marine Corps rapidly changed to demobilization. The inactive Marines created a computer program for discharges, and manned the processing center, where we started the whole process again, only in reverse.

The Mobilization Processing Center accomplished its mission; we mobilized the West Coast Reserve Marines in record time, and along the way we became a regular unit manning our place at Camp Pendleton.

We rapidly processed reserve units from the West Coast into January 1991 and then started on the inactive reserve Marines. Most Marines enlisted for six or eight years, and are contracted for four years active duty, with the remainder spent in the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR). Most Marines know they are obligated but many didn’t comprehend the act of mobilization in time of war.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

We knew our jobs and we functioned as a fine oiled machine as only Marine Corps units can. That was the best and I’m proud I was a part of it. We trained Casualty Assistance Officers and watched when they had to do their jobs, and that was the worst. Through it all we proved the Marine Corps Reserve does indeed stand ready.”

Mobilizing the IRR was a big deal. College students arrived after dropping out of school in the middle of a semester; nursing mothers reported with babies in tow.

1st Sgt. Barbara McCurtis retired from the Marine Corps in February 1998 after 22 years of service.

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 35

megan mcclung

Maj., USMC 1995-2006 Born in Hawaii, into a military service family, Megan Malia Leilani McClung grew up in Orange County, Calif. where she graduated from high school in Mission Viejo. She went on to the Naval Academy where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in General Science in 1995.

Megan McClung reported to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton to serve as the Public Affairs Officer and Media Officer in 1996.

Sketch of Maj. Megan McClung, undated.

seven Ironman distance triathlons and won the First Military Female award in Kona, Hawaii in 2000, and As a Marine officer, she served nearly ten years as a placed second the following year and competed in combat correspondent at various duty stations. She the Marine Corps Marathon. Megan organized the remained on reserve duty with first Marine Corps Marathon the Marine Corps and went to (Forward) in Iraq and had work in Bagdad as a private planned the event to coincide contractor with an American with the October 2006 Marine engineering company.

Corps Marathon. The Oct. 29, 2006 marathon race (26.2 miles) In 2005, she was mobilized to was run by Marines in the heat active Marine duty, deploying Maj. Megan McClung and hazards of al-Anbar to honor to Iraq as the Media Relations their fallen comrades.

Officer for the I Marine

“Be brief.

Be bold.

Be gone.”

Expeditionary Force (I MEF) (Forward) team in Anbar Province. Her home unit was the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Pendleton.

She became known for her hard work, professionalism, her red hair and a larger than life personality.

Maj. Megan McClung after being promoted.

An avid athlete, she won many triathlon and marathon championships.

She competed in

36 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

While assigned to the I MEF (Forward) in her last month of deployment, she was killed in downtown Ramada, Anbar Province, Iraq, when a bomb struck her armored HMMWV on Dec. 6, 2006. She had been escorting a Newsweek crew and had, just that morning, picked up Fox News’ Oliver North and his Fox News camera crew. She was 34 years old.

Megan was the first female Marine officer to be killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the first female graduate of the United States Naval Academy to be killed in action.

“I come from a long line of military officers, my father and grandfather were naval officers, and I believe that defending our country is a duty that not only belongs to every man, but to every woman as well.” camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

kathy (parrish) montira Cpl., USMC 1975-1978

The daughter of a Korean Conflict Marine, I always knew I would go into the service when I grew up.

I was actually going to join the Army and go to Germany for 3 years. The recruiters made a bet.

Since the Marine Corps required a higher ASVAB score, it was decided that if I got the higher score, I would join the Marines. If I didn’t make that score, I would join the Army. They also had a case of beer bet, but I didn’t get any of that! I made the higher score - and then some - and enlisted in the Marines in February 1975.

After high school graduation I made my way to Parris Island, S.C. in July 1975 (Platoon 7B) and the only thing I didn’t want to do was sit behind a desk. So much for that - Admin Clerk (MOS 0151) I was! I stayed at Parris Island for Admin School and subsequently received orders to Camp Pendleton, Calif.

It was November 1975 when I arrived at Camp Pendleton. I was a slick-sleeve private assigned to the office of Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3 Operations and Training, Marine Corps Base Pendleton. Being in the Commanding General’s building with the most senior officers of the Base was more than a little intimidating. But I learned a most valuable lesson about the way to treat people when one day the Base Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Carl W. Hoffman, opened the door for me instead of the other way around. His courtesy and respect for me as a young Marine was evident, and shaped me in a way nothing else could have.

My entire experience there taught me how to treat others with respect and kindness, no matter where in life people are….OohRah! While at Camp Pendleton, I also played volleyball for the women Marine’s team. camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Laws and regulations regarding women’s service at the time were not as “kind”….my career was significantly shortened when family and person Pfc. Kathy Parrish, USMC. decisions were made. As a lance corporal, I decided to marry in October 1976 and was discharged in May 1977 due to becoming pregnant. After the birth of my baby, I joined the reserve unit aboard Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California and served there on orders for a year. As a corporal, I was discharged from the Marine Corps Reserve in October 1978 when my husband left active duty. We returned to Nebraska.

My younger brother also served in the Marines as did my middle son. We are a Marine family!

Lance Cpl. Parrish (third from left) participating in a uniform pageant at Camp Pendleton, 1976.

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 37

Kara morin

Master Sgt., USMC (Ret) 1982-2004

Master Sgt. Kara Morin being retired by Chief Warrant Officer 5 Mary Gibbs in front of the 14 Area Installation Personnel Administration Center (IPAC) building, Camp Pendleton, 2004.

Master Sgt. Kara Morin enlisted in the Marine Corps in February 1982. After graduating from boot camp as Honor Graduate of Platoon 3B, Women Recruit Training Regiment, Parris Island, S.C. in May 1982, Lance Cpl. Morin attended Administration School at Camp Johnson, Camp Lejeune, N.C. where she became a MOS 0131 Unit Diary Clerk and MOS 0151 Personnel Clerk.

Her first duty station was Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Ariz. where she served as an administrator with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 and was meritoriously promoted to both corporal and sergeant. In 1985, Sgt. Morin transferred to Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) Parris Island where she served as an administration clerk for Headquarters and Support Battalion. While at Parris Island, she and her family were named Military Family of the Year, and subsequently met President Ronald Reagan who recognized their selection.

Promoted to staff sergeant in 1987, she received orders to Schools Battalion, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, Calif. as a formal schools instructor.

