Members of Parris Island's Drum and Bugle Corps show

Corporal Martha Wilchinski how to execute a drum roll

during a visit to the base in 1918. (NatArch RG 127G

Photo 518919).

Women Marines post recruiting posters in New York,

(1 to r) Privates Minette Gaby, May English, Lillian

Patterson, and Theresa Lake. (NatArch RG 127G Photo

530751)

26
Sgts Cpls Pvt Fst Cis Pvts

Adjutant and Inspector .... 1 16 17 54

(BGen Charles H Lauchheixner)

Quarterinaster............. 3. 8 44

(BGen Charles L. McCawley)

Paymaster............... 3 6 19

(BGen George Richards)

In most cases the superior qualifications possessed by

the women reservists insured them excellent job assignments.

In the office of the Quartermaster, Corporal Mabelle Musser

was detailed as a secretary to the department handling

motor transport assignments, Private Marie Schlight was put

to good use as secretary to the officer in charge of Marine

aviation, and Sergeant Margaret Powers was so skillful that

she was immediately assigned as secretary to Colonel William

Fay in the office of the commandant.

Corporal Louise Hedtler, secretary to Captain Charles Ketchan in the Adjutant and Inspector's office, researched

items in connection with congressional inquiries: "It was

the responsibility of the Adjutant and Inspector to give

congressmen every bit of information Headquarters Marine

Corps could, even going so far as writing units overseas in

response to their inquiries," she remexrered. (54) As an

additional job Louise and Private First Class Florence

Gertler, secretary to Captain Francis C. Cushing, Assistant

Adjutant and Inspector, were given the responsibility of

sending Marine Corps casualties' personal effects to next of

kin with an appropriate letter of condolence: "Each case

was unique" remembered Louise Hedtler, "and Major General

Commandant Barnett read and signed each letter separately

before it was forwarded to the family." (55) So professional

was the work of these two women that General Barnett summoned

them in order that he might personally compliment them on

their "performance of duty." (56)

Sergeant Martha Wilchinski, Private First Class Mary

Benson, Private First Class Mary Kelly, Private First Class

Mary Reilly, and Sergeant Lela Leibrand were assigned to the

Marine Corps Publicity Bureau, where they performed general

office work and, in the case of Sergeants Wilchinski and

Leibrand, contributed articles for publication in the

Recruiters' Bulletin, Leatherneck newspaper, and The Marines

Magazine. SergeanWi1chinski, who came to the MHne Corps

well prepared with a degree in journalism from New York

University went on to become the editor of Variety Magazine

and Sergeant Leibrand, who made the first military training

film, "All in a Day's Work," pursued a career in filmmaking at Fox Studios in New York following her discharge. (57)

27
A small number of women who looked "particularly sharp"

in their uniforms were assigned as messengers to make trips

throughout Headquarters Marine Corps and various offices of

the Navy Department with official communiques and intraoffice correspondence. These girls, among whom were Privates

First Class Nary O'Keefe, Ruth Spike, arid Sarnia Ellyson, were

reputed to be the most representative among the Marine Reservists (F).

In addition to their assignments in Washington, special permission to enroll women was also granted to recruiting officers who were severely pressed for additional help in

the cities of New York, Rochester, Boston, Philadelphia,

Indianapolis, Denver, Spokane, San Francisco, and Portland,

Oregon. The women were to be recruited locally and put

immediately on the job to free as many permanent male office

personnel for reassignment to the front as possible and to

help out with the mountain of paper work inherent in enlisting large numbers for military duty. Private Elizabeth

Bertram, who was working as a legal secretary, was enrolled

for duty in her hometown of Denver, Colorado. So enthusiastic was she about being a Marine that when the month arrived

during which the Denver Marines were required to qualify on

the rifle range, she was determined not to be left out, which

posed an unusual problem for Major Charles Guggenheim, the officer in charge of the Denver Recruiting Station:

I grew up in a small town and in my younger days

had done some hunting and a great deal of target

practice. I considered myself a better than average

shot so, when I learned that qualifying on the rifle

range added dollars to pay checks, I asked for permission for a tryout. The major gave me an unequivocal "no," the official firing range was on the westem slope of the Rocky Mountains more than a hundred miles away and he certainly would not send a female on such a jaunt simply on her say so that she knew

how to handle a gun...Major Guggenheim turnedto

Corporal Jones who worked in the office, 'Shcthinks

she can shoot' he said. 'Day after tomorrowyou will

take her to the Denver Police practice range just

outside the city limits. Make all necessary arrangements for a one person regulation full course tryout.'

'Day after tomorrow' was a cold, windy, overcast

day with squalls of icy rain; but orders were orders

so Corporal Jones and I, equipped with blank target

sheets, ammunition, and an Enfield Army rifle went

to the designated place. The rifle range was a vast

expanse of clayish mud with a few outcroppings of

rock. There were several policemen waiting under

the shelter to see what was going on. The rifle was

28
too long in the stock to hold a firm pressure

against my shoulder, there were surpresseci snickers

from the kibitzers. With almost 20/20 vision I did

all right on the standing positions and thought I

even made a bullseye. I did fairly well on kneeling

and sitting, and managed a few good shots prone;

but every time I tried rapid fire the result was

disaster. I stuck it out for the full course but

my shoulder was pounded almost into jelly and my

right arm was a painful something that didn't seem

to belong to me, We returned to the office soppinci

wet. My hair was stringing down from under my

dripping cap, my clothes were plastered with mud

and even my face was dirty. The major sent me

home in a closed car without comment. The next

day again spic-and-span but with the grandfather of all bruises spreading over my shoulder, arm

and even on my chest, I was summoned to The Presence. My target sheets were spread over the

desk with every bullet hole carefully evaluated.

'You seem to have qualified unofficially' the major

acknowledged. 'You will be included in the next

class to the official range.' Then he arose from

the desk and approached me saying 'In the meantime you may wear this,' and he pinned his own

engraved marksman medal on my blouse. I intended to execute a smart salute in acknowledgement; but when I tried to raise my right arm I

involuntairly yelled 'Ouch' instead, and ran to

my desk in an agony of fear and shame..Major

Guggenheim, the strict disciplinarian, he of the

hair-trigger temper and the blistering vocabularly

shot one glance at the astonished and apprehensive

faces around him, and saved the day with a burst of hearty laughter. (58)

Private Bertram, unfortunately, was never able to go to

the official firing range. On 11 November 1918, the Armi- stice was signed and she along with the rest of the Marine Reservists (F) was transferred to inactive duty.

In addition to doing the clerical and routine office work at the recruiting stations the women were also used as recruiter's aides. They were reported to be very impressive

with their "trim and snappy appearance arid their business- like attention to their work." (59) The women were effectively used for publicity in bond drives and rallies,

photographs, and as members of recruiting teams touring the

country with Marine Corps exhibits. Sergeant Martha Wilchinski was used frequently in publicity shots. Although

women were not assigned on board ship or as members of the

Marine Band, some of the more widely circulated photographs

29
Standing rigidly at attention behind their drill

instructors women Marines prepare for a morning's

drill on the Ellipse behind the White House. (WarDept

Photo l65-WW-598A-ll, NatArch).

Following a morning's drill session, these Marines

took time to pose for a platoon phocog:ci.ph before

continuing on to their offices to begin the day's

work. (NatArch RG l27G Photo 53P5).

30

I

k_if :; -
of Sergeant Wilchinski show her going through the daily

routine with sea-duty Marines and members of the Marine Corps

Drum Corps.

Corporal Mary IZathryn Beck, Rochester's only female Marine, was assigned as a member of the recruiting team in

that area. During a combined Na/Marine Corps exhibit in Rochester, the Recruiters' Bulletin reported that 'Corporal Beck...dressed iner snappy uniform - Sam browne belt,

overseas hat and swagger stick....was no small part of the

success of the show." (60)

In most cases the male Marines were very protective of

the women and helped them as much as they could in the performance of their jobs. Although some of the women came up

against negative attitudes harbored by Marines who felt that

the Marine Corps 'stepped down' when it enrolled women, most

of the female reservists, regardless of where they were

stationed, felt that they were treated as ecruals: "The men

did not look down or frown upon us," recalled Private First

Class Edith Macias, "actually they were glad to have us. We

were given a job to do and we did it. We were definitely

not considered decorative rather than practical, but were

treated as professionals." (61)

Drill And Parades

A very important part of the day for the Marines

Reservists(F) was spend at 7:00 o'clock in the morning on the

Ellipse behind the White House. With stern sergeants barking commands of "forward, march," "to the rear," and "platoon, halt," they drilled in earnest. "Initially,"

remembered Private First Class Edith Macias, "the male drill

instructors were indignant to have been selected to teach

drill to women. As a result they showed us no mercy and

taught us the same way as they did male recruits." (62)

Private First Class Ida Kirkham recalled how her drill

instructor went along the line ordering them into the correct

positions with commands such as "stick out your chest," and

"suck in that gut." (63) "They were perfectionists, even

stinkers," stated Private First Class Florence Gertler, "but

they were good." (64)

Most of the women. found drill "fascinating" and they

tackled the challenge with energy and enthusiasm. Some did

better than others, however, and while there were those who

responded almost immediately to the unfamiliar sound of the

drill commands there were still others who never did quite

get the knack of it. "We all loved it," reminisced Corporal

Elizabeth Shoemaker, "but we couldn't do it...We had several

drill instructors and they all tore their hair and went crazy.

