Front Cover: Marine Reservists (F) on the Ellipse

behind the White House "Dress Right, Dress" in preparation for drill in 1918. (WarDept Photo 165-WW598A-A, NatArch).
WOMEN MARINES

IN WORLD WAR I

By

Captain Linda L. Hewitt, USMCR

HISTORY AND MUSEUMS DIVISION

HEADQUARTERS, U. S. MARINE CORPS

WASHINGTON, D. C.

1974

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

WASHINGTON. D. C. 20380

Foreword

The history of the first women to serve in the Marine

Corps is a fascinating record of the dedication and drive

of American women during World War I. The purpose of this

monograph is to tell the story of the small band of women

who answered the Corps' call for volunteers in 1918 with

patriotism and enthusiasm. Long the object of interest

and curiosity by modern-day Marines, the women Marines of

World War I now have a lasting and fitting memorial.

The author, Captain Linda L. Hewitt, USMCR, is a native

of the State of Washington and a graduate of Seattle University. She served on active duty from 1967 through 1974

and is presently a member of Senator Henry M. Jackson's

staff.

In the interest of accuracy and objectivity, the History

and Museums Division welcomes any comments, additions, and

recommendations in regard to this monograph.

Brigadier General, U. S. Marine Corps (Ret.)

Director or Marine Corps History and Museums

Reviewed and approved:

10 June 1974

jrj j

Preface

A former Director of Women Marines, Colonel Jeanette I.

Sustad, USMC (Ret.) originated the project of compiling data

for a history of women Marines who served in World War I. In

1971, she asked various members of the Women Marines Association to interview surviving veterans throughout the country.

A questionnaire designed to guide the interviewers as well as

background information on the service of women Marines in the

1918—1919 period was developed by Lieutenant Colonel Pat Meid,

USMCR. Lieutenant Colonel Meid, who authored the official

history, Marine Corps Women's Reserve in World War II, originally published in 1964, accumulated considerable material on

the earlier group of women Marines during her research. This

was all made available to the author of this monograph.

The interviews conducted during 1971—1972, 29 in number,

form a valuable archive of personal experiences of these

pioneer women Marines. They have been used to supplement the

official records which are sparse and elusive. Muster rolls

of the time were checked exhaustively in compiling a roster

of women who served, but it proved impossible to discover all

the names making up the 305 women who were enlisted as Marine

• Corps Reserve (F). Much information was gleaned from contemporary magazine and newspaper articles, particularly from

Leatherneck, Marine Corps Gazette, The Marine Magazine,

Recruiter's Bulletin, and the New York and Washington daily

newspapers. A small but useful collection of women Marine

memorabilia, including photographs, letters, and clippings,

was donated by various individuals as a result of publicity

about the project.

In the course of my research, I was cordially received

and assisted by staff members of the National Archives, the

Library of Congress, and the Marine Corps' own History and

Museums Division. I particularly would like to thank Mr.

Ralph W. Donnelly of its Reference Section for his special

assistance. The monograph was prepared under editorial

direction of Mr. Henry I. Shaw, Jr., Chief Historian of the

History and Museums Division. I am indebted to the present

Director of Women Marines, Colonel Margaret A. Brewer, USMC,

who continued and supported Colonel Sustad's original concept

of the need for a history of women Marines of World War I.

V

U. S. Marine Corps Reserve

Table of Contents

P age

iii

Preface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V

Introduction...... • • • • • •. . •...•..• . •. * • • • • • • •0•S•••• 1

Authorization... •. • • ••. . . . . .• •I•*•••. 000• • • •S I I IS • 4

Recruiting and Enrollment. 0 • •• • . . .. . . ......... 4

N. . . . . . . . . . . . . •. . . • • • • • • • . •. . . . . •......• . . . ...... 16

16

tJni.forins. . .. . . . . . •. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . •. •. . . •. . . 19

Pay..... .. .. . . . . . . . . . •....... ... .. . . . . .. •......... •. 25

Assints to Duty. • .. . . . . . •• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Drill and Parades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • , • . • • . . , . . . 31

Discipline...... . . . . . •. . . . . . . . •...•.•.... . . •. . . . . . . . 35

37

Di.senrollznent. • •• •. . . ••...•.• . • . •. •. . ..•....• •..... 40

Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

After tite War....................................... 43

Appendix A — Notes . . . . . . . . * . . . . * . . . . . . . . . * . . . . . . . . . 49

AppendixB—Bibliography...........................

Appendix C - Partial Alphabetical Roster of Women

Enrolled in the Marine Corps in World

War I . . . . . . . . . . * . . . . . . . . * . . . . . . . . . . . * . 59

Appendix D - Authorization to Enlist Women Marines.. 69

Appendix E - Wilchinski and Leibrand Articles...0... 71

vii

Introduction

Legend has it that the first woman Marine was Lucy Brewer

who supposedly served, disguised as a man, on hoard the

frigate Constitution in the war of 1812. (1) While there is

no evidence that Miss Brewer ever wore a Marine uniform there

can be no question about Opha Johnson, who on 13 August 1918

enrolled in the Marine Corps to become America's first woman

Marine. (2) TIer enlistment was a reflection of the dramatic

changes in the status of women wrought by the entry of the

United States into World War I.