While with Schools Battalion, Staff Sgt. Morin was a member of the 1988 Women’s First Place Skeet Shooting Team, the Women’s 1st Place 24 Hour Marathon Team (1989), and won a Bronze Medal (800m) in the Commanding General’s Intramural Track Meet (1989).

38 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

In 1990, Staff Sgt. Morin was transferred to MACS-1, MCAS Okinawa, Japan. In 1991 she transferred to MCRD San Diego, Calif. where she was assigned as the Depot Accessions Chief and then Administration Chief for 1st Recruit Training Battalion.

Back to Camp Pendleton in 1994, Staff Sgt. Morin was assigned to 1st Force Service Support Group (1st FSSG) where she was the Administration Chief at the Consolidated Admin Center. Promoted gunnery sergeant in 1996, she was subsequently selected to the Marine Corps Equal Opportunity Program in 1997, attended the Defense Equal Opportunity Management School, and then assigned as the Equal Opportunity Advisor to the Commanding General, 1st Force Service Support Group.

Kara was promoted to master sergeant in 1998.

Master Sgt. Morin was selected as the first enlisted member in the Department of Defense to attend the Women in NATO Conference in Brussels Belgium with the US contingent.

In 2000, she transferred to Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, and assigned as the Administration Chief, Base Adjutant and assumed the dual responsibilities with the Marine Corps Base Casualty Assistance Section during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Master Sgt. Morin retired in 2004. camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

daisy (hersey) orr Lance Cpl., USMC 1959-1961

My first airplane flight was to California in September 1959. I was wearing a green and white dress, matching head cover, matching jacket, white gloves, brown dress heels and brown shoulder bag. I loved that uniform. That was still the uniform of the day when I left the Corps in 1961.

I was assigned to the Women Marines Company, Headquarters and Service (H&S) Battalion, along with all the other women Marines at that time. I lived in the Women Marine barracks (Bldg 2441) Port 3 facing the parking lots, tennis courts and Mess Hall. The chow (food) was always very, very good.

Lance Cpl. Daisy Hersey, 1961 Camp Pendleton Rodeo Queen

I was sent to Procurement Branch, H&S Battalion as a supply clerk. We were all one big family working together.

Someone from the 1st Automatic Supply Distribution Battalion of the 1st Force Service Regiment asked me to represent them as the Rodeo Queen. I won by default. The woman first chosen was only 17-1/2 years old not 18. The headline in the Pendleton Scout newspaper read “Woman Marine Lance Corporal Daisy Hersey, 20, has been named Queen of the 1961 Camp Pendleton Rodeo for Navy Relief�.

As Rodeo Queen, I was fortunate to meet Fess Parker on the show and other stars at the Rodeo and gave the welcoming speech on the first day of the Rodeo to over 80,000 people [so I was told later].

Everyone was so happy that weekend. camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Lance Cpl. Jean Jeanquart (Left), Lance Cpl. Daisy Hersey, Pfc. Mary Pearce pose in front of the vehicle that was the prize for the 1961 Camp Pendleton Rodeo.

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 39

Fences come tumbling down In the barracks, on the job, women make strides

By Laura Kaufman, Traditions Magazine Contributor

Everyone knows Marines take care of their own.

But when the first Women Marines (WMs) arrived at Camp Pendleton in the fall of 1950, you might say the Corps went a little overboard, turning the women’s barracks into what one former WM described as a “prisoner-of-war compound”. From 1800 to 0600, guards were posted around the WM barracks. And to save on the number of male personnel needed to secure the area, a chain-link fence was erected. The duty NCO locked the gate at night and you had to take a liberty card to check off of the base”, said former Staff Sgt. Anna (Orlando) Hopkins who arrived at Pendleton in 1951. “‘Lights out were 10 o’clock but you could stay up in the lounge a little longer.”

Many WMs stationed at Pendleton in the early 1950s were assigned to the same wooden barracks in 24 Area (near the base headquarters in the vicinity of the junction of Vandegrift Boulevard and Basilone Road) that had been occupied by their predecessors - the Women Reserves - during World War II. By August 1943, the women’s barracks were complete, with enough room to accommodate 600 enlisted and 40 officers.

Throughout World War II, “Free a Marine to fight”, was their call to duty and again in the 1950s, with the war in Korea heating up, women responded to the need at Pendleton. Former Sgt. Marie Proulx, of Oceanside, served at Camp Pendleton from 1952 to 1954, filling the position of first sergeant, the senior enlisted woman in charge of Women Marines on the base.

40 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

When World War II broke out, Proulx’s friend pestered her to join the WACs but she wanted to be a Marine … if they’d ever accept women. I never thought the Marines would”. She enlisted as in the Women’s Reserve in 1943 because “it was an adventure”. Proulx went on active duty that August and was discharged in December 1945 as a sergeant. When Federal law changed in 1948 camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

to allow women to be integrated into the Armed Services, Proulx went back in in 1949. “I was fortunate enough to be plucked from the inactive reserve to active duty”, Sgt. Proulx said. She retired on a medical disability in 1954.

From November 1952 through February 1954, Sgt. Proulx lived in the World War II barracks in the 24 Area. Like most World War II barracks, they were arranged in the form of an “H.” “Each building had two-story dorms and the crossbar was the laundry,” Staff Sgt. Proulx says. Behind the barracks was the Green Hat, an enlisted clubhouse offering sandwiches, a juke box and a place to bring a date.

Although no hard liquor was served, beer was available.

“It was a place to get together”, Proulx says. “There wasn’t much excitement but there was a lot of camaraderie in the barracks. We were together 20 hours a day. It proved to be both humorous and irritating”.

Staff Sgt. Hopkins chronicled those humorous moments in cartoons that she drew of the Camp Pendleton WMs and tacked onto a pole in the barracks. One of them depicts a field night. Field nights often were Thursday night before Friday morning inspections - out came the brooms and scrub brushes at 6 p.m. Everything had to be shipshape and clean for the inspection.”

Although their barracks were fenced off and guards were posted out front, they found that dating male Marines “was encouraged”, says Sgt. Proulx. “Men would come to the entry of the barracks where the duty NCO was stationed and pick up their dates. Anytime a man came into the barracks, someone yelled “man aboard” and invariably some towel-clad women dived for cover”.

on a hillside near the Ranch House.