Some even pleaded with us and tried to bribe us to do

better.' (65)

31
Marine Reservists (F) followed by Navy Yoemen (F)

marching in one of the many parades in which they

took part in Washington during 1918—1919. (NatArch

RG 127G Photo G-521222).

Marine Reservists (F) march smartly down Pennsylvania

Avenue in Washington when the President reviewed the

2d Division on its return from France in 1919.

(NatArch RG 127G Photo 528255).

32

M

1

4

H'
The women practiced hard under the critical eye of their

instructors and were soon regular participants in the numerous parades held during the months just before and after the

signing of the Armistice. When the 2d Division care home

from France in 1919, the women were positioned behind the

wounded Marines and "Marched as proud as peacocks" down Pennsylvania Avenue in an unforqetable 'Welcome Home" salute

to America's fighting men. In addition to marching as a unit

in the parade the women were also on duty at the reviewing

stand: "The parade was reviewed by President Wilson," recalled Corporal Sarah Jones • "The reviewing stand was at Lafayette Park, across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, and the Marine Reservists (Female) formed part of the honor guard standing in front...just below President Wilson."

(66)

In most parades and ceremonies the women were placed in

positions of honor, either behind the Marine Band or as

members of the honor guard. When the body of the Unknown

Soldier was returned from France, Sergeant Ingrid Jonassen was chosen to be a member of the solemn procession: "I

walked directly behind the caisson on the way to Arlington,"

she recollected. It is interesting to note that Sergeant

Jonassen reported that she often has seen herself in old

newsreel clips still shown on television of that ceremony.

on 3 February 1919, the women received a special honor

when Major General George Barnett personally reviewed them on parade at the Ellipse. Eugene J. Cour, noted director of

the International Film Corporation, was on hand to take motion pictures of that unique moment in military annals.

Their "snappy appearance" so inspired Mr. Cour that he subsequently entitled his feature film story, "No wonder the

Kaiser Quit." Private Avadney Hea remembered how the girls

flocked down to the moving picture theatre the following week

"to see ourselves in uniform." (67)

Due to the wide dispersion of the women throughout the

city in accommodations ranging from apartments to private

homes there was no formal quarter's inspection. They did, however, stand in-line inspection given initially by the noncommissioned officer in charge, and later by the senior

woman, which took in "posture, hair style, uniform, shoe

shine, and all the rest, with demerits given for infraction

of the code," reflected Private Mary Sharkey. (68)

33
PFC Edith Macias, one of two sisters who served as

Marines in World War I, during a review of Marine

Reservists (F) by the Major General Commandant. (War

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

34

.4

I
Discipline

Discipline for the women reservists while not as rigid

as that governing male Marines was still very much Marine

discipline. The women were expected at all times, on duty

as well as in their free time, to conduct themselves with

the dignity and military bearing befitting a member of the

Corps. It did not take the Reservists (F) long to realize

that if they were to be equated the same privileges as their

male counterparts they would also be expected to take their

share of the duties. An incident remembered by Corporal

Elizabeth Shoemaker aptly points up this fact:

After we had been at Marine Corps Headquarters

for two weeks a typical hard-boiled sergeant who

just loved to do it, ordered us to sweep the floors

and wash the windows in our offices. Two pretty

girls, from wealthy families, rushed to Colonel

McLemors's office and said that they would not undertake such labor. He was very angry with them, reminded them that they had enlisted,, that they couldnt

change their minds about their duties. He ordered

them to wash those windows and they did it. It

was wonderful discipline for young girls and we came

to love the Marine Corps better than anything in life. (69)

Their conduct was under constant and close scrutiny and

in the following letter dated 8 March 1919, Major General

Barnett reminded his department heads of their responsibility

to ensure that the traditionally high standards demanded by

the Corps were being upheld by enlisted personnel under their

command:

"HEADQUARTERS U. S. MARINE CORPS,

Washington

March 8, 1919

From: The Major General Commandant

To: The Adjutant and Inspector,

The Paymaster,

The Quartermaster.

Subject: Conduct of enlisted personnel

1. Enlisted men and women on duty at

these Headquarters have been observed skylarking

35.
together on the streets, and not infrequently have

been noticed walking arm in arm.

2. Please bring this matter to the attention of the enlisted personnel in your departments,

informing them that such practices must cease and

that they must at all times conduct themselves in

a dignified and soldierly manner.

GEORGE BARNETT" (70)

Rank was a preciously earned privilege to the girls

and when it was taken away from them in the course of

disciplinary action it was indeed a bitter pill to take.

Private Elizabeth Shoemaker whose first furlough home

began with all the excited anticipation of a soldier's

first homecoming was destined to end on a sour note:

We had our first furloughs right after we received

our uniforms and everybody wanted to go home to show

them off...So home to New Jersey I went. They did try

at Headquarters to teach us the fundamentals of discipline and Marine Corps decorum, but I guess it left

me untouched. I was having such a good time at home,

it was just a short furlough, and my mother had planned

a party for the day after my furlough was over. So, I s'nt a telegram to Colonel McLemore saying that I was delayed and wouldn't be back for three days after the

end of the furlough. And worst of all...I sent him

my regards. When I got back a day or so later there

was a message for me to report to Colonel McLemore's

office...He informed me that I had been AWOL and gave

me what is called a 'deck court—martial'...I was quite

shaken until I came out of his office. Through the grapevine word had gotten around and there was a

crowd of enlisted men waiting to congratulate me; the

Marine Corps newspaper published the shameful story

and I got letters from Marines all over the world,

including China, telling me not to worry, and saying

"Now you are a real Marine." The girls could not hold

commissions but could be sergeants. Because of my

court—martial I never became a sergeant, but remained

a corporal. (71)

Occasionally the women were disciplined by their hard

driving drill instructors for ineptness at drill. Private

First Class Florence Certler, who was the pivot of her

platoon, related how she caught her heel in the soggy dirt

one rainy morning and was unable to turn, "I got KP for

that! I sure must have looked funny with my body going in

one direction and my leg remaining in the other." (72)

36
KP for the women usually consisted of a Saturday afternoon washing office windows, sweeping floors, or cleaning

bathrooms at Headquarters Marine Corps.

Social

Although the girls worked hard, some on a 10-hour day, six-day week schedule, they found time to relax and enjoy their many new friends, and the interesting sights and sounds

of the Nation's capitol. "Usually the girls who lived

together had their social life together," recalled Private

First Class Florence Gertler "The big event of the week was Sunday night supper. Our room and board did not cover the

Sunday evening meal and since we were usually broke, particularly toward the end of the month, if one of us was asked out for a Sunday supper date we always tried to ring in a

friend by double-dating." (73)

According to most of the. women none of the girls wanted

for dates, "any fellow was proud to take out a female Marine

Reserve," reminisced Corpora]. Louise Hedtler. The girls were true to the Corps, however, and the Marines always took

first place. Sergeant Ingrid Jonassen recalled that "every girl was begged for at least two dates every night." Overzealousness caused Sergeant Johnssen on one occasion to make seven dates for the same evening. In a panic, unable

to recruit other girls, she asked her landlady, Mrs. Canicius

if she could invite them to the house. They all came and

enjoyed Ingrid's company and an evening of Mrs. Canicius'

home cooking. (74)

The overnight expansion to gear up for war caused Washington to take on a boom—town atmosphere and the city

literally hwnnted with activity. "Washington was a dancing

town," recalled Corpora]. Elizabeth Shoemaker. "There were a

lot of roof gardens on top of the hotels and we danced our

heads off...to tunes like 'The Japanese Sand Man' and 'Jada'."

(75)

The first official visit of the Marine women to Quantico on 21 November 1918, was occasioned by the invitation

extended by the staff of the Leatherneck newspaper. As the

13-woman delegation stepped oT the train in Quantico town

to the strains of the post band playing "Hail, Hail the Gangs

All Here," and "How Do You Tame Wild Women," the crowds of

waiting Marines cheered with enthusiatic approval. "The camp to a man was knocked ," reported the Leatherneck:

37
That's all there was to it. It was just a plain

case of 'Knoclc'ein for a row of Hostess houses.' They

lined up in a column of twos and marched behind the

band to the parade grounds where they watched the O.T.C.

(Officer Training Class) men parade. They saluted

colors and retreat...Thern they made the offices of The

Leatherneck their headquarters. Boys, they are just

like any other girls in some respects, for they carry

mirrors with Marine emblems on them, but they are

regular Marines, for they are very proud of their

personal appearance and carry their own powder.

