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$Unique_ID{bob01125}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{(A) History Of The Women Marines 1946-1977
Chapter 15}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Stremlow, Col. Mary V.}
$Affiliation{U.S. Marine Corps Reserve}
$Subject{women
marine
marines
corps
first
general
colonel
sergeant
anniversary
commandant
see
pictures
see
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}
$Date{1986}
$Log{See Molly Marine*0112501.scf
}
Title:       (A) History Of The Women Marines 1946-1977
Author:      Stremlow, Col. Mary V.
Affiliation: U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
Date:        1986

Chapter 15

Laurels and Traditions

     Women Marines recognized for meritorious performance and bravery have
been awarded many of the same medals, ribbons, and letters of appreciation and
commendation presented to male Marines under similar circumstances.  The
highest decoration, at this writing, worn by women in the Corps is the Legion
of Merit.  A few are privileged to wear the Navy and Marine Corps Medal,
Bronze Star, and the Navy Commendation Medal, and a number have been awarded
the Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Navy Achievement Medal.

Legion of Merit

     Following a tradition set in World War II, the Legion of Merit, the
Navy's fifth ranking decoration, falling immediately below the Silver Star and
conferred on individuals ". . . who have distinguished themselves by
exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding
services . . . ." has been awarded to all Directors of Women Marines.  Their
citations underscore the particular challenges faced by each one, and read
consecutively, they trace the history of women in the Marine Corps through the
stages of organization, expansion, and total integration.

     Only one woman Marine, other than the Directors, was the recipient of the
Legion of Merit.  Upon retirement in May 1975, Colonel Hazel E. Benn, Head,
Educational Services Branch, was cited for her work in formulating educational
programs for both officers and enlisted Marines.

     Colonel Benn's career was unique in that as a Reserve officer on active
duty, she worked for 24 years at the same job.  She was the Marine Corps'
expert on education and as new programs developed, her responsibilities
increased.  A member of the second officer candidate class at Mount Holyoke
College in 1943, she served as a personnel/administrative officer in World War
II.  Following the war, after receiving a graduate degree in education, she
worked for the Navy as an education specialist, and in 1951, was asked to
return to the Marine Corps.  A principal architect of the Serviceman's
Opportunity College, she helped to develop the concept that removed the
traditional academic barrier in the areas of residency, transfer of credit by
examination, and acceptance of service schools and service experience for
academic credit, thereby easing the road to college degrees for countless
Marines.  Colonel Benn was among the first women Marines to be promoted to
colonel in 1968, only months after that rank was opened to women.

Navy and Marine Corps Medal

     The Navy and Marine Corps Medal, ranking eighth in precedence - between
the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star - and the Naval Service's
highest recognition for heroism not involving combat has been awarded to four
women Marines.  Staff Sergeant Barbara O. Barnwell, first woman ever to win
the medal, was decorated on 7 August 1953 by General Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr.,
Commandant of the Marine Corps, for saving a Marine's life in the Atlantic
Ocean off Camp Lejeune.  A Marine since May 1949, she was attached to the
staff of the Inspector-Instructor, 1st Air and Naval Gunfire Liaison Company
at Fort Schuyler, New York, at the time of the incident.  Her citation reads:

Hearing a cry for help from a man struggling in the heavy surf some 50 feet
outward from her position while she was swimming in deep water approximately
120 yards from the shore, Sergeant Barnwell immediately swam to the rescue
and, although severely scratched on the arm and repeatedly dragged beneath the
surface by the drowning Marine, secured a hold on him and commenced to swim to
the beach.  Despite the treacherous undertow which constantly carried her
outward from the shore, she bravely maintained her hold until she had reached
shallow water and, assisted by a lifeguard, succeeded in bringing the
unconscious man to the safety of the beach.  By her exceptional courage,
daring initiative and selfless efforts on behalf of another in face of grave
peril, Sergeant Barnwell was directly instrumental in saving the Marine's life
and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

     Staff Sergeant Barnwell struggled for 20 exhausting minutes to rescue
Private First Class Frederick Hernandez Roman.  Once she saw that artificial
respiration was successful and that the man was going to live, she walked away
without even giving her name.  Roman's was, after all, the third life she had
saved.  When she herself was only a child of 11 she saved a seven-year old
from drowning.  Later, at 16 she brought a young woman safely to shore.

     In addition to the medal presentation in the Commandant's office, Staff
Sergeant Barnwell was honored, along with six male officers, at a retreat
ceremony at the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.  It was the first time that
a woman was so honored.