When the Women Marines wanted to go into town, they’d wait at the bus stop at 24 Area. Hopkins says, “Once they got into Oceanside, they might catch a movie at the Crest or a bite to eat at the Miramar Restaurant. Then it was on to the Dolphin Hotel for drinks.”

And liberty came for all the WMs at Pendleton when, in the mid-1950s, the infamous chain-link fence was unceremoniously torn down. And in March 1969, the WMs stationed at Pendleton moved to their new barracks in 13 Area (Mainside). It was the first permanent barracks for Women Marines in the country.

During her first stint at Pendleton in the mid-1960s. Sgt. Maj. Ellie Judge lived in a Quonset hut in 24 Area, which was used for family housing during World War II. There were two bedrooms with separate bathrooms, in addition to living quarters. One thing hadn’t changed: “There was a wonderful camaraderie with the military women,” Sgt. Maj. Judge recalls.

Sgt. Maj. Judge served two stints at Camp Pendleton. From 1964 to 1966, she worked at Camp Del Mar, at the time accessible only through the main gate and across Interstate 5. “We were an entity unto ourselves.” Sgt. Maj. Judge says. Since that time, a bridge was constructed to permit direct access.

Those years were “a great time, the best decade.” Staff Sgt. Hopkins says of her service during the Korean War. “There was so much patriotism.”

Hopkins arrived at Pendleton as a corporal. “I couldn’t believe how big it (Pendleton) was. Driving in from the main gate, we had no idea where we were going. It was overwhelming.”

She served as a staff office steno in 24 Area, taking dictation from the officer in charge and typing for the sergeant major.

Every Sunday, Hopkins would go to the Ranch House Chapel, also located in 24 Area, for church services and then to brunch at the Hostess House, near the (Mainside) PX. Bicycling was popular and there was also an archery range camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Above: Sgt. Anna Orlando inside the Women Marines Barracks 24-B-5, Camp Pendleton, 1952. Opposite page: Women Marines behind the fence that surrounded their barracks at Camp Pendleton, circa 1950s.

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 41

At first, she worked as an administrative chief at battalion headquarters, overseeing service record books, and then moved across the street to the administrative school, where as a staff sergeant she taught personnel administration. Her classrooms sat above the field medical school.

the first woman in that position,” she says.

In that job, she held the senior enlisted position on the base and worked at headquarters, reporting to the commanding general.

“I was the eyes and ears of the general,” says the sergeant major. She assisted on inspections and also served on the NCO Board. And what was it like working with and The Women Marine Barracks 24-B-5 in the 24 Area, Camp Pendleton, circa 1951; “It was a beautiful training men? Five years the jeep used for guard mail is to the right of the entrance. Photo courtesy of classroom. You could Theresa “Sue” Sousa after Col. Mary Bane broke look out at the ocean”, ground, “They treated me says Sgt. Maj. Judge. beautifully because I was the boss,” Sgt. Maj. Judge says.

“We were right out there on the beach front. I went to the “If they had gripes or complaints, I said, “Fine. I’m the beach a lot. Camp Del Mar has a gorgeous beach.” Judge, boss. If you want to do better, go get the stripes.” who had a car, also recalls driving to San Juan Capistrano, or to San Diego. “We worked long, hard hours. And when After 29 years in the Corps and on the verge of retiring, the it was over, we were given the opportunity for liberty.” sergeant major was faced with an unprecedented situation.

In those days before the interstate was built, the going Her CO ordered her to take small-arms training so that she was slow on old Highway 101. The Staff NCO Club also could perform weapons inspections. provided a meeting place, says Sgt. Maj. Judge.

The Marine Corps Manual forbade women from commanding units that were predominantly male. That is until December 1973, when Col. Mary E. Bane took command of 1,700 mostly male Marines at Pendleton. As the CO of Headquarters and Service Battalion, Col. Bane believed she was a guinea pig, according to the Marine Corps official history of Women Marines. She believed she was given the assignment “because of her sex rather than her qualifications. She lasted 11 months in the position until a change of command brought Pendleton a new base CG, the official history states who reassigned Col. Bane as the camp’s human affairs officer, a major’s billet. Col. Bane reasoned that she was reassigned for the same reason she was first assigned as the battalion’s CO - precisely because I was a woman.”

That meant early morning trips to the firing range and hours of learning how to disassemble and reassemble a weapon.

“I had the loyal support of my staff NCOs.” says Sgt. Maj. Judge. They took pity on her when one day they found her at her desk, parts of a .45 scattered all around. “They gave me personal instruction on their lunch hours. They got me through the inspection of troops with rifles.”

In 1950, when Judge joined the Corps, women were not given training in small arms, an integral part of basic training for all male recruits, says Sgt. Maj. Judge, “The men got their weapons training in boot camp and I got it on my way out.”

The above is a condensed version of the original article published in Traditions magazine, Volume 3, Number 1 (1996).

The bi-monthly magazine was published by Heritage Press & Productions, Escondido, Calif.

Permission was granted by the author to reprint the article.

Five years later, women were still racking up firsts at Pendleton and in the Corps, Sgt. Maj. Judge returned to Camp Pendleton, staying there until her retirement, in August 1980, as base Cpl. Lee Bailey (L) and two Marines from the Woman Marine Company on the way to chow, Camp Pendleton, 1953. Courtesy of Lillian “Lee” Tusa sergeant major. “I was 42 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Marie Proulx Technical Sgt., USMC 1943-1954

Marie Antoinette Proulx was born in Spokane, Wash. on June 13, 1917, educated in Superior, Wis. and graduated from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, MN with a BS degree in Business Administration in 1939.

She enlisted in the Marine Corps and was called to active duty on Aug. 16, 1943 for boot camp at Camp Lejeune, N.C. After boot camp she went to Storekeepers School, disbursing and supply. Upon graduation she was assigned to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in 1944. She was assigned in the Disbursing Office and then in Civilian Payroll until being discharged on Dec. 3, 1945.

Marie was “invited to come back into the Marine Corps” and re-enlisted on Jan. 21, 1949. After orientation at Headquarters, Marine Corps (HQMC), she was transferred to Parris Island, S.C. to serve as one of 15 original enlisted women and four officers to open recruit training for women. She was assigned as file clerk of 3rd Recruit Training Battalion (Women) Bn and continued there until she became the Sergeant Major until 1952. She was then transferred to Camp

Pvt. Marie Proulx, boot camp, 1943.

Pendleton, Calif. as the First Sergeant, Woman Marine Company.