And how those Marine girls can dance 1

Everyone was proud of the Marine girls. They carried themselves like real soldiers, were good

follows and proved that they were ready to go any- where and conduct themselves with honor to the

Marine Corps. (76)

The lucky thirteen who termed this occasion "one never

to be forgotten, and entrapped in our memories forever" were:

Mae E. Bennett, Sarnia Ellyson, Mary Clay, Mary L. O'Keefe,

Katherine Pidgeon, M. Helen Fell, Charlotte M. Shoemaker, ma

C. Tracy, Martrese Thek, Mary C. Kelly, Edith I'acias, Sarah

Nacias, and Jeannette Rournage. (77)

This first trip to Quantico was just one of many to

follow for the Marine girls. Dances were scheduled every

Friday night and those who lived in the city corrmuted easily

by train from Union Station. After the Armistice, Private

First Class Florence Gertler and her group of friends used

to attend the dances whenever they could. "Usually the

trains were so crowded we'd wind up sitting on the floor or

lying down on the train platform to get some sleep." she

reminisced, "There were civilian girls as well as other

military women who came, but every Marine girl was assured

of all dances, even though some of the other girls might not."

(78)

The girls were competitive in nature and, typical of

Marines throughout the ages, were eager for a little friendly

jousting between departments. "Marine Girls to Have Own

Team," read The Leatherneck headlines:

The girls of the Marine Corps at Washington have organized a baskethall team to play rival teams of the Army and Navy Departments. All of which sounds

sort of formal and everything to you men here at Quantico

38
Marines on board a commemorative float before taking

their place in the parade line in Philadelphia in 1919.

(Marine Corps Museum Photo Collection).

Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels and Assistant

Secretary Franklin D. Roosevelt pose with Marine Reservists (F) and Navy Yoemen (F) at their final review in

1919. (NatArch RG 127G Photo 530164A).

3.

— —

I AQINE CORPS

;RLi iiYkAN •'J- 1848

CUE.lX)O A1'J lX)1 II(j- A Pl. AN

L. ': T
but listen to the lineup announced by "Acting Jack" Mae

E. Bennett. There's "Caddy Kid" Okey, "Cutey" Montgomery,

"Gin" Bellinger, "Saxnirtie" Ellyson, "Fido" Shoemaker,

"Stonewall" Bennet, "Martrcse" Thek, "Shorty" Kelly,

"Tubby" Tracy, "Jane" Macias, "Red" Barker and "Priessy"

And they have the sweetest little uniforms too. (79)

According to Charlotte Titsworth, who also played on the team,

they wore "navy blue turtle neck sweaters with rSMC in white

across the chest." (80)

The girls also showed their prowess as first rate entertainers when they planned, organized, and executed a vaudiyule show for the troops at Quantico. The Leatherneck, a

great supporter of the girls in green, ran aèature story

advertising the extravaganza. "A REAL LIVE SHOW INCLUDING

BURLESQUE ON APACHE DANCE AND ENTICING CHORUS OF MARINE

BEAUTIES NOW REHEARSING," broadcast the paper.

The staring number, "Shades of Cleopatra's Jazz" was

planned to be a real show stopper: "The girls will...spring

it on their unsuspecting Buddies January 20 with a full line

of special music, a beauty chorus of dancingly dainty yet

doughty and alluring Marine girls soubrettes who will attire

themselves in semi-Cleopatra costumes. All they will lack

will be the river Nile." stated the article.

The show was such a success that the following year,

seven months after the women had been deactivated, Washington's Belleau Wood Chapter of former Marine Reserves (F)

returned for another appearance, this time in two one-act

comedies, "'Op' 0' My Thumb" and "The Suburbanite." (81)

Disenroilment

With the signing of the Armistice of 11 November 1918, the urqent need for the support of female labor gradually

decreased and finally on 15 July 1919, orders were issued by the Major General Commandant for the transfer of "all reservists on clerical duty at Headquarters...to inactive

status prior to 11 August 1919." (82)

With traditional Marine Corps pomp and circumstance, a great ceremony was arranged on the occasion of their depar- ture from the Corps back into civilian life. Major General Barnett accompanied by his complete staff and the Marine

Corps band reviewed the women for the last time on the White

House lawn. As the women completed their final pass-in- review Josephus Daniels stepped up to give the farewell address. Corporal Elizabeth Shoemaker vividly recalled the unforgettable occasion:

40
We stood in front of him in our uniforms listening to every word of his eloquent speech; He said

we had been good Marines and he was proud of us;

Then, in his closing statement he said, "We will

not forget you. As we embrace you in uniform today,

we will embrace you with out uniform tomorrow." All

down the file of men standing at strict attention,

the line broke, and everyone roared with laughter.

The Secretary of the Navy forgot he was talking to

women. (83)

Disenrollirient from the Marine Corps Reserve (inactive

status) took place at a steady, but gradual, rate and evenually all women were discharged although this was as late

as 1922 in some cases. (84)

on 30 June 1919, Major General Commandant George Barnett was asked to comment on the service rendered by the female

reservists during the war. In reply, the Commandant stated:

It is a pleasure, but not by any means an unexpected one, to be able to state that the service rendered by the reservists (female) has been uniformly excellent. It has, in fact, been exactly what the intelligence and goodness of our countrywomen would lead one to expect. (85)

Benefits

As veterans of the war the Marine Reservists (F) were afforded the full benefits legislated into law, the same as their male counterparts. In addition to the coveted right

to military burial in Arlington National Cemetery alongside

others who have fought to preserve America's honor, the women

were also eligible for government insurance, World War

compensation, a $60.00 bonus upon discharge, medical treatment and hospitalization for service-connected disability, and a five per cent bonus added to Civil Service examinations for

those who chose to remain in government service. (86)

With typical Marine esprit, some of the reservists

elected to remain on duty as civilians at Headquarters Marine Corps, supply depots, and recruiting offices across the

country. Still others returned to their hometowns and the

prewar positions they so courageously left when the appeal for volunteers was made.

41
Lieutenant Colonel Martrese Thek Ferguson, who served

as a woman Marine in both World Wars I and II, is pictired in November 1945. (USMC Photo A412893).

42
At the conclusion of the war, the women who remained

in the reserves in an inactive status received retainer pay

of $1.00 per month until the end of their four-year enlistrnent contract. In addition they received a Good Conduct

Medal and World War I Victory Medal when they were discharged

from the inactive reserves.

After The War

Among those who remained in government service was

Mrs. Jane Van Edsinga Blakeriey who became head of the

Decorations and Medals Branch at Headquarters Marine Corps,

serving three commandants in that capacity. In 1959, Mrs. Blakeney was honored by the Marine Corps Combat Correspon- dents Association for her monumental book, Heroes, U. S. Marine corp_s, 1861-1955, which lists the medals earned by Marines during that 94—year period and records the names and

citations of those medal winners.

Another woman who chose to remain was Private Alma

Swope who was to serve in the Supply Department for more

than 44 years. Private Swope has the distinction of being

the last Marine Reservist (F) , who accepted a civil service position, to retire from government service. Upon her re—

tireinent in 1963, she received the personal congratulations of General David M. Shoup, then Commandant of the Marine Corps, and a letter of appreciation from the Secretary of

the Navy.

In the years following the war, Corporal Sarah Macias, Private First Class Edith Macias, and Private Mary Sharkey, contributed to the Marine Corps in a very special way. Sarah's only daughter, Major Anne Lenox, serves today as a

member of the Marine Corps Reserve, Edith was to have four Sons and one step son serve the Corps, and Mary proudly claims three sons who wore the scarlet and gold.

Corporal Leola Hopkins can not only boast that her daughter, Leola, was the first woman to enlist in Norfolk during World War II, but also that she is still represented

in the Corps by her other daughter Nannette, who is a reserve officer.

In an effort to maintain contact with the military and

each other, many Marine Reservists (F) joined associations

such as the Marine Corps League, Women Marines Association,

and the American Legion.

The slogan "Once a Marine, Always a Marine" was true

for two World War I Women Reservists who came back to the

Corps to serve as officers in the Marine Corps Women's

Reserve during World War II. Martrese Thek Ferguson, who

43
In 1946, Mrs. Opha Johnson, the Marine Corps' first woman Marine, and former Director of Women Marines, Colonel Katherine A. Towle, admire the uniform worn by Mrs.

Johnson, modeled by PFC Muriel Albert. (USMC Photo

313950).

44
graduated at the top of the first officers' class in the

Marine Corps Women's Reserve, rose to the rank of lieutenant

colonel, and commanded more than 2 ,000 women at Henderson Hall in Arlington, Virginia. The other woman reserve officer

who wore the Marine green uniform in both wars was Lillian O'Malley Daly, one of the eight women who came into the new

Women's Reserve directly from civilian life in early 1943.

She was immediately sent to Camp Pendleton, California, where

she served as West Coast Liaison Officer for the new women's

organization.

One might be courious about how the women themselves

felt about serving the Corps. The sentiments expressed by

Private Mary Sharkey describes most accurately the feelings

of the other World War I women: "I loved being a Marine. I loved helping our country. The feeling that the Marine Corps and I helped each other will always remain with me...

however, the scales were definitely tipped on my side. It

was, all in all, a wonderfully gratifying experience." (87)

The Nation's effort to prosecute the "War to end all

Wars" marked the beginning of a new era in the history of

American women. World War I afforded women across the Nation

the opportunity to try their hand at hundreds of new and

challenging occupations, many of which were considered

unthinkably inappropriate for women before the war. They

worked diligently and ably and in so doing laid the foundation

for higher wages, better jobs, improved working conditions,

and a more competitive status in the American labor market.