The nation was already heavily committed to the support

of the Allies when the declaration of war was signed in April

1917, and as thousands of young men rushed to volunteer for

the Armed Services, and the draft gathered in hundreds more,

the labor potential of women for the first time in the history

of the United States became, of monumental importance. In

August 1917, four months after the Navy opened its doors to

women in an effort to support the increasing administrative

demands of the war, the Secretary of the Navy said: "In my

opinion the importance of the part which our American women

play in the successful prosecution of the war cannot be overestimated." (3) In October of that same year the New Republic

commented: "Our output of the necessities of war must increase

at the same time that we must provide for the needs of the

civil populations of 'the countries allied with us. Where are

we to get the lahor?...The chief potential resource at our,

command lies evidently in the increased employment of women."

(4)

Overnight, organizations such as the National League for

Women's Services and the Women's Committee of the Council of

National Defense were established to coordinate and direct

the activities of women across the country. Everyone, from

housewives in Oklahoma to Park Avenue society girls was involved in the all-out effort to support the war. Much of the

work fell within the area of volunteer labor and thousands of

women were recruited to work at home or in local women's clubs

making bandages, knitting garments, planting victory gardens,

or canning a can for Uncle Sam. Women with more time moved out

of their traditional roles and volunteered to hostess at

canteens, organize food and clothing drives, or collect books

and magazines for the boys overseas. Hundreds more canvassed

the city streets promoting the sale of Liberty Bonds and War

Savings Stamps or joined such organizations as the American

Red Cross or the bloomer-clad Women's Land Army whose members

helped farmers with the task of producing the Nation's food

supply.

1
Private Opha Mae Johnson, the Marine Corps' first

enlisted woman, shortly after her enrollment on 13

August 1918. (NatArch RG l27G Photo 515829).

2
The contribution made by the highly-motivated women's

"volunteer" army was invaluable to the war effort; however,

of greater historical significance was the breakthrough

achieved by women in the gainful occupations. Contrary to

predictions early in the war that women would never be put

into "trousers or an unbecoming uniform and try to do something a man can do better," women donned the uniforms of

elevator operators, streetcar conductors, postmen, and industrial workers, and ably carried on the Nation's business at

home. (5)

Dramatic changes in the status of American women were to

result from the wide-spread employment of women in United

States industry. Although women were by no means new to the

industrial setting, World War I was the first time in which

they were employed in large numbers to perform skilled and

semi—skilled labor. In aircraft plants, steel mills, and

shipbuilding yards, hundreds of women were recurited to operate drill presses, lathes, millers, and other machines and

hand tools requiring a high degree of dexterity. (6)

Although American industry and business were the first

to feel the pinch of the manpower shortage, and the first to

employ large numbers of women, by 1917, the military services

were also faced with a serious personnel problem. Josephus

Daniels, the Secretary of the Navy who was enthusiatic about

the possibility of enrolling women in other than nursing

billets, set his staff to work investigating the legal statutes regarding naval enlistments. While his assistants tried

their best to find laws prohibiting female enlistments, there

was in fact no legal basis on which to exclude women — naval

law referred only to the enlistment of "persons." (7) So

Secretary Daniels opened the Navy to women under the conditions of equal opportunity. In all, some 12,500 Yeomen (F),

holding mostly clerical positions, responded to the nationwide

"Call to Colors" broadcast in March of 1917. (8)

The Army which also desperately needed administrative support and would have welcomed women was not so fortunate. The

law pertaining to the Army specifically called for the enlistment of "male persons." In spite of a deluge of requests from

hundreds of commanders, all attempts failed to change the law

and women were not to be enlisted into the Army until the outbreak of the Second World War.

The position in which the Marine Corps found itself with

regard to personnel was similar to that existing in the other

services. The way in which the Corps sought out to remedy its

situation, with many colorful rememberances by the women who

served, will unfold in the following pages of this monograph.

3
WOMEN MARINES IN WORLD WAR I Authorization

By July 1918 the demands of the war hit an all—time high,

the heavy fighting and mounting casualties abroad were increas—

ing an already acute shortage of trained personnel and as fast

as men could be spared, they were sent to join Marine units at

the front in France. When it was discovered that there was a

sizable number of battle-ready Marines still doing clerical

work in the United States who were urgently needed overseas,

the Corps turned in desperation to the female business world.

Major General Commandant George !3arnett, in an effort to determine how many men could be released, dispatched memorandums to

the offices of the Quartermaster, Paymaster, and Adjutant and

Inspector asking for an analysis by the directors of each as

to the feasibility of using women as replacements for male

troops. In every case it was agreed that there were areas in

which women with clerical skills could be utilized on an

immediate basis. Interestingly enough, although'it was estimated that about 40 percent of the work at Headquarters could

be performed equally well by women, it was believed that a

larger number of women than men would be needed to do the

same amount of work. The opinion expressed by experienced

clerks was "that the ratio would be about three to two." (9) The highly competent performance of the women reservists

throughout their participation in the war proved the error

of this early opinion. In addition, the '1ajor General Comman- dant was strongly advised that if women were to be enrolled

"it would not be desirable to make the change suddenly but

gradually" to allow sufficient time for each woman to be

instructed by the clerks they would be relieving. On the

basis of these conclusions and recommendations, General Barnett wrote a letter to the Secretary of the Navy on 2 August 1918

requesting authority "to enroll women in the Marine Corps Reserve for clerical duty at Headquarters Marine Corps and at other Marine Corps offices in the United States where their services might be utilized to replace men who may be qualified

for active field service." (10) In a letter dated 8 August 1918, Secretary Josephus Daniels gave his official approval to

the request and authority was granted to enroll women as members. (11)