She was medically retired on Nov. 1, 1954 as a technical sergeant (E6) after receiving a hip replacement. She returned to civil service and HQMC in the Officer Detail (monitor) office and returned to Camp Pendleton in 1957. She retired from civil service from the Naval Hospital as supervisor of accounting in 1977 with 30 years of service.

Marie was always the consummate Marine. She joined the Women Marines Association (WMA) and became a charter member of the San Diego County Chapter CA2 in 1963 and then started the Edith Macias Vann Southern California Chapter CA7 in Oceanside in 1972.

As the CA7 Chapter’s president, she worked to help the families of returning Prisoners of War of the Vietnam War; worked with veterans at the Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton and Veterans Administration in La Jolla; and contacted families of women Marines who died on active duty and the families of deceased members of the Women Marines Association.

She held the office of National WMA treasurer for two two-year terms and was the convention treasurer for three national conventions, the last being in 2004. She received the WMA National Service Award in 1984, the highest personal award given by the Association.

She served as CA7 Chapter treasurer for 25 years.

Technical Sgt. Marie Proulx replaces Master Sgt. Betty Schultz at the Woman Marine Company, Camp Pendleton, circa 1953. camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

She passed away on July 3, 2014 at the age of 97.

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 43

angela rodriguez

Sgt., USMC 2002-2007 Sgt. Angela Rodriguez was in the Marine Corps from July 2002 through March 2007.

In 2003, Angela was assigned to the Weapons and Field Training Battalion located at Edson Range in the 31 Area aboard Camp Pendleton as a military occupational specialty (MOS) 2111 Small Arms Repairman.

Cpl. Rodriguez attending a USMC Birthday Ball.

Sgt. Rodriguez’ entire time in the Marine Corps, after boot camp and MOS training, was at Edson Range at Camp Pendleton although her parent unit was Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego, a non-deployable Training and Education Command (TECOM) unit. As a Small Arms Repairman Marine, she spent the majority of her time on the weapons ranges and in the armory.

amanda sandoval Sgt., USMC

Sgt. Amanda Sandoval, USMC (Ret) was stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif. from 2012 through 2014. Trained as a military occupational specialty (MOS) 0231 Intelligence Specialist, she was assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 (HMLA169) and Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing during her tour of duty at Camp Pendleton.

Sgt. Amanda Sandoval

44 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Cydney Rose Gunnery Sgt., USMC 2002-current

Gunnery Sgt. Cydney R. “Godfather” Rose enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2002. After graduation from boot camp, she was trained in the supply military occupational specialty (MOS) at Camp Johnson, N.C. as a MOS 3051 Supply Warehouse Clerk.

Her tours of duty at Camp Pendleton, Calif. were with Combat Logistics Regiment 17 (CLR-17) from June 2005 - August 2008, Combat Logistics Battalion 1 (CLB-1) from August 2016 - August 2018, and 7th Engineer Support Battalion (7th ESB) from September 2018 to present.

As a lance corporal, she deployed from September 2004 through April 2005 as an augment to Regimental Combat Team 7 in Fallujah, Iraq, serving as a female searcher at an entry control point before and after the second battle of Fallujah.

In June 2005 through August 2008, Cpl. Rose served with CLR-17. During this time, she deployed back to Iraq with CLR-17 in August 2006 through April 2007 and served as the Supply Warehouse Chief and Personnel Effects Chief for Al Anbar Province.

Cpl. Rose was meritoriously promoted to sergeant in September 2006.

Upon her return from deployment, Sgt. Rose received orders to Marine Security Guard (MSG) School in Quantico, Va. After graduating as a watch stander in October 2008 and assigned MOS 8151 Marine

Gunnery Sgt. Cydney Rose supervising a wall to wall inventory in the supply warehouse on Sept. 21, 2018.

Security Guard Watch Stander, she served in New Delhi (India), Rome (Italy), and then assumed the Detachment Commander billet in La Paz (Bolivia).

After a tour as a Marine Security Guard, Sgt. Rose was meritoriously promoted to staff sergeant and joined the Recruiter, Advertiser, and Screening Team (RAST), MSG School and served as interim instructor at the School. Staff Sgt. Rose’s follow-on assignment was as a Delta team leader for Military Security Forces at the Pentagon in Washington, DC. After serving with the MSG forces, Staff Sgt. Rose returned to serve in her primary MOS (Supply) at Marine Forces Pacific, Hawaii as the Supply Warehouse Chief. As a gunnery sergeant, she received orders and reported to CLB-1, 1st Marine Logistics Group (1st MLG) at Camp Pendleton to initially serve as the Company Gunnery Sergeant then as the Company First Sergeant for Headquarters and Services Company. She currently serves as the Supply Warehouse Chief, Headquarters and Services Company, 7th ESB, 1st MLG.

Gunnery Sgt. Cydney Rose (standing center) after a motivational run on Sept. 21, 2018. camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 45

jennifer simmons

Sgt. Maj., USMC (Ret) 1987-2018 Sgt. Maj. Jennifer Simmons, USMC (Ret) enlisted in the Marine Corps in December 1987. She served in the Marine Corps for 30 years and retired on Jan. 1, 2018.

Sgt. Maj. Simmons began her career as a MOS 3051, Warehouse Clerk. Throughout her career in the Corps, she served aboard Camp Pendleton for over 13 of 30 years in the following positions and units: • Primary Marksmanship Instructor at Weapons and Field Training Battalion from May 1988 through May 1993 • Supply Clerk at Headquarters and Support Battalion from May 1993 through April 1994 • Company First Sergeant and Regimental Sergeant Major at Combat Logistics Battalion 1 from January 2008 through December 2009 • Company First Sergeant at 1st Intelligence Battalion from December 2009 through March 2011 • Company First Sergeant at I MEF Headquarters Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force from March 2011 through August 2011 • Battalion Sergeant Major at 1st Radio Battalion from August 2011 through October 2012

Sgt. Maj. Simmons with former Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Al Gray, at a dinner for 1st Radio Battalion, September 2012.

46 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

Sgt. Maj. Simmons with the 18th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. Green, at the Marine Corps Trials, March 2016.

• Battalion Sergeant Major at Wounded Warrior Battalion (West) from August 2014 through September 2017 “My interaction with a myriad of people during these tours enabled me to grow as a leader and better serve the Marines under my charge, their families and my country.”