Among the more profound issues brought to a head as

a result of the participation of American women in World

War I was that of the political question of women's right

to vote. Their involvement had been on such a large scale

and so important to the war effort that the politicians were

forced to consider the demands of the women's movement more

seriously than they had before the war when the gainful

employment of women outside the home was minimal and

restricted.

By 1919 the movement's spokesmen had developed a most

influential champion in President Woodrow Wilson who

repeatedly spoke out in favor of the cause. In a speech to

Congress concerning women's suffrage, President Wilson

brought the moral implications of the issue into focus when

he said; "Unless we enfranchise women we shall have fought

to safeguard a democracy which, to that extent, we have

never bothered to create." (88)

45
Former Marine Reservists (F) return to Headquarters

Marine Corps for the 51st Anniversary of their enlist—

rnent. Standing 1 to r: Colonel Jeanette I. Sustad,

former Director of Women Marines; Miss Elsie Pinney;

Mrs. Alma Swope; Sue Seusa, President, Metropolitan

Washington Chapter, Women Marines Association; Mrs.

Philena Beale; Mrs. Marie Kane; and Sergeant Major

Mabel A. R. Otten, former Sergeant Major of Women Marines. Seated 1 to r: Mrs. Louise lvlcLuckie; Mrs.

Marie Buttell; Miss Carrie Linkins; and Mrs. Margaret

Jeschke. (USMC Photo A419732).

46

t$. i--...
At length Congress adopted the Nineteenth Amendment which specified that the right of citizens to vote should

not be denied by the United States on the basis of sex,

and the women of America stepped up to the polls to vote

for the first time in the 1920 Presidental elections.

47

Appendix A

Notes

(1) Lucy Brewer, The Female Marine, Philadelphia, 1917.

(2) U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls for 1-31 August 1918.

(3) Ida Clyde Clarke, American Women and the War, (New York:

D. Appleton Company, l9lE p 6.

(4) The New Reublic, 20 October 1917, p. 6.

(5) World's Work, 5 June 1917, p. 45.

(6) U.S. Women's Bureau, The New Position of Women in

American Bulletin #12 (Washing€on, D. C., 1920),

p.25.

(7) 0. S. Department of the Navy, Bureau of Naval Personnel,

Women's Reserve, "WAVES History," Unpublished manuscript,

(Washington, D. C., 1946), p.1.

(8) Eunice Dessez, The First Enlisted Women, 1917-1918

(New York: Dorrance & Co, 1946F p.12.

(9) National Archives Record Group 80 -- Records of the

Secretary of the Navy, General Correspondence, 28555-510--

Letter dated 2 August 1918. Copies on file Reference Section,

History and Museums Division, Subject file: WW I Women

Marines, hereafter Women Marines World War I File.

(10) Ibid.

(11) Ibid., 8 August 1918.

(12) Typed excerpt Chapter XXXI, "Women in the Navy, ' from

Josephus Daniels book, Our Na' at War (Women Marines World War I File). — — — — —

______

(13) National Archives Record Group 127--Records of the U.S. Marine Corps, General Correspondence (1913-1938) 1535-1555,

Circular, dated 14 August 1918 (Women Marines World War I

File) . (14) "Women in the Navy," Chapter XXXI, 22•

(15) Ibid.; MC Circular dated 14 August 1918, p. 3. (Women

Marines World War I File)

49
(16) Ibid.

(17) Interview of Mrs. Florence (Gertler) Miller, p.2, hereafter Miller interview (Women Marines World War I File).

(18) Interview of Mrs. Ida (Kirkham) Lawrence, p.1, hereafter

Lawrence interview (Women Marines World War I File).

(19) Miller interview, p.1.

(20) Ibid., p.3

(21) National Archives Record Group 127, cit. Letter from

Majcen George Barnett, dated 30 June 1919.

(22) Interview of Mrs. Elizabeth (Shoemaker) Linscott, p.8,

hereafter Linscott interview (Women Marines World War I File)

(23) New York Evening World, 23 January 1919.

(24) Interview of Mrs. Mary (Sharkey) Short, p.3, hereafter

Short interview (Women Marines World War I File).

(25) Linscott interview, p. 6.

(26) Kemper F. Cowing, Dear Folks At Home (New York: Houghton

Mifflin Co., 1919), p. 16.

(27) National Archives Record Group 127, 2, cit.

(28) ingfield Sunday Republican, February 1960.

(29) Interview of Miss Margaret L. Powers, p. 2, hereafter

PcMers interview (Women Marines World War I File).

(30) Linscott interview, p. 28.

(31) Interview of Mrs. Avadney (Hea) Cheney, p. 17, hereafter

Cheney interview (Women Marines World War I File).

(32) Interview of Miss Ingrid Jonassen, p. 3 (Women Marines

World War I File).

(33) Powers interview, p. 3.

(34) Cheney interview, p. 8.

(35) Powers interview, p. 2.

(36) Ibid.

50
(37) Jonassen interview, p. 3.

(38) Ibid., p. 2.

(39) Miller interview, p. 6.

(40) "Women in the Navy," Chapter XXXI, 22.• cit., p. 38.

(41) Marine Corps Orders No. 62 (Series 1918), HQMC,

7 December 1918.

(42) Short interview, p. 5.

(43) Springfield Sunday Republican, February 1960.

(44) National Archives Record Group No. 127, 22' cit., memo

from MajGen Barnett, dated 8 February 1919.

(45) Springfield Sunday Republican, February 1960.

(46) Interview of Mrs. Mabelle (Musser) Hall, p.2, hereafter

Hall interview (Women Marines World War I File).

(47) Interview of Mrs. Lucy (Erwin) Winter, p. 1, hereafter

Winter interview (Women Marines World War I File)

(48) "Women in the Navy," Chapter xxX11 . cit., P• 39.

(49) Marine Corps Pay Tables in Register of the Commissioned

and Warrant Officers of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Naval Reserve

Force and Marine Corps (Washington, D.C., 1919).

(50) Jonassen interview, p. 3.

(51) Short interview, p. 8.

(52) Lawrence interview, p. 2.

(53) US. Marine Corps Muster Rolls for January 1919.

(54) Interview of Mrs. Ether (Hedtler) Budge, p. 2., hereafter

called Budge interview (Women Marines World War I File).

(55) Ibid., p. 4.

(56) Ibid.

(57) Individual biographies (Women Marines World War I File).

(58) Interview of Miss Elizabeth Bertram, p. 2. (Women Marines

World War I File).

51
(59) Ibid.

(60) Recruiters' Bulletin, Vol 5, No. 9 (October 1919), p. 5.

(61) Interview of Mrs. Edith (Macias) Vann, p. 2., hereafter

Vann interview (Women Marines World War I File).

(62) Ibid., p.3.

(63) Lawrence interview, p. 2.

(64) Miller interview, p. 5.

(65) Linscott interview., p. 18.

(66) Interview of Miss Sarah Jones, p. 6 (Women Marines World

War I File).

(67) Cheney interview, p. 14.

(68) Short interview, p. 6.

(69) Springfield Daily Republican, February 1960.

(70), National Archives Record Group No. 127, 2• cit., Letter

from MajGen Barnett, dated 8 March 1919.

(71) Linscott interview, p. 39.

(72) Miller interview, p. 5.

(73) Ibid., p. 7.

(74) Jonassen interview., p. 3.

(75) Linscott interview., p. 25.

(76) Leatherneck, 21 November 1918.

(77) Ibid.

(78) Miller interview., cit., p. 7.

(79) Leatherneck, 21 November 1918.

(80) Interview of Mrs. Charlotte (Titsworth) Austin, p.3

(Women Marines World War I File).

(81) Leatherneck, 9 January 1919 and 20 February 1920.

52
(82) National Archives Record Group No. 127, 22.• cit., memo

from MajGen Barnett, dated 15 July 1919.

(83) Linscott interview, p. 42; Springfield Sunday Republican,

February 1960.

(84) "Women in the Navy," Chapter xxxi. . cit., p. 38.

(85) National Archives Record Group no. 127, . cit., letter

from Ma]Gen Barnett to Miss Sawyer, dated 30 June 1919.

(86) Ibid.

(87) Short interview, p. 8.

(88) The New Republic, Vol XVI, No 197 (10 August 1918), p. 33.

53

Appendix B

Bibliography

Magazines

Leatherneck. Vol. 26, No. 2 (February 1943).

Marine Corps Gazette • Vol • 20, No. 2 (May 1963).

The Marines Magazine. Vol. 3, No. 10 (September 1918);

Vol 3, No. 11 (October 1918); Vol. 4, No.1. (December 1918).

The Recruiters' Bulletin. Vol. 4, No. 11 (September 1918);

Vol. 5, No. 3 (April 1919); Vol. 5, No. 4 (May 1919); Vol. 5,

No. 6 (July 1919); Vol. 4, No. 11 (September 1918); Vol. 5,

No. 9 (October 1919).

Newspapers

Evening Journal. (New York), 29 January1919.

Evening Mail. (New York), 19 August 1918, 29 January 1919.

Evening Star. (Washington), 7 August 1972.