Recruiting and Enrollment

Overnight the word was spread via newspapers and enthusiastic Marines and on 13 August 1918 women by the thousands

flooded into recruiting offices across the country. Mrs. Opha

Mae Johnson, who was working at Headquarters Marine Corps as a civil service employee, was enrolled on 13 August 1918 and holds the honor of being America's first woman Marine. Mrs. Johnson

was assigned as a clerk in the office of the Quartermaster

4
A fanciful woman Marine was used by Howard Chandler

Christie as his model in this World War I recruiting

poster. (NatArch RG 127G Photo 5l8347)

5

1 I j iL at r

•,$\ - Ili !:L L . A11 4.

9 a To

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General, Brigadier General Charles McCawley, and by the war's

end was the senior enlisted woman with the rank of sergeant.

(12) The Marine Corps had very definite ideas as to the type

of women it wanted as rr'embers of the Corps. Recruiting

officers were instructed to enroll only women of excellent

character, neat appearance, and with business or office experience. While the greatest need was for stenographers, bookkeepers, accountants, and typists, "applicants who have had

considerable experience in handling correspondence and general

office work and can show evidence of exceptional ability in

this line will be given consideration." (13)

Recruiting orders stipulated that women reservists were to

be between 18 and 40 years of age but that an applicant

slightly under 18 years of age, who is in every respect very

desirable, may be enrolled with the consent of her parents."

(14) In addition, each applicant was required to submit to a

thorough physical examination before her final acceptance.

While this seemed a simple task, it presented unusual problems

as the enlistment requirements established by Naval Medical

Regulations were designed for men only. Medical officers, it

seems, were as uneasy with the situation as were the women

applicants when it came time for the examination. In an

effort to establish a policy guiding medical officers, Headquarters released a "circular" on 14 August 1918 giving detailed instructions as to the enlistment requirements expected.

While the Bureau of Medicine realized the obvious source

of embarrassment caused by the examination, it was strongly

felt that thoroughness should not be sacrificed because of

it. Accordingly, each medical examiner was instructed to "use

such tact and courtesy as will avoid offending in any way the

sensibilities of the applicant. He shall not, however, by

such attitude, allow himself to deviate from a proper fullfiliment of all the requirements. The applicant should be

previously instructed to arrange her clothing in a way that

will insure ease, facility and thoroughness in the examination.

A loose gown of light material will not interfere with the

examination or taking of the measurements. Corsets should

invariably be removed." (15)

The women selected for duty with the Marine Corps were enrolled as privates in the Marine Corps Reserve, Class 4, for

a period of four years. Each applicant was required to

furnish three letters of recommendation and if possible was

given an interview with the head of the office in which she

was to he assigned. In cases where applications were received

from great distances away and it was apparent that the applicants involved possessed the required skills, Headquarters

Marine Corps ordered that "they should be instructed to report

at the nearest recruiting station for examination and a test

as to ability and in such cases should be required to furnish

additional letters from former employers of undoubted reliability." (16) Such was the case with Miss Sarah Jones who

6
because of her excellent qualifications was ordered from

Meridian, Mississippi to New Orleans, Louisiana for interview

and processing.

Following her enrollment on 27 September 1918, Private

Jones returned to her home in Meridian to await orders from

Headquarters Marine Corps directing her to report. Within a

matter of days the official orders arrived and with excited

expectation she boarded the Pullman for the two-day train trip

to Washington. Upon her arrival Private Jones was assigned as

a secretary to the non—commissioned officer in charge of medals

and decorations where she was to remain until the war's end.

(17)

The enthusiasm with which women across the country

responded to the call for volunteers was amazing. In New York

City alone, 2,000 hopeful applicants lined up at the 23d

Street recruiting office in reply to a newspaper article which

read that the Marine Corps was looking for "intelligent young

women." (18) Colonel Albert McLemore, the Officer in Charge

of Marine Corps Recruiting, was on hand to ensure proper

screening and processing of the women. Among the five ladies

chosen on that occasion was Miss Florence Gertler who recalled

the day's excitement:

Male noncommissioned officers went up and down

the line asking questions about experience, family

responsibilities, etc., and by the process of

elimination got the line down to a few hundred.

Applicants were interviewed by one officer and

finally given a stenographic test. Colonel McLemore

conducted the shorthand test and dictated so fast,

that one after another left the room. Those who

remained were taken, one-by—one, into Colonel

McLemore's office and told to read back their notes

(I remember that I made a mistake on 'Judge Advocate

General,' never having heard the word, I thought it

was 'Attorney General.') If the colonel was satisi—

fied with our reading, we were required to type our

notes and timed for speed and accuracy. More and

more applicants dropped by the wayside, until only

five of us were left. We were told to report back

the next day for a physical examination. (19)

Within a week all five were called up to be sworn in and

issued orders for duty at Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington D.C. Florence later learned that Colonel McLemore

called them his "100% girls" because of the unusually high

speed and accuracy requirements placed on them that first day

of recruiting. Because of her experience as a stenographer

and her superior test results, Florence was assigned as a

secretary to the Assistant Adjutant and Inspector, Captain

France C. Cushing. (20)

7
A flood of women applicants in the New York Recruiting Office greeted the announcement that women Marines

were being enlisted. (WarDept Photo 165—WW-598A—12,

NatArch).