Sgt. Maj. Simmons with Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Robert Neller, at the commissioning of the USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115), July 2017. camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

theresa “Sue” sousa Staff Sgt., USMC 1949-1962

On May 21, 1951, Sue was promoted to corporal.

Soon thereafter she was re-assigned to MOS 1400, Survey and Mapping and was assigned MOS 1441, Topographic Draftsman. She was assigned to a special staff of the Commandant of the Marine Corps in the Office of Ground Water Resources. This staff consisted of USMC Reservists - attorneys, geologists, hydrologists, soil scientists, and legal assistants whose purpose was to assist in the defense of the base in a legal court fight with the State of California over water rights of the Santa Margarita River, which is the main water supply of the base. She was promoted to sergeant on Nov. 23, 1951.

Pvt. Theresa Sousa, shown getting out of jeep while making a mail run at Camp Pendleton. on Nov. 15, 1950. Official Marine Corps photo.

Theresa “Sue” (Malone) Sousa enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on Nov. 16, 1949 and was assigned to the 5th Infantry Battalion in Washington, District of Columbia. She was promoted to private first class on April 1, 1950. The 5th Infantry Bn was activated for the Korean conflict on Sept. 13, 1950. Troops were transferred by train to Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD), Parris Island, S.C.; women Marines were in Platoon 5A for six weeks for recruit training.

Sue was transferred to Camp Joseph H. Pendleton on Nov. 14, 1950. At Camp Pendleton, she was assigned as a motor transport operator, MOS 3500, operating vehicles up to 1-1/2 ton truck and was the post Guard Mail Driver (jeep) delivering mail out to the Commanding General’s Headquarters. camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

While at Camp Pendleton, she was also involved in various Marine Corps sports to include competing against Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and El Toro. She also played on the Camp Pendleton Woman Marine Company basketball team and joined a semipro Girls Softball team in Los Angeles, The California Ramblers.

Sue departed Camp Pendleton in 1952 for Washington, District of Columbia to work in a special group on the Commandant’s staff to handle a water rights claim, Santa Margarita Water Rights vs Camp Pendleton.

On July 7, 1962, she was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps after 13 years. She had achieved the rank of staff sergeant and had been selected for warrant officer.

After her career in the Marine Corps, she worked for Department of Interior, US Geological Survey, starting in 1962 until she retired in 1982. After the Women Marines Association (WMA) was created, she attended the first meeting in Colorado and was on the first WMA Board; she was President of the first WMA Chapter, DC-1.

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 47

Emily (ELDER) Swain Col., USMC (Ret) 1987-2017

Col Emily (Elder) Swain, USMC (Ret) served for thirty years in the Marine Corps from 1987-2017.

She was stationed at Camp Pendleton with 1st Force Service Support Group (1st FSSG) on two separate occasions: March 1994-June 1996; August 2002-June 2005. During those tours, she was assigned to 7th Motor Transport Battalion and the G-3 (1st FSSG), then Headquarters and Service Battalion (H&S Bn), twice deploying to Iraq. Here are her reflections of her Camp Pendleton time: “I was Capt. Elder when I arrived at 7th Motors in 1994. I joined the unit in the field, between Desert Fire Exercise and Combined Arms Exercise (CAX).

The operational battalions rotated the task of forming the core of the Combat Service Support Detachment supporting these exercises; this practice ensured units had staff training while protecting the Supply and Maintenance actions most important to the MEF in garrison. I assumed command of Bravo Company,

Capts. Elder and Waldrop participate in a naval officer’s wedding in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. in 1995, while stationed aboard Camp Pendleton.

48 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

Capt. Elder speaking to the audience at her company change of command at 7th Motor Transport Battalion, November 1995.

rare for a woman in those days as it had a directsupport mission. In 1995, my executive officer (XO), 1st Lt. Nikki White, took most of the company to support CAX, while those remaining stood a Field Supply Maintenance Analysis Office Inspection.

Nikki’s assignment to Bravo was a controversial move: women were few and some officers were concerned that the only two officers in the company would be women. Somehow, we managed!

By the time I returned to Camp Pendleton in 2002, I had been promoted and reclassified as a Logistics Officer. The 1st FSSG had reorganized to deploy for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) - a monumental task - and I became the Operations Officer of Combat Service Support Battalion-18 for the deployment. I redeployed to Camp Pendleton in October 2003, now the XO of Headquarters & Service Battalion.

In May 2004, I deployed for OIF-II as the (acting) Commander of H&S Bn until the slated commander arrived. As a major, I had non-judicial punishment authority over several of the units at Al Taqquadum, Iraq, part of a legal strategy designed to provide command authority for units remaining in the rear as well as those forward. I was frocked to lieutenant colonel in Iraq, which greatly improved dealings with tenant units aboard the camp. In September 2004, I returned to Camp Pendleton as the FSSG began transforming into the 1st Marine Logistics Group and I was assigned as XO, Combat Logistics Regiment-1.

In June 2005, I left Camp Pendleton and reported to Headquarters, Marine Corps for an assignment as the Manpower Management Officer Assignment (MMOA3) Section Head.

My field grade tour was very different from my carefree days as a company commander but Camp Pendleton was a magnificent setting for both experiences.”

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

angelina (fusckino) stambough

Pfc., USMC 1954-1955

Angelina (Fusckino) Stambough served in the Marine Corps for 14 months from 1954 to 1955. Her father worked on the railroad and her mother was a factory worker. She knew little of the Marine Corps except that a classmate in school and a cousin had joined the Marines. She took the leap and enlisted; she lived in Connecticut. Because her previous work experience was with the telephone company, the Marines assigned her to the communications specialty as a Radio Operator, MOS 2532.

Upon reporting to Camp Pendleton, she was assigned billeting (living quarters) with all of the other women Marines in the 24 Area barracks. However, she did not stay there long. The day she checked in for duty, April 1, 1954, she visited the USO on 3rd Street in Oceanside, Calif. and happened to meet a man, Clarence “Mike” Stambough, who would later become her husband. The Director and Program Director of the USO were in their wedding.

However, while dating, she did become involved in organizations aboard base and close to the women’s

Pfc. Angie Fusckino participating in the Big Sister program at Camp Pendleton, 1954. camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

barracks.

Nearby, she fondly remembers frequenting the local lounge, primarily Pfc. Angelina Fusckino, boot camp, 1954. for the women Marines, call “The Green Hat Club”. The Green Hat Club, she remembered, was very involved in a Big Sister Program in 1954 with the Pala Indians. She enjoyed the events with the young Pala Indian girls and the events that they would have for them at the Club.

