Operation HerStory

Local woman to be part of Operation HerStory flight to Washington, D.C.

By Annette Barr

When Charlotte McGrath joined the U.S. Navy at just 19 years old, she was looking forward to getting out of her small town and experiencing life elsewhere. Now more than 40 years later she is waiting for her opportunity to travel once again.

“I came from a very small town in upstate New York which did not have a lot to offer in the way of career opportunities for a young person. I felt the Navy would satisfy my long-term goals of travel, learning a trade and meeting people,” said McGrath of Ottawa.

This October McGrath was slated to be a passenger on the first all-women veterans’ Operation HerStory flight as part of Honor Flight Chicago. The mission of Honor Flight Chicago is to recognize more than 100 senior war veterans with an all-expense-paid day of honor in Washington, D.C. Funding for the flight comes from donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, schools, military organizations and other fraternal organizations that wish to honor these veterans and realize the urgent need to fly World War II, Korean War and Vietnam era service men and women to see their memorials.

The special Operation HerStory flight will include female veterans who served during World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War Era when it is rescheduled sometime in 2021.

“This trip has been a dream for several years since first hearing about Charlotte Carson McGrath holds her official U.S. Navy portrait from when she entered the service in May 1965 when she was 19 years old. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNETTE BARR

Honor Flights,” McGrath said. “I had hoped my late second husband and I could go together, however he passed away in December 2019. So, I am making this trip not only for me, but to honor his memory and service to our country.”

Her late husband, Jim McGrath of Ottawa, served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War era 1948 to 1949 and in the Army Reserves 1949 to 1953.

While waiting for the trip to be rescheduled, Operation HerStory staff is working to collect photographs and questionnaires from the female veterans to highlight each passengers’ service prior to the 2021 flight. The profiles will be featured on the group’s various social

media platforms as well as their website www.operationherstory.org.

In addition to the written submissions, The Pritzker Military Museum & Library, a donor to Operation HerStory, is gathering oral histories of women who served. McGrath is looking forward to participating with her recording.

When asked to recall her biggest challenge she faced while serving in the military McGrath responded, “Boot Camp! Oh my, the discipline. I had a difficult time understanding why my underwear had to be folded in such a special way. To this day I still fold everything in a similar manner.”

Information collected also will be shared with the Women in Military Service for America Memorial in Arlington, Virginia to be displayed in the museum during the Operation HerStory visit in 2021.