Dressed in men's uniforms, (1 to r) Violet Van Wagner,

Marie Schlight, Florence Wiedinger, Isabelle Balfour,

Janet Kurgan, Edith Barton, and Helen Dupont are sworn

in as privates at New York. (NatArch RG 127G Photo

530552).

8

It

Lv a V —
The Marine Corps was unwavering in its determination to

accept nothing but the best, most highly trained women possi- ble. Across the Nation the story was the same. Among the

thousands of women who burned with partiotic desire to serve

the country as a woman reservist only a select few were able

to meet the rigid requirements demanded by the Corps. In all,

only 305 were enrolled during the four months of recruiting.

(21) It was not unusual to find that out of 400 applicants

only one had been chosen or that out of 2,000 only five were

found to be qualified. Time could not be wasted training.

The women chosen were enrolled with the idea that they would

be able to step in and be on their own within a matter of days

and in some cases within a matter of hours after their arrival.

These women had to be "top notch" and had to be able to

demonstrate their qualifications under the pressure of a stiff

recruiting examination. One young woman by the name of

Elizabeth Shoemaker was not to be discouraged in her effort to

qualify for enrollment. Miss Shoemaker was working as a stenographer in New York City when she saw the notice in the New

York Times that enlistments would open up the next day at the

23d Street recruiting office. Although she arrived early, the

line was already clear around the block and down the street

from the front of the station so she took her place at the end

and began to inch toward the door arid up the stairs to the office where interviews and examinations were being conducted.

One by one the women were told to step aside "You had to be

100% perfect mentally and physically...and you also had to be

a speed stenographer." In spite of the fact that she worked

as a speed stenographer, Miss Shoemaker failed the typing test

that day and was told that she could not be used:

I was terribly disappointed, of course...

the next day I went back and for no good reason...

I was only 17, I hadn't had my 18th birthday yet...

I did my hair differently and had dressed differently.

I thought I might be recognized, and I was. This

amazing colonel said, "Weren't you here yesterday"?...

I remember him hesitating and when I said "Yes, I was"

he got up and leaned over the desk and shook my hand

arid said, "That's the spirit that will lick the Germans,

I will allow you to take the test again"! (22)

This time she passed the test with flying colors and was on

her way to Washington D.C. for duty where she was assigned as

the secretary to the chief clerk in the office of the Adjutant

and Inspector.

The spirit of these first women Marines is indeed something to be admired. While the reasons behind their desire

to enroll in the Marine Corps were as varied as their numbers, the patriotic duty felt by each to be of service to their country in time of conflict was the force stronger than any

9
Two hopeful applicants to become women Marines are

interviewed by a recruiting officer in Boston. (War

Dept Photo 165-WW-598A--7, NatArch).

Six newly enlisted privates from Boston pose for

their picture before taking the train to Washington,

D. C. (WarDept Photo 165—WW-598A—l, NatArch).

10

—I-

, —n, 4

J
other which accounted for the overwhelming response to the call

for volunteers. Some, like Private Theresa Lake, who was working as a statistician for the Texas Oil Company, has a special

reason for enrolling——her sweetheart had given his life for

his country. Others, like Private Lillian Patterson, served

to support her husband at the front and Private Mary English

her brother. (23) The women of 1918 wanted to be totally

involved, and, recalled Private Mary Sharkey, the opportunity

to be members of "such an elite branch of the service" was

the opportunity to serve in the most meaningful way possible.

(24) One young woman was so filled with the desire to be a

Marine that after being told that she did not meet the requirements because she was not a stenographer burst into tears,

"But I'll do anything," she pleaded, "anything." (25)

The Macias family of Jersey City, N.J. was well represented in the Corps when its only daughters, Edith and Sarah, were

sworn in in New York on 5 September 1918. Edith and Sara had

been working as stenographers in New York when they saw the classified advertisement that the Marine Corps was accepting

women. They both had good clerical and stenographic experience and were sure that they possessed the necessary qualifications for enrollment. Sarah was 27 years old, and Edith,

although only 17, had been telling her bosses and the D. Appleton I'ublishing Company that she was 19, so, she thought, why

not the Marine Corps too?

After a lengthly discussion with the recruiting officers

concerning background and experience, the girls were given a physical examination, medical shots, and the stenographic test.

Edith in her excitement failed the test and was going to be

turned down, so Sarah bravely asked permission to talk to

Colonel McLemore, the senior recruiting officer, and succeeded

in convincing him of Edith's ability. They were both sworn in

on that day and ordered to report the following Monday to

Washington for assignment. Although their parents "nearly

fainted" when the girls broke the news of their enrollment,

the two silk stars found hanging in the window of the Macias

home the next day was proof indeed of the tremendous pride

felt by their family. Privates Edith and Sarah were detailed

for assignment together as stenographers in the office of the

Adjutant and Inspector. Upon their discharge, Edith had

attained the rank of private first class and Sarah the rank of

corporal. Another pair of sisters who patriotically enrolled

in the Corps together was Helen Constance Dupont, whose husband was serving in France, and Janet Kurgan.