But her life would change quickly. Within 14 months of joining the Marine Corps, Angie was faced with having to leave the Marine Corps. Clarence Stambough was a sergeant (E-4) in the infantry. Angie was in receipt of orders and she declined them in order to stay with her husband. As a result, she was honorably discharged. She became an enthusiastic and supportive Marine wife for Mike who continued serving and ultimately retired in 1974 after 21 years of service. He retired to Oceanside and began working with the very same USO in which he and Angie met. Angie and Mike went on to have three children who were born at Camp Pendleton, Calif. They would move around, even during his retirement with the USO but in 1986 they would ultimately return to Oceanside in 1994 to settle.

Angie and Mike have been familiar faces in the Oceanside area over the years due to their civic involvement. Angie fondly remembers establishing an educational non-profit for the mentally gifted, named “Mentally Gifted Minors”, in 1973 and of Mike’s involvement both with the USO and their support of the Oceanside Centennial celebration.

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 49

uniforms over the decades Women Reserve Overseas Uniform, Winter Greens, 1944

40s Machine Operator’s Cap - Front and side view, 1948 Enlisted Enlisted Utility Women’s Uniform, Reserve Utility Culottes, Uniform, circa 1948 1944

Enlisted Utility Uniform, 1952

50s Officer Summer Service “A” Uniform, 1952

Officer Evening Dress with tiara, 1950

50 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

Enlisted Summer Undress “B” Uniform with trench coat and havelock, 1952

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Officer Evening Dress with Boatcloak, 1963

60s Officer Summer Service without Coat, 1963

Officer Utility Uniform, 1963

Enlisted Mess Dress, 1972

70s Officer Evening Dress “B” Uniform, 1975

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Officer Enlisted White Dress Dress Blue “A”, 1971 “B” Uniform, 1974

Officer Summer Service “A” Uniform with optional beret, 1979

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 51

andriele stodden Staff Sgt., USMC 2000-2008

I went to the Military Entrance Processing Station on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2000 and enlisted in the Marine Corps; I left for boot camp at Sgt. Stodden and fellow Marines “flying the barn” over Camp Pendleton on the 40th anniversary Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris of the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter, July 1, 2004.

Island, S.C. the next day. I graduated I re-enlisted during the 2004 Marine Corps Stop Loss with Platoon 4013, November Company in May, policy and requested Marine Medium Helicopter and then to follow-on Marine Combat Training. My Training Squadron 164 (HMMT-164), Marine Aircraft military occupational specialty (MOS) schools were Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at MCAS Camp at Pensacola, Fl. and Virginia Beach, Va. After being Pendleton and was in charge of the Ordnance Shop trained as a MOS 6531 Aircraft Ordnance Technician, and Tool Room until January 2007, when I was I reported to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) assigned back to MCAS Miramar after being selected Miramar. for staff sergeant.

From October 2000 through March 2004, I was with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323 (VMFA-323), Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and deployed twice with the squadron on the USS Constellation. We supported Operation Enduring Freedom during our first cruise, and Operation Iraqi Freedom during our second.

Tee Time at Camp Pendelton

Sgt. Shirley Downey, plays a round of golf with fellow Marines at the Camp Pendleton Golf Course, circa 1954.

52 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

I enjoyed my time at Pendleton, working on CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters and being on an occasional flight over the base. We even celebrated the 40th anniversary of the CH-46 helicopter, and the unit, while I was there. I was a Quality Assurance Representative and Substance Abuse Counseling Officer and the only sergeant running a shop.

I spent my last years in Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 (VMFA-314), Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and deployed with the squadron to Japan. I finished my enlistment and left active duty in August 2008. I was sad to leave the Corps but also happy to spend all of my active duty time in San Diego County between MCAS Miramar and MCAS Camp Pendleton.

Of note, HMMT-164 was the first and last Marine squadron to operate the CH-46 helicopter and was redesignated as Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 (VMM-164) in April 2015. camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

harriet (harley) taber Pfc., USMC 1954-1955

A native of Whiting, Iowa, Pfc. Harriet (Harley) Taber served in the U.S. Marine Corps for two years from January 1954 through December 1955.

After graduating from high school, she worked in a photo lab in her home town. She faced an important decision at the age of 19 when she decided not to join the union at work. She was at a turning point in her life; she loved the idea of the military, and her sister served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. So, she decided to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps on Jan. 22, 1954.

Harriet Harley in front of the Women Marines’ barracks, 24-B-7, on Camp Pendleton, circa 1954.

Soon after boot camp, Pfc. Harley checked into Camp Pendleton for duty, only to be stricken with pneumonia. She was hospitalized aboard base and was cared for by a nice Navy Corpsman, John L. Taber, who about a year later would become her husband, on Oct. 8, 1955. Two months later, she was discharged and nine months later, in September 1956, she became the proud mother of twin daughters.

While at Camp Pendleton, she worked in the Base Photo Lab, utilizing her civilian expertise.

She fondly remembers taking and developing pictures during her short period of service, which was all performed at Camp Pendleton. While aboard base, she remembers working for Maj. Gen. Selden, the commanding general of Camp Pendleton.

Harriet Harley, pictured on the right, in the USO located in Oceanside, Calif., April 14, 1954. camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 53

Sandra torres-pintos Sgt. Maj., USMC (Ret) 1981-2006

Sandra Torres-Pintos was born in Bronx, N.Y. and enlisted in the Marine Corps in February 1981. Upon graduation from recruit training at Parris Island, S.C. she was promoted to private first class and assigned to the electronic maintenance occupational field.

After completing the Basic Electronic and Electrician Course and Avionics Advance Course in NAS Memphis Tenn., she was promoted to lance corporal and selected to attend the Precision Measurement Equipment School in Lowry AFB, Denver, Colo.

She was promoted to corporal in August 1982, meritoriously promoted to sergeant in May 1984 and promoted to staff sergeant in February l991. In January 1992, she transferred to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39 (MALS-39), Camp Pendleton where she served as the Issue and Receive Chief.

While assigned to MALS-39, she volunteered for Drill Instructor Duty and departed in April l994 to Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) Parris Island. She

Staff Sgt. Torres-Pintos (L) and another MALS-39 Marine taking a break from digging mud out of their work spaces and salvaging avionics gear after the 1993 flood at Camp Pendleton.

was at Parris Island from April 1994-October 1996 and returned back in August 2000 where she was assigned as Company First Sergeant for November Company. In September 2001 she was selected as First Sergeant, Drill Instructor School. She was promoted to sergeant major in March 2004 and assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 and later deployed with the squadron on the USS Nimitz in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from May through November 2005. She retired from the Marine Corps in September 2006.