     Gunnery Sergeant Dorothy L. Kearns became the second woman Marine in
history to receive the Navy and Marine Corps Medal when it was presented to
her by Colonel Margaret M. Henderson, Director of Women Marines, on 25 June
1963 at a parade at the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington.  The award read:

For heroic conduct on the morning of 5 February 1961 while serving with the
United States Marine Corps Recruiting Station, San Francisco, California.
Hearing cries from help emanating from an upstairs apartment in the same
building in which she resided, Gunnery Sergeant Kearns immediately rushed to
the assistance of a woman who was being attacked with a knife by a mentally
deranged man.  After pulling the assailant from the victim, disarming him, and
forcing him away, she rendered first aid to the victim and attempted to calm
the attacker.  She then telephoned the hospital which, in turn, notified the
police.  While Gunnery Sergeant Kearns was admitting the police at the
apartment building entrance, the deranged man again armed himself and
succeeded in inflicting fatal wounds upon the victim as the police were
entering the room.  By her courageous and selfless efforts in the face of
grave personal risk, Gunnery Sergeant Kearns upheld the highest traditions of
the United States Naval Service.

A World War II Marine, Gunnery Sergeant Kearns had been one of the women
retained at Headquarters Marine Corps after the war, serving continuously
until her retirement in May 1966.

     First Lieutenant Vanda K. Brame (later Bresnan), serving at the Marine
Corps Officer Selection Office in Des Moines, Iowa, was awarded the Navy and
Marine Corps Medal for thwarting the holdup of a blind man's shop on 10 April
1970.  Having lunch in the Federal Building Lunch Shop, the petite lieutenant
saw a man taking money from an unattended cash drawer while an accomplice
stood guard.  The citation describing her heroic reaction read:

Immediately realizing that the owner was unaware of the attempted robbery and
helpless to defend his property, First Lieutenant Brame unhesitantly, and
without regard for her own safety, pursued, seized, and threw the thief to the
floor.  The accomplice became unnerved by her aggressive action and fled.  The
thief succeeded in breaking away, but he dropped the stolen money as he
attempted to escape on foot.  She continued to pursue him and attracted the
attention of several onlookers who joined the chase and apprehended the man
after he had run several blocks.  It was through her courageous and heroic
determination in the face of danger that the handicapped owner was saved from
bodily harm and personal loss, and the thief was captured, placed in the hands
of the police, and identified as a potentially dangerous user of narcotics.
First Lieutenant Brame's heroic action reflected great credit upon herself and
upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval
Service.

     School at Camp Pendleton, then Private Young and a companion, Private
First Class Thomas J. Mia were walking in town when they heard a crash.
Running to the intersection, they heard cries from an auto engulfed in flames.
Private First Class Mia removed the occupants one by one, handed them to
Private Young, and both Marines administered first aid and comforted the
victims until the police and fire departments arrived.

     Brigadier General Robert J. Chadwick, Director of the Judge Advocate
Division, presented the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Lance Corporal Young on
behalf of the President of the United States for the daring rescue.  Her
citation read:

Upon arriving at the scene of a traffic accident in Oceanside, which left
three victims pinned in a burning automobile, lance Corporal Young, with
complete disregard for her own safety and fully aware of the personal dangers
involved, unhesitatingly assisted her Marine companion in removing the victims
from the vehicle before the gas tank exploded.  Her courageous and prompt
actions in the face of great personal risk undoubtedly saved three lives;
thereby reflecting great credit upon herself and upholding the highest
traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Bronze Star Medal

     The Bronze Star, with combat "V," awarded to persons who have
distinguished themselves by heroic or meritorious achievement or service in
connection with military operations against an armed enemy, has been awarded
to three women Marine officers, all of whom served in Vietnam.  The first
recipient, Captain Shirley E. Leaverton, served as the Marine Corps Officer in
Charge, Marine Corps Personnel Section, on the staff of the Commander, Naval
Forces, Vietnam, from April 1970 until 1971.  Serving as Historians, Military
History Branch, Secretary, Joint Staff, United States Military Assistance
Command, Vietnam, Lieutenant Colonel Ruth J. O'Holleran and later Lieutenant
Colonel Ruth F. Reinholz were also awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

Joint Service Commendation Medal

     Women Marines recognized for superior performance on joint staffs,
especially for duty in Europe and in Vietnam, have often been awarded the
Joint Service Commendation Medal.  The first recipient, Captain Elaine I.
Primeau, who was fatally injured in an automobile accident while on duty on
the staff of the Commander in Chief, U. S. Forces, Europe, was decorated
posthumously in the spring of 1964.