The newly enrolled Marine Reservists (F) were as proud of

the traditions of the Corps as the men themselves. While

some of their families and friends might have reacted with

surprise and in a few cases shocked disbelief, the women themselves were delighted with their achievement. In a letter,

11
one of a series published in The Recruiters' Bulletin, Private Martha Wilchinski ostenisibly broke the news to her sweetheart fighting in France:

Dear Bill,

I've got the greatest news! No, I haven't thrown

you over; I'm still strong for you, Bill. No, it's no

use; don't try to guess. You're not used to that much

mental effort, and you might get brain fag. Besides,

you'd never guess, anyway. Now, listen and try to get

this. I know it'll be hard at first, but it'll grow on

you after a while. Are you ready? Well, then,-- I'm a

lady leatherneck; I'm the last word in FIun hunters; I'm

a real, live, honest-to-goodness Marine! The process was

painful I admit, and lasted for thirty-six hours, but I

survived it all right. Our future together doesn't look

so black to me now. •Don't be surprised if you see me

mentioned for a Croix de Guerre or something. You know

me! I'm not looking for sympathy or anything, but honest,

I've been through an awful lot. They've done everything

to me except punch my name out on my chest. That's

coming soon, I guess. But I'll begin from the beginning

and tell you everything ad seriatim. That's Latin. It

means, 'Go to it, kid.' You know I always had a kind of

a hunch that the Marines would realize the necessity of

women some day, so I was laying low and waiting. Well,

when I heard they had at last hung out a sign at the

recruiting station -- 'Women wanted for the United States

Marine Corps' -— I was ready. 'Mother,' says I, 'give me

your blessing, I'm going to he one of the first to enlist.

I was there when the doors opened in the morning. I was

one of the first all right —- the first six hundred!

You'd think they were selling sugar or something. Well,

when the crowd heard that you had to be willing to go

anywhere as ordered and you had to be a cracker-jack

stenog, they thinned out some. And from what was left the

lieutenant picked out twelve to go over to the colonel and

have him give us a double 0. I was one of them, of

course. I'm not looking for applause, but you know I

always said with colors when they change every season.

The colors don't change, of course, but some smart guy

wants to make it hard for everybody else so he calls

green, chartreuse, and yellow, maize. Then they took my

finger-prints. They'll know me when they see me again.

The nurse couldn't find any marks on me for purpose of

identification. "Take a picture of my freckles, nurse,"

said I. Some kidder, eh? And, I've got a terrible confession to make to you. You know what I said, no secrets

between us. They took my height in my stocking feet. It

wasn't fair; nobody had ever done that to me before and

12
Marine Corps artist Morgan Dennis pictures a newly

arrived woman Marine waving "Good—bye" to the Marine

she released for overseas duty. (NatArch RG 127G

Photo 528855).

13

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So To FRANC!

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1

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I

)— —
I told the doctor as much. I'm a terrible shrimp,

and I don't know whether you'll want me when I tell

you. I'm sixty—two inches. Isn't it heart-breaking?

I felt as big as a yardstick when I heard it. But

you know me, Bill, I'm a sport. You can always

have your ring hack. There's still nine installments

to pay on it, anyway.

Well, only three of us came out alive. The

others had fallen by the wayside. Then the colonel

came in and told us to come over and be sworn in.

I'm going to tell you something. I'm not bragging,

but it isn't every private that's sworn in by a

colonel. It was terribly impressive. Something

kept sticking in my throat all the time. I don't

know whether it was my heart or my liver. I had to

swallow it several times before I could say, 'I do.'

Then they took a movie of us. I'm not throwing 'bokays'

at my self, but you've got to admit it, the kid's clever!

And then I got my orders. Travel orders they

call them. But that's only to make it hard. The

only traveling I have to do is to come down from the

Bronx in the new subway. I'm so worried about those

orders, I sleep with them under my pillow at night

and wear them around my neck during the day.

I got some good tips from the boys. They said

if you want to scare the captain just click your

heels at him. I don't remember whether they said

click or kick; I guess they meant kick. And another

thing they said. When I'm made a sergeant, I

mustn't stand for being called 'Sarge.' Nothing

doing on that 'Sarge' stuff. They'll have to call

me anything that's in the Manual. I hear some people

are giving us nicknames. Isn't it funny the minute

a girl becomes a regular fellow somebody always tries

to queer it by calling her something else? There

are a lot of people, Bill, that just go around

taking the joy out of life. Well, anybody that calls

me anything but 'Marine' is going to hear from me.

'Marine' is is good enough for me.

Bill, you never were very literary. But did

you ever hear me speak of Kipling and what he said

about the female of the species being more deadly than

a triple titration of TNT? Well, if a regiment of

Marines can make the Germans stand on their bone

heads and yell 'Kamerad,' you can imagine what a regiment of female Marines would do? Why, those
plop-eyed, yellow-skinned bounders would run so fast

and furious they'd never stop for second wind until

they reached Berlin.

I never received that German helmet. Are you

sure you got the fellow, Bill?

I can't sign myself as affectionately as I

used to, Bill. You understand, I'm a soldier now

and you wouldn't want me doing anything that wasn't in

the Manual.