Sgt. Maj. Torres-Pintos is married to 1st Sgt. William Pintos, USMC (Ret). Her daughter, Dorinda, a captain in the Marine Corps, is a combat engineer officer assigned to the 1st Marine Division.

“Junk on the Bunk” Marine Corps terminology for an inspection where all uniforms and individual equipment to be inspected is laid out on the Marine’s rack (bed).

Woman Marine clothing layout, May 1968. Official Marine Corps photo.

54 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

lillian “lee” (Bailey) Tusa Cpl., USMC 1952-1954

Lillian “Lee” (Bailey) Tusa was born in Rhodell, W.Va. on in 1933 and graduated from Stoco High School in 1951. She joined the Marine Corps Reserve and reported for active duty on May 8, 1952. Following boot camp, Lee was assigned to the Headquarters, Department of the Pacific, San Francisco, as a clerk in the dispensary. A few months later, she was transferred to Camp Pendleton.

Her first assignment at Camp Pendleton was at the Headquarters Battalion Legal Office. After a short time, she was selected for Admin School at Camp Del Mar; thereafter, she was sent on temporary active duty to Naval Training Center, San Diego for Yeoman “B” School, Naval Justice and Stenography.

On completion, Lee returned to Camp Pendleton for clerical assignment at the base Legal Office. In later years, this experience/education was instrumental in her employment as Superior Court Clerk for the State of California, County of San Diego.

As Lee points out, “I had many wonderful experiences while stationed at Camp Pendleton. During the fall 1953, the Camp Pendleton football team was to compete with Naval Training Center, San Diego.

When the Commanding General learned that the Navy would have male cheerleaders, he called on our Woman Marine Company to provide cheerleaders.

Since this was a first, we didn’t have uniforms so four of us donned the basketball team’s warm-up suits and carried out our assignment. The Camp Pendleton Scout pictured cheerleaders in uniform the next year.”

“I had the privilege of being a member of the Camp Pendleton basketball team. Our bus trip to play at the naval base in the Bay area, San Francisco, stopping at Fort Ord to play on the way home was especially memorable. Unfortunately, I received orders for transfer to Headquarters, Department of Pacific and camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Cpl. Lillian “Lee” Bailey modeling a new woman Marines’ uniform at Camp Pendleton, 1953.

missed the championship game and trip to Hawaii.”

“Another highlight was accompanying the Marine Corps Band (orchestra) to Hollywood a few times for the “Marines at Ease” television show, a short pilot program airing on KTLA, Wednesdays at 8 p.m. We had to be at the studio early in the morning, the only time it was available for rehearsal, so it made for a long day. I had no particular talent but was needed for background and skits to help create a club-like atmosphere for the show.”

Electing to marry and begin a family, she declined an offer to re-enlist and was released from active duty in May 1954.

Lee graduated from Palomar College in 1968 and later studied public administration at San Diego State University. In addition to raising her children, Lee worked for more than 40 years in both private and public sectors. She is retired and active in the Women Marines Association serving as chapter secretary from 2008 to May 2018 and working on various committees.

She is also a member of The Marine Corps League.

Lee was a volunteer in the San Diego County District Attorneys Victim Assistance Program from May 1998 to June 2017.

“I am so proud to have served in the Corps. In my heart I am and shall always be a Marine!”

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 55

marianne s. waldrop Col., USMC (Ret) 1987-2011

Col. Marianne S. Waldrop, USMC (Ret), PhD served from 1987 through 2011, both on active and reserve duty over her 24 year career. Early on, as a Signals Intelligence Officer (MOS 2602), she deployed in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm to Jabayl, Saudi Arabia from 1990 - 1991 and subsequently served two years aboard an Air Force Base in Misawa, Japan.

With an undergraduate degree in mathematics, then-Capt. Waldrop was selected to attend Naval Postgraduate School (Monterey, Calif.) to pursue a Master of Science in Computer Science. Upon graduation in 1995, she requested her “payback” tour at the Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity (MCTSSA), a tenant command aboard Camp Pendleton, at the beach near Edson Range, where she utilizing her intelligence expertise and her recently acquired knowledge in Computer Science. At the time, MCTSSA was known to be a “software development center” for the Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va. While assigned to MCTSSA, she served in a variety of roles: a Project Officer for the Tactical Control and Analysis Center-Product Improvement Program (TCAC-PIP), an exercise system support officer, and as the Deputy Division Director for Communications Division. It was during this tour of duty that she conducted extensive interoperability tests on intelligence systems, traveled to Thailand in support of Exercise Cobra Gold 1997, and led a division of 90 Marines and civilian personnel.

Upon the conclusion of the MCTSSA assignment, she applied for and was selected to participate as the only woman Marine team member on the 1999 All-Marine Golf Team. She traveled in August to Camp Lejeune, N.C. to participate in both All-Marine qualifier and the 1999 All-Service Golf Championship. Because of the 56 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

Maj. Waldrop with Master Gunnery Sgt. Stephen Waynick, Communications Chief and Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, Communications Systems Division.

proximity of her home town (Emerald Isle, N.C.), Marianne’s parents were able to join her at the golf competition.

Subsequent to her tour at MCTSSA and with 12.5 years of active service, then-Maj. Waldrop resigned her regular commission. However, that would not last long; because in 2001 she would be recalled from the Individual Ready Reserve in support of Operation Enduring Freedom/ Operation Iraqi Freedom, deploying to Iraq in 2004 and 2005 and Afghanistan in 2008.

Ultimately, Col. Waldrop would serve continuously in a recalled status until she was deemed “in sanctuary” and earned an active duty retirement from 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, Calif. in 2011.

In 2016, Marianne earned her doctorate degree through the University of San Diego; her dissertation, “Understanding Women Leaders in a Male-Dominated Profession: A Study of the United States Marine Corps’ Women Generals” is a study of the most successful women in the Marine Corps. She is a 23 year resident of Carlsbad, Calif. camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

brandy wallace

Sgt., USMC 2000-2007

Brandy RaeMarie (Berdiion) Wallace enlisted in the Marine Corps in January 2000; her last duty station was aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif. from November 2005 to December 2007. When she had completed her active duty service, she had attained the rank of sergeant.