Leatherneck. (Quantico), 14 November 1918, 21 November 1918,

9 January 1919, 16 January 1919, 6 February 1919, 13 February

1919, 21 February 1919, 19 June 1919, 20 February 1920.

New York Evening World. 23 January 1919.

Washington Post. 17 July 1918, 18 August 1918, 22 September 1918.

Other Sources

National Archives: Record Group 80 - Records of the Secretary

of the Navy, General

Correspondence 2 8553-510

Record Group 127 - Records of the United

States Marine Corps

(1913—38) 1535—55

Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, History and Museums Division,

Reference Section. Subject file on Women Marines World War I.

55
Interviews

Personal interviews were conducted with the following named

persons, copies of which are contained in the files of the

Reference Section, History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.

BENSON, Mary A. (Mrs. Albert Eldred) April 1972.

BERTRAM, Elizabeth (Mrs.) July 1972.

BOND, Olive (Mrs. Miller), August 1972.

CHAPMAN, Mary Lou (Mrs. Warren Clayson), April 1972.

ELLYSON, Samia (Mrs. Pope), April 1972.

ERVIN, Lucy (Mrs. Winter), November 1972.

FRANTZ, Frieda (Mrs. T. Kelleher), October 1972.

GARDINER, Marie (Mrs. Buttell), October 1972.

GERTLER, Florence (Mrs. Albert Miller), November 1972.

GILL, Kathryn (Mrs. Harry Belden), December 1970.

HEA, Avadney (Mrs • Paul Cheney), August 1972.

HEDTLER, Louise, Mrs. Norman Budge), October 1972.

HOPKINS, Leola Anne (Mrs. Erenesto Beavers), August 1972.

JONASSEN, Ingrid, May 1972.

JONES, Sarah, November 1972.

KINNA, Pauline (Mrs. Chamberlin), October 1972.

KIRKHAM, Ida (Mrs. Herbert Lawerence), October 1972.

LAYCOCK, Fanny (Mrs. Karl Kadic), November 1972.

LEE, Edna (Mrs. Robert Freund), July 1972.

LEIBRAND, Lela (Mrs. Rogers), May 1972.

LINKINS, Carrie, October 1972.

56
MAClAS, Edith (Mrs. Vann), April 1972.

MCLUCKIE, Louise (Mrs. Davey), October 1972.

MUSSER, Maybelle (Mrs. William Hall), April 1972.

O 'MALLEY, Lillian (Mrs. Joseph Daly), March 1972.

POWERS, Margaret, June 1972.

SHARKEY, Mary (Mrs. Joseph Short), July 1972.

SHOEMAKER, Elizabeth (Mrs. Linscott), August 1972.

SWOPE, Alma, October 1972.

TITSWORTH, Charlotte (Mrs. Austin), December 1972.

VAN WAGNER, Violet (Mrs. Lopez) February 1972.

WEIDINGER, Florence (Mrs. MacAlister), July 1972.

57

Appendix C

Partial Alphabetical Roster of Women Enrolled in

the Marine Corps During World War I

ABERLE, Caroline 0.

AHLUM, Frances C.

ALLEN, Susie

ANDREAS, Aifreda A.

ARNOLD, Jewell (Mrs. Craig Hansen)

ARNOLD, Judy

ARTHUR, Minnie

BAER, Ethel M.

BAILEY, Elsie M. (Mrs. Pinney)

BAKER, Emma L.

BALFOUR, Isabelle (Mrs. Morton)

BARKER, Alma

BARTLE, Maria

BARTON, Edith D.

BEALE, Rose

BECK, Maryann K.

BECK, May

BELLINGER, Virginia (Mrs. Bogart)

BENNETT, Mae E.

BENSON, Mary (Mrs. Albert W. Eldred)

BEPPLER, Elsie M. (Mrs. Schaeffner)

BERK, Alma (Mrs. Swope)

BERTRAM, Elizabeth

59
BITTNER, Elva D,

BLISS, Mary Ann (Mrs. Kennedy)

BOND, Olive M. (Mrs. Miller)

BOONE, Irene (Mrs.)

BOWMAN, Ann

BOYD, Justina M.

BRESNAN, Mary (Mrs. Edward Duggan)

BROADWATER, Alice

BROWN, Anna (Mrs. T. Stanley Holland)

BROWN, Eleanor F.

BUCKLEY, Sarah (Mrs. Daniel)

BUDD, Graham

BURGESS, Eleanor

BURNS, Mae (Mrs. Walter Fisher)

BYRD, Norma (Mrs. Watson)

CANTER, Lillian E.

CAREY, Emily J.

CAYIA, Jennie

CHAMBERLAIN, Lavinia P. (Mrs. Roy Kinna)

CHANDLEY, Pearl (Mrs. Howard L. Oagley)

CHAPMAN, Mayr Lou (Mrs. Warren Clayson)

CLARK, Grace

CLARKE, Blanche D.

CLAY, Mary

CLYNE, Rose M.

COLCLAZER, Alma (Mrs. Crosby)

60
COVERT, Marie (Mrs. Anders)

COWELL, Mildred A. (Mrs. Jones)

cOXE, Elizabeth B. (Mrs. MacIntosh)

CROOP, Susan M.

CROSS, Helen M.

CUTTER, Lillian

DAOUD, Nahiba

DAVEY, Louise A. (Mrs. McLuckie)

DAVIDSON, Eva (Mrs. William Rabill)

DAVIS, Sybil B. (Mrs. MacNamnara)

DEUTERMAN, Louise (Mrs. Allison)

DEVEREAUX, Margaret M. (Mrs. Jeschke)

DICKERSON, Bessie R. (Mrs. Carl G. Carison)

DONAGHY, Clare M.

DOYLE, Mary B.

DRINEWATER, Charlotte M.

DUCKMAN

DUNN, Helen H. (Mrs.)

DUPONT, Helen C. (Mrs.)

ELLYSON, Jennie (Mrs. Gus Creange)

ELLYSON, Sarnia (Mrs. Pope)

ELSESSER, Caroline C.

ENGLISH, May

ERERLE, Carolyn

ERVIN, LUCy (Mrs. Winter)

EVANS, Matilda M. (Mrs.)

61
FALLON, Mary M.

FAUNCE, Elizabeth A.

FELL, Mary H.

FOLKS, Maybelle La Von (Mrs. Thad Taylor)

FOWLER, Beverly

FRANTZ, Frieda (Mrs. T.C. Kelleher)

FRENCH, Agatha C.

GABY, Minette (Mrs. Benjamin Ducknian)

GAMAGE, Philena (Mrs. Reginald H. Beale)

GARDINER, Marie A. (Mrs. Buttell)

GARDNER, May

GASKINS, Mabel E.

GERNSBACHER, Viola

GERTLER, Florence (Mrs. Albert Miller)

GILL, Kathryn (Mrs. Harry .J. Belden)

GRAHAM Frances C.

GRAHAM Ruth C. (Mrs. Ralph H. Crandall)

GRIFFITH, Virginia L.

GUNN, Elizabeth

HAINES, Ruth

HANSON, Genevive (Mrs. Arnold)

HARGIS, Mae E.

HART, Margaret (Mrs. Canby)

HASSON, Carol (Mrs. Miller)

HATSEL, Margaret A.

62
HAY, Mary (Mrs. Douglas)

HEA, Avadney (Mrs. Paul E. Cheney)

HEDTLER, Ethel Louise (Mrs. Norman D. Budge)

HELMES, Emma C.

HODGKINS, Alice W.

HOPKINS, Leola A. (Mrs. Erenesto Beavers)

HOYLE, Mary T.

HURLEY, Blanche

HUTCHINS, Irene (Mrs. D. A. Knight)

IRVINE, Blanche P.

JACOBSON, Myrtle (Mrs. H. W. Gunther)

JOHNSON, Elizabeth N.

JOHNSON, Opha M. (Mrs.)

JONASSEN, Ingrid

JONES, Norma (Mrs. Watson)

JONES, Sarah L.

KEARNEY, Jessie E. (Mrs. Arthur Perkins)

KELLER, Esther M.

KELLY, Mary C. (Mrs. Howard)

KENNY, Carrie E. (Mrs. Thompson)

KINNA, Lavina P. (Mrs. Chamberlin)

KIRKHAM, Ida G. (Mrs. Herbert F. Lawrence)

KIRKHAM, Patsy (Mrs. Owen)

KIRKPATRICK, Pat

KRAUSS, Margaret C. (Mrs. Noyes)

KUGAN, Janet C.

63
KURGAN, Wanda

LAKE, Theresa

LAMMERS, Sophia J.

LASALLE, Lillian R.

LAYCOCK, Fanny E. (Mrs. Karl Kadic)

LEE, Edna E. (Mrs. Robert F. Freund)

LEIBRAND, Lela E. (Mrs. Rogers)

LEWELLEN, Ethel (Mrs. J.B. Dennis)

LINGLE, Daisy (Mrs. Charles Myrtle)

LINKINS, Carrie

LOVELEY, Ethel R. (Mrs. Miloy)

LOWEN, Bertrude T. (Mrs. Toogood)

LYNCH, Maefaret

MABLEY, Mildred (Mrs. E. M. Donnelly)

MAClAS, Edith A. (Mrs. Vann)

MAClAS, Sara J. (Mrs. Brewer Stouffer)

MADLAND, Helen (Mrs. Orra Armstrong)

MAHAN, Alice L.