Yours till the cows come home,

Pvt. Martha L. Wilchinski, M.C.R. (26)

From the very outset Marine Corps policies and expectations were made unquestionably clearto the aspiring applicants. The women enrolled were advised in no uncertain

terms that the same rules and regulations governing enlisted

male Marines would also govern enlisted women and that

failure on the part of any woman to maintain the high standards expected of a Marine would result in the individual

being 'summarily disenrolled." (27) Colonel Albert S.

McLemore made doubly sure that the women to whom he personally administered the oath understood the seriousness of

their pledge of allegiance when he warned that he "wanted it distinctly understood that there was to be no flirtatious philandering with the enlisted men at headquarters on the part of the female reservists." (28)

Continually throughout the months between August and

November small groups of Marine reservists (F) arrived at Headquarters Marine Corps from cities across the country Although they were dressed in civilian clothes looking like

any other young ladies of the time, they were expected to

conduct themselves with a degree of military bearina. Where Joint Travel Orders were issued, one woman was placed in

charge and was instructed to represent the group and to

handle any problems arising during the course of the journey. Meal tickets were supplied by the individual recruiting

stations in sufficient quantity to cover the trip, and travel

tickets were issued for those who traveled by rail. Sergeant

Margaret L. Powers, who was one among five enrolled in Boston

on 18 September 1918, remembered how excited they were when

they were met at Union Station and whisked off to Headquarters in a mini-bus-like motor car called a "Black—Maria." (29)

Although Headquarters endeavored to have a representa- tive on hand to meet each band of reservists, the effort was not always successful and in those cases the women took the

15
initiative without hesitation and reported in on their own

to Headquarters Marine Corps which was located in the Walker

Johnson Building at 17th and New York Avenue in downtown Washington.

Name

Marine Reserve (F) was the only official title by which

the Corps first enlisted women were known, however, throughout the duration of their service many nicknames were also

coined to identify them. On the occasion of their first

official visit to Quantico on 21 November 1918, Corporal

Elizabeth Shoemaker heard the title "Lady Hell Cats" used

for the first time when an enthusiastic Marine shouted it

from the crowd as they marched by. During a party planned

for the women that same evening, Corporal Shoemaker recalled

overhearing one disgruntled young Marine telling his buddies:

"This is a fallen outfit when they start enlisting skirts," hence "skirt Marines" was added to the growing list. (30)

The most popular and most widely used of all the nick- names was "rIarinette." "The United States Marine Corps

frowned upon the use of the word 'Marinette,' " remembered

Corporal Avadney Flea, "they posted notices every once in a while on the bulletin board, that we were not to be referred

to as 'Marinettes.' We were United States Marine Corps Reserves with 'F' in parenthesis after indicating female. And we were not to be called 'Narinettes.' The Marine Corps didn't like it." (31) In spite of that fact, however, many

people still refer, although erroneously so, to the Marine

Reserves (F) as Marinettes.

Housing

For those not already living in Washington, the first order of business after reporting in was to arrange for housing. Although the military maintained a limited

number of government barracks, they were already filled

to overflowing with permanent male personnel and a constant

stream of transient troops, so the women were given an

allowance for subsistence and quarters (approximately

$83.40 per month) and assisted in locating quarters in

the city. Private Ingrid Jonassen, who was enrolled in

New York on 14 September 1918, remembers how her group

enthusiastically bought the Sunday paper their first day

in Washington and threw it all away but the classified

ads: "We were bound and determined to stay together and continued to look, fruitlessly, all that Sunday. In the end, however, we were forced to hire singly." (32)

16
The housing shortage by 1918 had reached critical dimensions in Washington and even with the referrals supplied

by Marine Corps Housing suitable rentals were hard to

find. Complicating matters even worse was the fact that a deadly strain of Spanish influenza was sweeping the city

that summer leaving hundreds of dead in its wake. "If

anyone even coughed or cleared her throat she was suspect,"

recalled Sergeant Margaret Powers. (33) The women ended up

scattered throughout the city, some found rooms alone in

private homes and boarding houses while others in small

groups rented apartments.

Cooking presented little problem for those who rented

apartments or boarding house rooms, however, meals were

rarely included in the single room rentals and most of

these women ate in cafes or restaurants in the city. The

effects of the influenza epidemic could not be escaped here

either, though, and finding available restaurants during

the summer months was at times a problem: "We would have

to go in and stand third behind somebody who was seated

and wait for the two ahead of us to be served, eat and

leave before we could be seated," commented Corporal

Avadney Hae. (34)

When the housing dilemma was brought to the attention

of Mrs. John D. Rockfeller, a member of the War Council,

and an enthusiastic advocate of women in the military,

additional help was soon on the way. Through her efforts

about seventy women Marines were quartered in the Georgetown Preparatory School located in Rockville, Maryland, which

although newly built had not yet been opened. Sergeant

Margaret Powers who was enrolled in Boston was one among

the lucky seventy: "It was a beautiful place with private

rooms, and excellent food prepared by a former tearoom

owner." (35)

Living in the city had its advantages, however, and the

women who were fortunate enough to find quarters near downtown Washington enjoyed a short walk to work while others

who were located in the suburbs of Maryland and Virginia

rode the trolley cars which faithfully clanged and whistled

along their daily routes into the city.

