Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-08-09
Subway Ride Launches Career
Jane BIQkeney
Holds Top Job
With Marines
Rv Rufh Nenn
By Ruth Deem

It was just another brisk Sep
tember morning to most New
Workers that day in 1918. But
to a 19-year-old girl swinging
from a subway strap on her way
to work, it was the turning point
of her life.
AS the car jerked back and
forth. her eyes caught the words
of an ad in a newspaper. For
the first time in its history" it
read, "the United States Marine
Corps is enlisting women for
service. Applications are now
being received at >"
The next morning, she didn't
go to work. Instead, she headed
for a downtown Manhattan re-
cruiting Office. A few weeks later
she was in Washington manning
a desk in the medals and decora-
tons branch of Marine Corps
headquarters.
Today, Jane Blakeney is in
that same Office, as a civilian
employe, but as one of the armed
forces top consultantS in medals
and decorations. Her hair is
grey now but her eyes still
sparkle with the enthusiasm that
made her chuck a job to join
the Marines.
She's the right person for the
job, q delicate one that has
much to do with keeping up
Marine Corps morale.
For 35 years, she's seen Marine
heroes receive medals and dec
orationS. Then the Marines
turned the tables on her a few
weeks ago.
The Marine Corps Reserve Of
f1cerS' Association gave her their
Non Sibi Sed Patriae-not for
self, but for country-Award.
She was the first woman to
receive it.
1T. was a complete surprise
to me. I knew nothing about
it," she said, still finding it
hard to believe.
It came as no surprise, how
ever. to those of the Marine
Corps-generals and privateS
alike-who have known. Jane
Blakeney through the years.
Dependable and tactful are the
words that best describe her.
She likes to do her job without
much fanfare; in fact, has al
most an aversion to being sin
gled out for credit.
In presenting her with the
framed certificate, Col. Justice
M. Chambers, pointed out that
Mrs. Blakeney, widow of a Ma
rine Reserve officer who died of
illness incurred during World
War II service in the Pacific,
has dedicated her life to serving
the Marine Corps.
"She is eminently fitted for
and deserving of this small token
of our appreciation" he said.
Mrs. Blakeney's job is more
than just handing out medals
and ribbons. Most people don't /!
realize what it involves" she said,
looking out over the long room
the branch occupies in the Navy |
Annex.
Each award given has behind |
it a painstaking job of research,
for eligibility must be deter
mined beyond the shadow of a
doubt.
There are 100 decorations and
campaign medals, all for vary
ing degrees of heroiSm and
service.
Probably the most heart
warming part of Mrs. Blakeney's
work Is taking care of Congress
sional Medal of Honor recipients.
They, or their next of kin, are
first notified by the Marine COM
mandant. Then Mrs. Blakeney
takes care of the rest Of the ar
rangementS.
Many's the night she has
stayed at her desk until 10
o'clock trying to get a long-dis- |
lance call through. There is the
transportation to be arranged.
the hotel reservations to make,
the kilograms to be sent and
finally the White House cere-
mony itself.
Many cases, particularly those
of divided families, have called