MALONE May F.

MARCUS, Rose (Mrs. Benjamin Hurvitz)

MARINA, Maria (Mrs. G. IL Kerm)

MASSENGALE, Mabel

MCGOLDRICK, Margaret C.

MCMORRIS, Victoria M. (Mrs. Sheevers)

MIDDLETON, Marjorie

MILLER, Mildred A. (Mrs. Richard Romer)

64
MILLINGTON, Anna L.

MILLINGTON, Clara

MILLS, Gladys E.

MILLER, Olive Mae (Mrs. Michael)

MONTGOMERY, Edith C.

MORINA, Maria L. (Mrs. G. R. Kern)

MORRIS, Anna (Mrs. McGoldrick)

MORRISON, Maud S.

MUIR, Charlotte E. (Mrs. Martin)

MULL, Helen M. (Mrs. Miller)

MUSSER, Mabelle L. (Mrs. A. William Hall)

NELSON, Elizabeth (Mrs. George T. Welk)

NEUMARK, Helen

NUBSON, Troy A.

O'KEEFE, May L. (Mrs. Hurley)

OKEY, Ouida N. (Mrs. William J. Sharp)

OLSON, Alma E. (Mrs. Gaston Stickler)

O'MALLEY, Lillian C. (Mrs. John Daly)

OMAN, Alma J. (Mrs.)

O'NEILL, Helen G.

OWEN, Maybel].e (Mrs.)

PATTERSON, Lillian

PEZZULI, Helen

PIDGEON, Katherine N.

PINKSTON, Caroline A.

PINNEY, Elsie

65
POWERS, Margaret L.

PRIESS, Helen I.

PURVIS, Harriet R. (Mrs. Larsen)

QUINN, Doris B. (Mrs. Lemly)

REILLY, Mary (Mrs. Rasener)

REINHARDT, Doris B.

REISS, Mae C.

RIENKENS, Charlotte S.

ROBINSON, Dorothy L.

ROEDER, Helen A.

ROTT, Lynn R.

ROSE

ROUMAGE, Jeanette C. (Mrs. Kelsy)

ROUNDTREE, Anna C.

RUDDER, Willie C.

RYAN, Anna N.

SANDS, Alice

SAWYER, Lillian M.

SAWYER Ray C.

SAYLOR, Myrtle R.

SCALES, Grace E. (Mrs. Tippett)

SCHLIGHT, Marie S. (Mrs. Kane)

SCHNADER, Madeline

SCHROEDER, Bessie L. (Mrs. Patchen)

SCHROEDER, Irene

SETTLE, Sarah G.

SHARKEY, Mary (Mrs. Joseph Short)

66
SHAUGHNESSY, Margaret C.

SHELDON, Anna A. (Mrs. Fulkerson)

SHOEMAKER, Elizabeth (Mrs. Robert Linscott)

SISSON, Mildred G.

SLY, Ethel W.

SMITH, Bessie (Mrs P. Frederick Dryer)

SMITH, Dorothy F.

SMITH, Thea A.

SOCKRIDER, Elsie L.

SORENSEN, Mattie L.

SPIKE, Ruth A. (Mrs. Frank Spike)

STIMSON, Hazel L. (Mrs. Fitzgerald)

STREEKS, Emma L.

STRUM, Ruth W. (Mrs. Errett)

SWENSON, Enga A.

THEK, Martrese (Mrs. Ferguson)

THOMAS, Gladys (Mrs. W. L. Allen)

THOMPSON, Anna E.

THOMSPON, Carrie E. (Mrs. Kenny)

TITSWORTH, Charlotte (Mrs. Austin)

TITUS, Daisy E. (Mrs. Spernoga)

TRACY, ma C.

TODD, Elizabeth M.

TULLY, Irene (Mrs. Rothrock)

TYSON, Edith (Mrs. Tom Shepard)

67
VAN EDSINGNA, Jane (Mrs. Arthur Blakeney)

VAN WAGNER, Violet (Mrs. Jose Lopez)

WASHBURNE, Ethel

WATSON, Eunice C.

WEIDINGER, Florence (Mrs. MacAlister)

WELLS, Jean C. (Mrs.)

WERNER, Lillian D.

WHEATLEY, Henrietta A.

WHITESIDES, Mabel H.

WIELAND, Clara L.

WILKINS, Florence G.

WILKINS, Louise B.

WILLIAMS, Mozelle M. (Mrs.)

WILSCHINSKI, Martha

WITHERS, Margaret C.

WITTICOS, Margaret

WRIGHT, Minnie (Mrs. William Sayers)

68
Appendix D

Authorization to Enroll Women Marines

NAVY DEPARTMFNT

WASH INGTON

August 8, 1918

To: Major General Commandant, U. S. Marine Corps

Subject: Enrollment of women in the Marine Corps Reserve

for clerical duty.

Reference: Letter of Major General Commandant, USMC, dated

August 2, 1918.

1. Referring to letter of the Major General Commandant

U.S.M.C. as per above reference and in particular to the state—

ment contained in the second paragraph thereof, that it is

thought that about 40% of the work at the Headquarters, U.S.

Marine Corps can be performed as well by women as by men:

authority is granted to enroll women in the Marine Corps Reserve for clerical duty at Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps,

Washington, D.C., and at other Marine Corps offices in

the United States where their services may be utilized to

replace men who may be qualified for active field service

with the understanding that such enrollment shall be gradual.

Josephus Daniels

69

Appendix E

Wilchinski and Leibrand Articles

Articles written by Sergeants Martha Wilchinski and Lela

Leibrand concerning their experiences in World War I.

Article from The Recruiters' Bulletin, Vol. 4, No. 12

(October l9l817p. 16.

New York,Septeznber 23, 1918

Dear Bill:

Well,Bill, here I am again.I've been waiting for

a chance to write you, but you'd never believe me

if I told you I've been so busy sweeping floors and

picking up cigarette butts and washing windows

and everything, I haven't had a chance. That's a

fine occupation for a Marine! Believe me, if I had

known what I was enlisting for-i What'll I say

to my grandchildren, Bill? When they ask me:

"What did you do in the Great War, Grandma?"

I'll have to say: "Washing windows on the second

floor." That's a fine thing to have written on your

tombstone, isn't it!

It's these everlasting inspections, Bill. There's

only one thing the matter with them - they never

come off I That is how I have it doped outs Bill.

They want to save janitor's wages, so an order

comes around that the general or somebody is coming for inspection. Then everybody gets busy and

starts scrubbing and bumping into each other and stepping on each other's feet and everything. And

just because I'm low in rank I have to do most of

the work. The captain comes in and says: "Here's

where you ought to shine!", "I am shining, Captain," I says; "I'm shining everything in sight." So

he takes a chair. and puts it on the table and stands on it and. runs his finger along the ceiling. Then he

shows it to me, and it has a speck of dust on it, and

he looks at me like I broke his heart.. So I climb up

after him and I'm so nervous, I fall down and break

the chair and scratch the table and dislocate my

adenoids.

But that isn't all, Bill. I don't want to get courtmartialed or anything by the general - not until

pay—day, anyway so I wash my face and go out

and get a shine and. everything. And the general

7].
never came that day at all, and the next day it

rained and spoiled my shine and I had to get another one. I tell you, Bill, this life is wearing me

out to a whisper. I'm getting so thin I had to take

another hole in my wrist watch.

You remember I told you last time that a

"movie" man took a picture of me being sworn in. He said it was going to show the week after. Well,

Bill, I went to the movies steady every night for three weeks and spend $2.13 on myself and that fellow Pete, who lives next door to us; he's got a

B classification - he'll be here when they go and

be here when they come back. And all I got out

of it was Spanish influenza and a pain in the ear

on the side where Pete was snoring all the time,

and I'm out $2.13, and all the lunch I can live

on for a month now is a glass of milk and a short

walk.

My cousin Sadie has been coming in and bragging

for a week about her friend's being gassed and

wounded and decorated and everything. I know

her friend all right. The only way he'd ever get on

the casualty list is by starving to death on account

of sleeping all day and not having to get up for

meals. And the only decorations he'd ever get are

a couple of black eyes. Well, I was might pleased

when I saw your name in the papers, Bill. That

Sadie hasn't got a thing on me now.

I hope they didn't have to give you ether, Bill.

I hear the fellows do terrible things when they come

out of ether. I heard of a fellow who made love to

the nurse. I bet he tried to hold her hand and everything. I get a lot of inside dope about the war, Bill;

that's how I happened to hear about this. You

want to be careful about those French girls, Bill.

They're terribly rough. I hear you can't take a

peaceful walk by yourself without having one of

them drape herself around your aesophagus and

getting closer to you than your landlady on payday. I'm sending you a book on biology. It's called

"How to Tell the Wild Women." You ought never

to go to Paris without it.

I have some very difficult situations to handle

sometimes, Bill. For instance: The other day the

lieutenant and I were waiting to go down in the

elevator. Now, here's the question. If I am a lady

and he's a gentleman, I go in first. If he's an officer

and I'm a corporal, he goes in first. It all depends

on how you look at it. I didn't know how he'd

72
take it, so I thought I'd wait and see what he'd do.