In general the girls found Washington residents to be

people of great kindness, such as the lady in Maryland who

temporarily set up her sun porch "dormitory style" to

accommodate a somewhat discouraged group of six after their

long day's search. (36) Sergeant Ingrid Jonassen will also

never forget her landlady, Mrs. Pheobus, who helped her

through a serious bout with the Spanish flu. (37)

17
Looking trim in their new uniforms (1 to r) PFCs Mary

Kelly, May O'Keefe, and Ruth Spike pose at Headquarters

Marine Corps. (NatArch RG 127G Photo 530266).

Members of the Adjutant and Inspector's office staff

pose for a picture in October 1918; in the foreground

are Privates Bess Dickerson (left) and Charlotte Titsworth. (Photo donated by Mrs. Charlotte (Titsworth)

"ustin).

18

I

L.
In spite of the fact that the worrn were spread far

and wide across the city they none-the-less maintained a

strong feeling of comradeship with one another and whenever

possible were eager to be together as a group, whether at

social functions, drilling on the Ellipse behind the White

House, or participating in parades and rallies.

Uniforms

As women organized into groups in their effort to

support the war, hundreds of unusual uniforms began popping up across the country. Among the most admired, by far, was

the uniform designed by the Quartermaster for the Marine Corps Reservists (F). "The civilian girls were terribly

envious," recalled Ingrid Jonassen, "and tried on occasion

to borrow my uniform." (38) The girls looked stylish indeed

in their tailormade two-piece suits of green wool in the

winter and tan khaki in the summer. Accessories included:

a specially designed shirt, regulation necktie and overcoat,

brown high-topped shoes for winter and oxfords for spring

and summer - the first low shoes most of them had ever worn.

Matching overseas caps on which they proudly wore the globe

and anchor insignia were the preferred headgear; however, during inclement weather the women reservists were permitted

to wear campaign hats which made "excellent uirellas,"

recollected Private Florence Gertler "and were really quite

comfortable and practical when it rained." (39) Raincoats, gloves, and purses were not issued, and while old photographs

show some women wearing gloves, handbags were not permitted

on any occasion. (40)

Although initially each woman had only one winter

uniform set, the standard uniform issue was established as:

two winter and three summer uniforms, which, in addition to jackets and skirts, consisted of six shirts, one overcoat,

two neckties, two pair of high topped shoes, and two pair of oxfords. The women did not have a dress uniform. As individual items became unserviceable through "fair wear and tear,"

the Quartermaster's Department replaced them on an exchange

basis (41)

The uniform regulations governing women reservists were 'o less strict and no less important than those governing male Marines and most of the women took great pride in keeping their uniforms "spick-and-span" and their shoes polished to Marine Corps standards. "Even though the uniform regulations were strict," commented Private Mary Sharkey, "the women used their ingenuity and were put to relatively little

inconvenience":

19
Private Carrie E. Kenny pictured in her World War I

uniform in 1919; she continued to serve the Marine Corps

as a civil servant for 26 years following her release

from active duty. (NatArch RG 127G Photo 13458).

20
The coat or blouse had a large pocket on each

side which extended across the front. These commodious

cavities were handy, but putting too many things in

them created bulges which was strictly against

regulations. To avoid this I kept a comb and brush in

my desk, tucked my handkerchief inside a sleeve, and

carried a small change purse so as to appear trim

and neat. There was no need for a wallet. Our

underwear and stockings we bought ourselves. The

skirts were heavy enough not to require a slip, but

if one wore a slip it tended to bunch up in front while

walking or marching, so I wore long bloomers over my

underpants. They stayed in place nicely. The skirt

had to reach the tops of our high-tied, pointed-toed,

curved—heeled shoes. Our overseas cap was made with a

fold that could be released and buttoned under the chin,

thereb" covering hair and ears. The cap was of the same

material as the uniform. Mv quarters had laundering and ironing facilities, so I encountered no difficulty in maintaining cleanliness...Initially we each had only one

winter field uniform and when it was sent out to he dry

cleaned we requested permission to wear civilian clothes

for that day only. (42)

Although the Navy women also had uniform regulations, they

were quite a bit less strict than those governing Marine

women reservists "The Navy Department girls were quite a bit

more feminized," remarked Corporal Elizabeth Shoemaker.

"Enlisted women in the Department were not subject to the same

discipline as were the Marine girls. For instance, while the Navy girls wore lace collars and jewelry, the Marine girls, even on the hottest Washington summer day, were not allowed

to turn down their collars or remove their fore-in-hand

neckties." (43)

Violations of the uniform code while only occasionally

disciplined were continually brought to the attention of

the women reservists. The following memorandum written

in 1919, along with a rather unusual violation in the wearing

of a ribbon of high distinction, points up the more common

infractions for which the women were reprimanded:

21
HEADQUARTERS U.S. MARINE CORPS Adjutant and Inspector's Department Washington, D. C.

February 8, 1919

NORANDUM FOR: THE ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR,

THE PAYMASTER,

THE QUARTERMASTER

It has come to the attention of the undersigned that

there is a total disregard of uniform regulations on the

part of a number of female reservists attached to these

Headquarters. Several of them have recently been seen in public places wearing rifle insignia, Sam Browne belt, spats

and non—regulation shoes. A flagrant example of this dis— regard of regulations was noted today in the case of a

female reservist who was wearing a ribbon of the Croix de

Guerre on her coat in the position reccuired by regulations

for the wearing of campaign ribbons and ribbons and medals.

