Anniversary

61st Anniversary of Women Marines

On 14 February 2004, our chapter of the Women Marines Association held our annual celebration of Women Reserves joining the Marine Corps on 13 February 1943. Even though the celebration was not planned to be as big an occasion as in past years, it was still a grand event with a band concert, luncheon, ceremonies, a dynamic guest speaker and an ample helping of fellowship.

Held in the Grand Ballroom of the South Mesa Staff NCO Club aboard Camp Pendleton, California, the 61st Anniversary began with no host cocktails at 1100 and 113 members and guests in attendance.

At 1200, we were entertained for 20 minutes by thirty members of the Third Marine Aircraft Wing Band from MCAS Miramar, California, under the direction of GySgt Ramon Villa. The band set a lively tone with a stirring concert of ’40s swing music and Sousa marches. After the concert, the band members joined us for lunch as guests of our chapter. (The music playing on this page is The Fairest of the Fair composed by John Philip Sousa in 1908.)

Next on the program was the Presentation of Colors by the Junior ROTC from Oceanside High School and the cake cutting ceremony. After the cake was escorted into the ballroom by members of the Junior ROTC, our guest speaker, Col. Wilbur R. Bowers, USMC (Ret.), presented the first piece of cake to our Special Guest of Honor, WMA National Chaplain Rev. Beverly Short, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.

The second piece of cake went to our treasurer, Marie Proulx, who enlisted on June 16, 1943. The third piece of cake was received by active duty woman Marine PFC Molly Brayfield, USMC, who enlisted in June 2003. (The thumbnail above, and to the right, shows the pledge of allegiance. The thumbnail to the left shows chapter member Marie Proulx receiving a piece of cake from Col. Bowers. Please click on a thumbnail to see a larger version of the photograph.)

Before being served lunch, Rev. Short, shown in the next photograph to the right, offered the following prayer:

Eternal Creator of us all,

We gather today with 61 years of memories of days past: memories of good times, memories of intense work, and the satisfaction of jobs well done. We celebrate friendships born of service and of our common heritage as Marines, and we ask that You help us never to forget the sacrifices of many who are here today and many who live now only in our hearts.

We gather today as many of our fellow Marines are again going into harm’s way. We pray that all Marines will be able to do their duty, but especially for all women Marines who serve their country. Help us support and sustain them as they follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before.

We gather looking to the future. We pray for our country to remain strong, for our Corps to continue its heritage of faithfulness, and for our friends gathered here. May we always meet to share our unique fellowship as Marines.

Heavenly Father, help us to honor our past, look to the future and always to live in the present as we have joy in our time together today.

Amen

After lunch, we heard from our Guest Speaker, Col. Wilbur R. Bowers. He reminded us that there is a recruiting poster that shows the Marine Corps emblem with the words, “Always earned. Never given.” Col. Bowers said that “If anyone has ever worked to earn a title, it is the women of the United States who have overcome a very prejudiced environment and earned the title, Marine.” Col. Bowers then recounted the history of women in the Marine Corps from World War I to the present.

While admitting that his experience with women Marines was very limited when he was on active duty, Col. Bowers told us about an incident that occurred in 1984 when he was stationed at Camp Pendleton as the G-3 for 1st FSSG. “A huge exercise was to take place at 29 Palms. The word was No Women! Half of the drivers assigned to the FSSG were women. I questioned the No Women rule. I was told the men could handle the situation. On the third day of the exercise, the message came: Send in the women, the men drivers need some rest.”

Col. Bowers also recounted a story about his command of Detachment A at 29 Palms in 1986. This command was composed of 750 Marines of which 350 were women Marines. The detachment repaired everything from watches to trucks to missiles. On the production and rebuild lines, the men’s repair rejection rate at quality control was about 40% compared to the women’s rate of about 4%. For Col. Bowers, this experience forcefully illustrated General Holcomb’s appraisal, “Women did a better job in some areas.”

Our guest speaker also introduced two distinguished gentlemen who made history during World War II: Dr. Lester Tenney and Mr. Fred S. Losch. Dr. Tenney wrote a book entitled, Hitch in Hell, about his experiences on the Bataan death march and his life in a POW camp in the Philippines. Mr. Losch was a fighter pilot and an original member of Pappy Boyington’s Black Sheep Squadron in the Pacific.

After Col. Bower’s speech, various presentations were made including an informal presentation by Area 10 Director Denne Howard to Captain Chandler, a member of the newest WMA chapter at 29 Palms, CA-29.

As our celebration came to an end, we expressed our thanks to chapter member Ellie Judge who organized the event. We will all remember the 61st Anniversary as an afternoon of good friends, good food and good music.

Rose courtesy of
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