I guess he thought the same thing. So we both

stood there eyeing each other up on the right

oblique. Then he stepped forward and I stepped

back. Then he stepped back and I stepped forward.

Then we both stepped back. I was getting pretty

dizzy by that time. I guess he was too. Then we

both squeezed in at the same time. I guess that's

what they mean by military tactics.

Well, I've got to stop now and start in picking

up cigarette butts again. They're smoking them

very short this year. I tell you, Bill, if I ever get

out of this alive and have a home of my own,

there'll be no cigarettes in my house. Not that I'm

throwing out any hints. I thought you'd just like

to know, that's all.

Your comrade in arms

Corporal Martha

73
MARTHA Tili EMARINE! 7he Uniform i$ the Thing

IT'S "US CORPORALS" NOW, MARTHA TELLS B!LL

Wearing Chevrons Is Fine,

but Drill and "Osculations" Ain't.

Deat Bill

October 17, 1918.

(If course, Bill, you must have heard

of ny promotion. I'm a regular non- coinmissiojied officer now with chevrons

soil swell head and everything. When

they call me Corporal, I tell you Bill it

fec s like Na I)OleOn. ftc Colonel came up for the occasion. He called me out in front of everybody. "Private," he said, "Were you ever served with a warrant'?" "No sir," I said, wondering what I had done now.

I'o incinaged to heel) out of jail until mw. "\Vell," he goes on, "you're going

to he now." If he did have anything on me I thought it was kind of mean to

Ca ne down in front of everybody.

'9.. a wonder," I said, "you wouldn't sh.t it from the roof." But I said it to

iii when I icad the warrant I saw

th 1 had suddenly been changed into

in 'Ilicer. You know when a man is

a lieutenant the Major or some— hi always pins on his shoulder bars, St was waiting for him to sew my

cI ";'ns on. But he didn't. I guess not very handy that way. Ide are a lot of things you have to

g liriingh in this life, Bill. The other

I had to go over to the doctor to be o 'tilated or snmething, And what with

lug vaccinated a tid feeling like the

IT 'a sles and cutting a back tooth at

ti same time, I felt as if all I needed

was a hoop and a nursemaid to make my

happiness complete.

I'll tell you about the scientific ex- planation of this osculation business,

Bill. The doctor takes a tool about the

size of a bicycle pump, jabs it into your arm until it comes out of the back of

your neck and begins pumping typhoid

and yellow fever germs into you at the

rate of a million a second. By the time he gets through with you, you feel like

the cross section of an ant hill. Now

these here germs are supposed to be dead but there's still a lot of fight in

them. And as soon as they get inside of you they suddenly remember all the

family feuds they had in their last

residence and begin to revive them.

Then the germs that were there before

they came get sore and start a free for all fight and that sets up what they call a typhoid immunity. Which means that if a single typhoid germ ever stays far enough from home to get into you he'll soon wish he'd followed father's advice

and stayed at home. I hope you under- stand this explanation Bill, because then maybe you can explain it to me. All the girl Marines drill on the roof every day. You never can tell about those drill

commands. For instance. The drill

sergeant says "fall out I" Now there's

a little blonde not a thousand miles

away from here with whom I've been wanting to have a falling out for a long

time. So when the sergeant gives me

this invitation I don't wait to be told

twice but go right to it. They tried to

stop us but it was too late. The damage done was terrible.

•Then this right about face business. You never saw such a mess. At the

Command "about" you drape your right

74

leg about your left, the feet toeing in, the knees concentric and two feet apart; at the command "face" you swing about,

your fist resting in your neighbor's

right eye while you land gracefully on

his feet. Now anybody can see that a

stunt like that is bound to end up in

complications. Why you call start a wal in a minute just by standing six men up and telling them to about face

into each other.

I've been looking six ways for my

uniform for weeks, until an order comes out that you have to send your measure- ments to Philadelphia or Jersey City or some place and have your uniform made

'by mail. Now I've had enough ex- perience with these correspondence

schools to know better. Don't you re- member when my father tried to learn

the cornet in ten lessons by mail guaranteed and the neighbors complained so much that we had to move out? Well I

expected the w wst and I can't say I was much disappointed. When I put my

uniform on I looked like a physical map

of Colorado.

I'm lcarn'ng the duties of an officer very fast, Bill. I've got up to chewing

tobacco. I start on that next week. I

can't swear yet but I know all the words. Well be able to understand each other

better when you get back Bill. Good-bye Bill from

Friend Corp.

lu

Ctm,

Dreai.y!

OEPT

H Wket Dreamy Core True!
Cherchez la femme! (Find the

woman!) It is no longer a problem

clown at Headquarters in Washington.

Girls, girls everywhere! And the

Marines might just as well accustom

themselves to us for we've come down

among them to stay four years!

The moment your Marine Corps

sent out the call for girls we flocked

to the recruiting stations in every village, hamlet and town, eager to be one

of that splendid body of men who have

rendered such excellent account of

tiiemselves"overthere." And, we found

they vere most l)articular who they

enrolled. "One hundred per cent men;

one hundred per cent women," seemed

to be the slogan, resulting in about four

hundred being chosen out of as many

thousand applicants. Believe us, we

who are in are mighty glad it was us!

It's an enormous satisfaction to know

you can rate such an organization.

Many of us have left splendid positions back honie to answer the call of

our country in her hour of stress, even

as the boys, because we knew we could

be useful. Others of us have come

The Girl Marines

By PVT. LELA LEIBRAND

THREE OF OUR GIRL MARINES

Here's the way the Heavy Artillery Force at Headquarters looks in full uniform. Left to

right: "Big Bertha" Macias, "Minnenwerfer" Bennett and "Flammenwerfer" Macias

75
because the Marine Corps pays a better

wage than most private concerns for

the same kind of work, ar.d the

hours, 8.30 A.M,, to 4.30 P.M.,

are especially light. Then, not the

least inducement is that fascinating uniform,—enough to make any girl leave

home. Have you seen them? Done

up in one we have to salute officers and

everything.

You see, we are here to attend to

your official business while you go out

to fight. Some of the officers and men

are most skeptical as to our intentions and we've found we must convince

them we mean business. (Mr. Stroschein please note.) We are going to

do it too, by honest effort, rigidly

applied. Our work is exacting, and the

detail cruel, in a way, for it keeps us

upon the tips of our mental toes every

moment of each day. To trifle means

an error; errors mean inaccurate records. It can't be done in the Marines!

However, the men are kind and considerate and patient with us, though a

bit dazed at the newness of it.

There's romance in the work; real,

live, human romance. We keep in

closer 'touch with you than you dream.

If you are transferred we know where

from arid to. If you are hurt, we

know when, where and how much.

When you reach another step in progress of your training, marksmanship,

promotion, we hear about it and see to

it you get the proper credits on your

records and—the additional pay! But,

when we read "Ashore France, servg.

with Army fi," stamped on your card

—vell, it is btit a little hope, just a

thought, but it is a prayer that God will

watch over you and care for you, in the

end delivering you safely home, truly

glorified, to that little mother who

writes us occasionally that we might

know exactly where she may be reached

the most speedily "in case of emergency." Romance, did you ask? Each

one of you is a special little story all by

76

yourself. Sssh! We know when

you're brigged, too!

Oh, I mustn't forget to tell you about

our drills. You boys would turn dark

green with envy to see us "right face,"

"left face," salute" (at 'the heathenish hour of '8.30 in the morning).

And, Corporal Lockout, who is in

charge of our drills said (and 'these

are his exact words), "Girls learn the

drills much easier than men." He

added he doesn't know why, but 'we do.

Besides Corporal in Charge Edward

E. LockOut, we have Sgt. Arthur G.

Hamilton, Corpi. Guy C. Williams and

Pvt. Herbert S. Fitzgerald, each in

charge of a company andeach one enthusiastic about it. Well, who wouldn't

be ?—Am I right? We do police duty

in our offices, 'too, but we didn't have to

be drilled to that.

However, Corporal Lockout whispers to me that the drilling is only a means to an end. Discipline is the

goal! Military discipline, at that. Personalities and sex must be subdued. The

girls must learn as the men have

learned, they are privates in the Marine

Corps; must learn to accept discipline

as the men accept it, without a single

consideration for the fact that in private life they were self-governing young

ladies. There is to be no proviso to

this discipline. We are Marines! That

says it all! And, once our lesson has

been told to us, I hear from various

sources, in ominous tones, leniency

will cease to exist. The chaff will be

separated from the wheat. A sort of

forewarning. Now, do you gather a

bit of our importance among you? We

are not a fad by any means.

The Navy Department has t'aken

over a hotel for us the Hotel Vendome,

a't Third and Pennsylvania Avenue,

and every convenience and entertainmet of home will be supplied us there

at a charge much within the reach of

our purses. Too, the boys at Quantico ask us down, a few at a time, to
their dances, and we are chaperoned by

Colonel McLemore and his wife and

daughter. We haven't a moment to

get lonely or homesick.

All this just to let you know we are

here, also to warn you that, whatever

you do, remember the eagle eyes of

the Marinettes are right upon you.

Watch your step!