This is not only a direct violation of uniform requlations

but is as well the wearing of a decoration which is awarded

by the French Government only for gallantry on the field of

action in the face of the enemy.

Female reservists must be made to understand that the

wearing of the uniform by themcort'fers no priviledqe to

deviate from the uniform as prescribed in regulations.

By order of the Major General Commandant. (44)

The most popular uniform item among the wotren reservists

was the Sam Browne belt. Although the girls were warned

repeatedly against its wearing, "It made the uniform look

particular stunning," reminisced Sergeant Jonassen, so most

of the women willingly took the risk and wore it whenever

they could, on leave and liberty, at rallies and parades.

On one occasion a young woman was seen wearing the belt by

the major for whom she worked and the next morning she found herself standing tall being sternly reprimanded with a warning forbidding her to wear it again. "Some months later,

recalled Corporal Elizabeth Shoemaker, "a great victory

parade was held in Washington. General Pershing led it, the

girls were in it, and of course all the Marine Corps

officers...The day before the parade the orders for dress

were posted directing all officers to wear Sam Browne belts.

A mad scramble in the Washington stores to buy belts followed soon after and the stores were quickly sold out. The

major who had been so cross at his secretary could not find

a single belt in the whole city...An hour before the parade

he rang for her and asked if he might borrow hers, he even

sent her home in an official car to get it." (45)

22
Private, later Corporal, Avadney Hea dressed in the f a—

vorite uniform of the Marine Reservists (F) —winter

field service green, with Sam Browne belt and swagger

stick. (Photo donated by Mrs. Paul (Hea) Cheney).

23
The women were particularly fond of having their pictures taken in the winter field green uniform, wearing the

Sam Browne belt and holding a swagger stick: 'We were

permitted to carry a swagger stick," remembered Corporal

Mabelle Musser, "which some of us did with high glee - not

every day to work, but on special occasions and on Sunday

when we went strutting." (46) Eventually, although officially frowned upon, a liberal policy was adopted with regard

to the Sam Browne belt and the reservists when not on duty

were permitted to wear it with relatively little repercussion

from headquarters.

The women assigned to Washington, D.C. were the first to

be completely outfitted in their uniforms since they were

able to take irr'mediate advantage of local tailors and the

Quartermaster's supplies. Women recruited for duty in other

cities, however, waited months and in some cases did not

receive uniforms at all. Private Lucy Ervin, who was assigned to the District Division in Indianapolis, Indiana, after

having waited several weeks could wait no longer and ingeniously assembled her own uniform:

I could see that it would be months yet before

I could be assured a uniform and since I had always

admired the dress uniform of the Marines, I was

given permission to wear one of the dress jackets,

to which I added a black velvet skirt, web belt

complete with red and gold stripes and a campaign

hat. I'll tell you I was high off the ground when

I walked down the street in it...Many officers were

surprised to be given a salute as I passed them...I

was just a private in the rear ranks but I was proud

to be doing a job that was needed." (47)

In a letter to Headquarters Marine Corps following her discharge Private Ervin told her delightful story and by

return mail she received a box from the Quartermaster with

material and emblems for a regulation winter field uniform.

After the war when asked about the uniforms worn by the Marine Reservists (F), the Secretary of the Navy, Josephus Daniels, commented:

The uniforms...of the Marines (F) were natty

and beautiful, were worn with pride...and suited to

the duty assigned. As a designer of women's uniforms the Navy Department scored a distinct success,

for these uniforms were copied by women all over the

country." (48)

24
Pay

The 305 women reservists enrolled between the months of

August and November 1918, proved to be a capable and industrious group and by the end of the war a good number had been promoted to private first class, corporal, and sergeant, the highest rank obtainable. In keeping with Marine Corps policy, the women received the same pay as enlisted men of

corresponding rank: private, $15.00; private first class,

$18.00; corporal $21.00; and sergeant, $30.00 per month,

plus an additional $83.40 per month for subsistance and

quarters. (49) The end of the first payroll period held

quite a nice surprise for Private Ingrici Jonassen: "I never

expected to be paid for my services," reminisced Sergeant

Jonassen, "I thought that we would receive only room and

board, so you can imagine my surprise when my first pay check

came through." (50)

The women had to work hard to prove themselves and

promotions, given for time in grade, time in service, "work

well done, and conduct becoming a woman," were worn with

the greatest pride and pleasure. (51) Private First Class

Ida Kirkham recalled the unexpected problems she incurred

with her initial promotion:

After a few months I received my first promotion to private first class. My stripe, which reminded me of a whisk broom, earned inc $3.00 more a

month and entitled me to be called "Private." I

remember how devastated I was when I was informed

that my whisk broom was sewn on upside down. After

all, no one had instructed me how to wear that

stripe and I sewed it on the way I thought it look- ed best.' (52)

By the war's end the senior enlisted woman with the rank

of sergeant was Opha Mae Johnson, who worked in the office

of the Quartermaster.

Assignments To Duty

The jaunty women reservists arrived at Headquarters

Marine Corps eager for work and little time was wasted pre- paring them to take the jobs of Marines anxiously awaiting overseas orders. One by one they took their places as secretaries, office clerks,, and messengers in the offices of

the Adjutant and Inspector;:Paymaster, and Quartermaster. The muster roll for Headquarters Marine Corps dated January 1919, show the distribution of women reservists to the various departments as follows: (53)

25