Camp Pendleton’s
WOMEN MARINES active duty during World War II.
by Faye Jonason, Director, Camp Pendleton History Museum Branch
A flag-raising ceremony was held in honor of the new arrivals, followed by a base-wide tour and the presentation of a pedigreed bulldog for their company mascot. The Women Reservists were established in wooden barracks in Camp Pico in the 24 Area, located near the former base headquarters close to the junction of the current Vandegrift Boulevard and Basilone Road. The barracks had been completed two months before with enough room to house 40 officers and 600 enlisted. A fence surrounded the barracks to discourage male Marines, and was locked nightly when liberty expired.
It is said that WRs, or Women Marines, did much more than “Free a Man to Fight” in World War II. Volunteering to serve in positions as typists, clerks, bookkeepers, radar technicians, telephone operators and truck drivers, these women replaced nearly a combat division. Following President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s dedication of Camp Joseph H. Pendleton, then the world’s largest Marine base, and its feverish construction, it was decided to relocate the contractor’s barracks and rebuild them to house the incoming Women Marine Reserves. Thirteen months after the base’s dedication, on October 26, 1943, the first contingent of 95 women Marines (2 officers and 93 enlisted Marines) arrived on Camp Pendleton. These women were just a part of the 23,000 Women Reservists who entered
In 1944, the Oceanside Daily-Blade Tribune featured the Women Reserves in its base anniversary edition with an article entitled, “U. S. Marine Corps Women’s Reserves now are permanent and attractive additions to post personnel at Camp Pendleton”. Living conditions described “individual beds, plenty of baths, laundry and ironing equipment. Lounges are arranged on the first floor for entertainment and reception and the upper decks are used exclusively by women where they may lounge at ease, read and write.” It stated that a post-exchange was established for the Women Reserves with “genuine girdles, perfumes, candy, cigarettes, jewelry and many other items that please the feminine heart” available to them for purchase. The article further identified services as free movies, a beauty parlor and a recreation hall on the second floor of their post exchange for the women. Elizabeth Arden developed “Montezuma Red” lipstick and nail polish to be worn by Women Marines to match the cord on the women’s cover. The women were able to attend dances regularly and go on Sunday hikes.
Doris (Basile) Andrews, Stewart, and Sgt. Jean Deniston in front of 24 Area women’s barracks, Camp Pendleton, December 1943. (Photo from the Doris Andrews collection, Camp Pendleton Archives)
The article stated that the women worked “to free male Marines for combat” by pitching “in nearly all phases of camp work” and said that mess halls were run by women, “and serve the best of food, prepared with that ‘woman’s touch’”. While Women Reservists primarily performed clerical duties in offices, many served as photographers, aviation mechanics, truck and jeep drivers, conducted weapons inventory and accounted for cold storage and other goods at the commissary. It is interesting that the article noted the different uniforms the Women Reservists wore, stating that “truck drivers wear specially designed dungarees and field shoes with a regular man’s overseas cap,” and identified several permitted uniforms. It stated that “conventional greens or seersucker greens” were used for office and evening wear and continued that “officers’ overseas caps” were allowed the women within camp boundaries. As more Women Reserves arrived, a battalion was 6
Women Marines – Camp Pendleton – Celebrating 75 Years
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