And just so you'll' know who we are,

here's the list of all the Marinettes now

on duty at Headquarters, excepting the

girls whose names were published in

the October issue:

ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR'S DEPARTMENT

Privates

Mary C. Sharkey, Philadelphia, Pa. Mary H. Fell, Elmira, N. Y. Ida G. Kirkham, New York

Mildred A. Miller, Hoboken, N. J. May L. O'Keefe, Jersey City, N. J. Dorothy F. Smith, New York Ruth A. Spike, Brooklyn, N. Y. Mary A. Bresnan, No. Cambridge, Mass. Pearl Chandley, Ingleeld, md. Bessiis R. Dickerson, Shelbina, Mo.

Philena F. Gamage. Waltham. Mass. Ethel L Hedtler, Mattapan, Mass. Mary T. Hoye, Brookline, Mass. Margaret L. Powers, ,Quincy, Mass. Rose Marcus, Boston, Mass.

Daisy E. Titus, Moline, Ill. Frances C. Ahium, Osage, N. J. Ruth C. Graham, New York, N. Y.

Sarah L. Jones, Meridien, Mass. Anna E. Morris, West Orange, N. J. Helen H. Neumark, New York, N. Y.

Anna C. Rountree, Jersey City, N. J. Tennie F. Van Edsinga, New York Ethel W. Sly, Nucla, Cob. Mary M. Beck, New York, N. Y. Elsie Beppler, New York, N. Y. Mary Fallon, New York, N. Y. Mary Doyle, New York, N. Y. Helen Dunn, New York, N. Y.

Ruth Haines, W'ashington, D. C. Mary A. Williams, Youngstown. Ohio. Helen M. Cross, Baltimore, Md.

Mildred A. Cowell, Marietta, Ohio

Ouida M. Okey, Woodsfield, Ohio Ethel R. Loveley, Washington, D. C. Mary Ann K. Beck, Rochester, N. Y. Evadne B. Hea, Buffalo, N. Y.

Florence G. Wilkins. Washington, D. C. Eleanor F. Brown, La Plata, Md. Anna H. Brown, La Plata, Md.

Clare M. Donaghy, Oil City, Pa. Willie C. Rudder, Washington, D. C. Blanche P. Irvine, Washington, D. C. Maybelle L. Folks, Clarksburg, md.

Margaret C. Withers, Yonkers, N. Y.

Dorothy L. Robinson, Baltimore, Md.

Grace Clark, New York, N. Y.

Margaret M. Devereux, Washingtcrn, D. C. Genevieve H. Hansen, New York, N. Y.

Sylvia L. Reinhardt, Brooklyn, N. Y. Lela E. Leibrand, New York, N. Y.

Mary C. Titsworth, Washington, D. C. Lillian C. O'Malley, Washington, D. C. Mildred G. Sisson, Washington, D. C. Margaret A. Hatzel, Rockville Center, L. I.,

N. Y.

QUARTERMASTER'S DEPARTMENT

Privates

Irene Hutchens, Allegan Co., Mich. Gladys E. Mills, Washington, D. C. Elizabeth A. Faunce, Washington, D. C. Edna E. Lee, Olivet, Mich.

Elsie M. Pinney, Baltimore, Md. Gladys Thomas, Greebey, Iowa. Minnie Wright, Preston, England. Ethel Washbourne, Rock Falls, Ill.

Virginia Griffith, N'ew York, N. Y. Carolyn Elsesser, Williamsport, Pa. Gertrude Lowen, Bournemouth, England Clara Wieland, Brooklyn, N. Y. Edith Tyson, Crab Orchard, Neb: Card Hasson, Minneapolis, Minn. Hazel Stimson, Detroit, Mich.

Carrie Linkins, Washington, D. C. Blanche Clarke, Virginia, Ill. Bessie Smith, Prince Georges Co., Md. Mabelle Musser, Hinckley, Ohio Harriet Purvis, Pittsburgh, Pa. Lavina Chamberlaine, Washington, D. C. Mabel Gaskins, Lancaster, Pa.

Elizabeth Gunn, Greenfleld, Ohio

Anna Sheldon, Washington, D. C. Jean Wells, Fullerton, Cal.

Clara Mi!lington, Milwaukee, Wis. Sybil Davis, Berwyn, Md. Helen Roeder, Upper Marlboro, Md. Susie Allen, Alexandria, Va.

May Malone, Washington, D. C.

PAYMASTER'S DEPARTMENT

Privates

Irene E. H. Bonne, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Sara V. Buckley, Washington, D. C. Lillian E. Canter, Plainfield, N. J. Nahiba Daoud, Washington, D. C. Eva Davidson, Harrisburg, Pa. Charlotte M. Drinkwater, Washington, D. C. Margaret C. Krauss, Washington, D. C. Wanda Kurgan, New York, N. Y. Fanny F. Laycock, Lesburg, Va. Emma L. Streeks, Washington, D. C.

77

BANKRUPTCY NOTICE

Selling out cheap. Good colleètion of crowns, thrones, swords, robes, uniforms, panoply and other whatnots of

royalty. Would make good collection

for enterprising motion picture com- pany. Communicate with

GERMANY, AUSTRIA, BULGARIA, et al,

National Agents.
Article From LEATHERNECK (Quantico) Vol. 2, No. 9 (2 January

1919).

FAIR MARINE TELLS OF FLIGHT IN HYDROPLANE

By Pvt. Lela Leibrand

Did you see the 894 circling about over your heads the other

day, dipping, voorning, tipping and twirling? Well--that was

I'M. How did I look?

You know,people have told me time and again the terrible

experiences they had in airplanes; funny things happening

to their stomachs when they were descending arid twirling, and

such and now I don't believe any one of those people who told

me those things ever went up in an airplane, hydroplane or

Marine plane. Honestly, it's just the opposite. You want to

sing and laugh and dance. You leave the world behind and its

troubles and worries and cares, and you just sail up among the clouds getting closer and closer to heaven and the quiet and

peace you've always been told heaven means. You cannot

remember a single unpleasant thing people have done to you or that you would like to do to people. You just sit there and

drink in the air and look and look and look.

Try to Frighten Her

Captain Mims and Captain Page, our two well-known flyers,

tried their best to frighten me before we started. Captain

Page tied my helmet under my chin, and as he did so, told

me in all seriousness that I must hold my mouth tightly closed to insure the imprisonment of my heart as the plane would leave the water. Captain Mims, drawing on those snappy

looking overalls of leather he wears when flying, and

incidently looks so ducedly handsome in, listed all the

different antics he would perform once he got me into the air.

But, I did some quick thinking, and just smiled back at them,

for wherever Captain Mims sent me he had to go himself, so,

I'd take a chance.

They all seemed to be somewhat worried because I showed no

signs of weakening, and I suppose the crew thought I was one

of those girls who remain seemingly passive throughout the

preliminaries, then qo all to pieces. at the real test. But I

showed "em, I did!

After I was strapped into my pit (Yes, hydroplanes have them);

I became a little impatient. How was I to know it took

hydroplane chauffeurs so long to get their machines started?

Now, my Packard--yes, and in the movies, the driver just

78
Private Lela Leibrand stands on the wings of a hydroplane at Quntico after taking her first flight.

(USMC Photo 518553).

79
steps blithely into his seat and moves away from the earth.

But, Captain Mims speeded the engine, then stopped it, then

speeded it again. Poor me, I thought something had happened

and it wouldn't go and I wasn't going to get my ride. Then,

all of a sudden, we were off. I didn't realize we had left

the water until I saw it receding below me. Then up, up, up.

0, Boy! There's not a single adjective in the United States

that has the power to express it. I wanted to sing, so I

burst forth, that is, I'm sure I did, hut you know those

engines! I know I never sang better in my life, either, for

I was truely inspired.

Says She %dSfl't Dizzy

Afraid? Why there is absolutely ;hing to make one feel

insecure up there. You are in that enormous, luxuriant plane

and you are far too high to get dizzy looking down.

If you remember, that day was one of those clear,' opal-pink

days with just a hint of fog in the air to tone down the

coloring. After we got a thousand feet or so above the

friendly old Potomac, all sound and motion other than ou.:

own, ceased. I was looking, just filling my eyes full, and

I've never seen a more beautiful sight, a more inspiring

sight in my life.

Do you remember when you used to look at those stereopticon

views grandmother used to have on the front parlor table?

Looking through those goggles from that distance, took me

back to those days, for that is just the way the earth

looked like to me. Just a beautiful old painting by a master

of color.

We circled about for a while, then--a bolt from the blue!

Those standing on the shore awaiting our return heard a distant

but terrible roar like an echo from Belgium or Alsace-Lorraine!

There was a splash and a geyser of water from the heart of the

old Potamac directly beneath the position of our plane.

Captain Mims saw it and changed his course. Indian Head were

proving out one of their big guns, but they shouldn't prove

on us. It wasn't long before we came down. You see, being

a green flyer I missed all this, and I tried to tell Captain

Mims I didn't want to go down, but he couldn't hear me. He

knew I wasn't safe up there so he was getting me where I

would be safe.

We came down and we had chow and I saw the show with the other

Marines, and then came home on a late train, tired but happy.

I'm coming down again soon.

80