As a MOS 3043 Supply Administration and Operations Specialist, Brandy served with the Supply Section, Combat Camera, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. While working for the Combat Camera Section, she expanded her expertise into the procurement side of supply logistics and worked on the financials for that section.

During her active duty time at Camp Pendleton, she earned her Bachelor of Arts and Masters’ degrees in accounting and finance as a single mom of two children

Pvt. Brandy Berdiion, boot camp, 2000.

and met her husband, who has continued his career in the Marine Corps.

From the procurement knowledge she garnered while in the Marine Corps, she began working for the Department of Defense Contract Audit Agency, where she audits government contracts aboard Camp Pendleton and many other areas around San Diego County.

Celebrating your contributions to Camp Pendleton’s history for the past 75 years.... and ready to preserve your current achievements for future generations.

CPHS supports: • • • • • •

Camp Pendleton History Museum Branch Santa Margarita Ranch House Mechanized Museum Las Flores Adobe Educational speakers Unit histories and much more

Do you want to know more about CPHS? Check out our website for information on how to get involved or donate: www.camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org www.facebook.com/camppendletonhistoricalsociety/

To schedule a speaker on Camp Pendleton history contact us at: cphs.speakers@gmail.com camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 57

“...We are Proud to Claim the Title of United States Marine.”

Sgt. Maj. Ramona “Dee” Cook deployed to Iraq with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 (HMH-462) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2003.

Cpl. Barbara Cogburn, a primary marksmanship instructor at Edson Range, Camp Pendleton, making an annotation in a Marine’s rifle data book, 1985.

58 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

Sgt. Biggers outside of the Camp Pendleton Officers Club after setting up public address system for an event.

Cpl. Manuela “Mani” Santos with the 1st Marine Division, 1979.

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Battalion Legal Officer Capt. Kathleen Ables at her desk at Headquarters & Service Battalion, Camp Butler, Okinawa in April 1972.

Pvt. Georgia (Wendling) Shirey in front of the mess hall at Camp Pendleton, 1956.

Sgt. Velanda (Milton) Joyner applying camouflage paint on the face of Cpl. Tovar prior to a parade in Crystal City, Texas, 1982.

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Mary Gibbs in the Dress Blue Delta uniform in Oceanside, Calif. on Nov. 9, 1995.

Lance Cpl. Alexis Oliver, Cpl. Nikki Gravante, Gunnery Sgt. Kendra Bowen and Staff 1st Lt. Elaine Bowden and 1st Lt. Ellen Laws at a USO Sgt. Hillary Aguirre at the Rancho Santa Margarita Ranch House for the Evening Colors picnic on Santa Catalina Island, 1969.

Ceremony, Sept. 19, 2018.

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years | 59 camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

A Marine sergeant major speaks to the initial group of (95) Women Reservists at Camp Pendleton, circa 1943. Photo courtesy of Phyllis Ghio.

1st Lt. Jenny Wrenn stands in front of a platoon of Women Marines at a review at Camp Pendleton on Dec. 5, 1955. Official Marine Corps photo.

60 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

Cpl. Ethyl Gifford and Sgt. Lorraine Naimo pause for a “Coke� enroute to the barracks on Jan. 15, 1953 after a hard days work. Official Marine Corps photo.

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

John Wayne “The Duke” with Marines Peggy Gordan, from N.C. (left) and Pfc. Sue Sousa (right) in 1950-51 aboard the Pendleton air field during the filming of the movie, “Flying Leathernecks”

Pfc. Rose Duffy, Jeffry Colonna, Pfc. Sue Terry, Pfc. Lorraine Naimo, Bob Hope and Pfc. Nancy Stock pose for a photo on Oct. 2, 1951 at Camp Pendleton. Official Marine Corps photo.

Cpl. Rosalie Robie puts her best pin-up smile through a lifepreserver in one of the Camp Pendleton combat swiming tanks, April 1944. Official Marine Corps photo.

Pfc.’s Margorie Ereland, Virginia Hall and Mary Ann Rohde pose at the start of a bicycle tour on March 12, 1944. Official Marine Corps photo.

Technical Sgt. LaRue Ditmore and Pfc. Adyth Arnett both of Women Marine Company make friends with some of the needy children from the Mission San Antonio De Pala in Pala, Calif., Dec. 9, 1957. Official Marine Corps photo.

Camp Pendleton’s Women’s Reserve Drum and Bugle Corps, a voluntary organization rehearsing in their spare time of the women Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton. The Drum and Bugle Corps is the first of its kind in the women’s services, May 1945. Official Marine Corps photo.

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 61

staff sgt. reckless USMC 1952-1968

In LIFE Magazine’s “Celebrating Our Heroes,” listed alongside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King, is a small Mongolian mare named Reckless, who became the great war hero horse in American history.

On Oct. 26, 1952, U. S. Marine Lt. Eric Pedersen purchased Reckless for $250 from a young Korean man who sold his beloved horse to buy an artificial leg for his sister who lost hers in a land mine accident.

During a pivotal five-day Battle of Outpost Vegas in late March 1953, Reckless made 51 round-trips in a single day - most of them solo - from the ammunition supply point to the firing sites. She carried 386 rounds of ammunition totaling more than 9,000 pounds and walked over 35 miles through open rice paddies and up steep mountains, as enemy fire exploded at the rate of 500 rounds per minute.

Reckless provided a shield for front-line Marines, carried the wounded to safety, and herself was wounded twice.

But she never quit until the mission was complete.

62 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

Reckless was so heroic during the Korean War she was officially promoted to the rank of staff sergeant by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, a rank never before or since bestowed upon an animal.

Staff Sgt. Reckless is buried at the Stepp Stables on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. where she spent her final years before her death in 1968. On Oct. 26, 2016, sixty-four years to the day of her enlistment, a life-sized bronze monument of her was dedicated at the Pacific Views Event Center, Camp Pendleton.

Military Decorations: • Two Purple Hearts • Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal • Presidential Unit Citation • Navy Unit Commendation • National Defense Service Medal • United Nations Service Medal Korea • Korean Service Medal w/3 Stars • Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation • PDSA Dickin Medal • Ambassador for Peace Medal “She wasn’t a horse - She was a Marine!”

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org

Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

| 63

64 | Camp Pendleton Women Marines - Celebrating 75 Years

camppendletonhistoricalsociety.org