Dominican Republic

     The first woman Marine to be assigned attache duty coincidentally became
the first to serve under hostile fire.  Staff Sergeant Josephine S. Gebers
(later Davis), intelligence specialist and administrative assistant to the Air
Force attache, reported to Santo Domingo in July 1963.  During the turmoil
that followed the overthrow of the government in April 1965, Staff Sergeant
Gebers was offered the opportunity to leave with the American women and
children but chose to remain at her post.  She assisted in the evacuation and
then, in addition to her duties, took charge of the commissary to ensure
equitable distribution of available supplies; prepared food armed with only an
electric fry pan, a toaster, and a hot plate; brought meals to the ambassador
twice daily; and took turns at the embassy switchboard.

     At the outbreak of the revolt, rebels surrounded the embassy complex and
the staff was confined for nearly 10 days until the 6th Marine Expeditionary
Unit landed.  In a letter to Staff Sergeant Joan S. Ambrose, dated 7 May 1965,
Staff Sergeant Gebers wrote:

I have been living in the Attache office, sleeping on the floor, chair or
anything I can grab, fixing show for the attaches and male clerks etc.,
running across the street with messages as the telephones were out under
gunfire, wandering around in the dark . . . no electricity or water,
everything was out.  Almost all the Americans here have invested in freezers
and we all lost hundreds of dollars of frozen foods.  I managed to get bark to
my apartment in time to give all my frozen food to my Dominican neighbors, so
I don't feel it was a total loss.  My apartment is located in a neutral zone
and has not been the center of activity.  My landlord and neighbors are
watching my apartment so no one can loot it.

Joannie, I still can't believe all that has happened.  The first day, the
Marines landed of course, was quite a thrill and all so exciting.  They drove
in in trucks, jeeps, tanks, LVTs, etc. and scattered into their positions all
around the embassy.  Of course that night and for a few days following, it
wasn't so thrilling as we were being fired on by nearby snipers.

     On 1 September 1966, in a ceremony in his office, General Wallace M.
Greene, Jr., presented the Joint Service Commendation Medal to Gunnery
Sergeant Gebers, then administrative chief to the Commandant.  Additionally,
she was authorized to wear the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and later, the
Combat Action Ribbon - reportedly the first WM to do so. First Sergeant
Josephine Gebers Davis remained on active duty until August 1971.

WM Anniversary

     The tradition began on 13 February 1944 when much was made of the first
anniversary of the entry of women into the Marine Corps.  Mrs. Franklin D.
Roosevelt, wife of the President; Acting Secretary of the Navy Ralph A. Baird;
the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Vandegrift; and Colonel Streeter
headed the list of dignitaries at a ceremony conducted at Fort Myer, Virginia.
Since then, the anniversary of the women Marines has been the subject of some
controversy - at times celebrated with much' encouragement and at other times
purposely neglected by the upper levels at Headquarters in an effort to
encourage all Marines to acknowledge one birthday, the 10th of November.  To
further complicate the issue, the women who served in World War I questioned
the use of 1943 as a point of reference.  Colonel Towle wrote a memorandum on
the subject in 1951 stating:

The formation of the Marine Corps Women's Reserve of World War II was
officially announced by the CMC, General Thomas Holcomb, on 13 February 1943,
under the provisions of the Naval Reserve Act of 1938, as amended.  It is that
anniversary which is recognized each year by women who served in World War II;
hence the Eighth Anniversary, 13 February 1951.

     During World War II and immediately after, the celebration of the
occasion was an effective way to raise morale, keep up the interest of former
WMs, and in general to enhance the prestige of women in the service.
Celebrations have varied according to local customs, but normally included a
cake-cutting ceremony attended by the commanding general, the battalion
commander, and all WMs, officers and enlisted, at the noon meal at the mess
hall; formal messages from the Commandant and the Director of Women Marines; a
women Marine color guard to raise the flag; and an evening party, often a
formal dance.  A sizable number of male Marines took up the habit of joining
the women in celebrating the anniversary.  Long after he retired, former
Commandant General Greene continued to call the Director of Women Marines on
13 February to wish her a "Happy Anniversary."

     Mrs. John B. Cook, wife of Brigadier General Cook, said that she never
can forget the date of the WM anniversary since it coincides with her wedding
anniversary.  Twice the battalion commander of women Marines, the general made
it a point to celebrate their mutual anniversaries together. Mrs. Cook
remembers that one 13 February in Philadelphia, when he was not commanding
women Marines, the general took her to a restaurant for dinner, but as soon as
the meal was finished, he said, "Well, let's go the club and have a drink with
the WMs."

     Colonel Randolph McC. Pate, Director of Division of Reserve during the
post-World War II period, inaugurated the tradition of giving red roses to the
Director of Women Marines on 13 February - one for each year being
commemorated.  Major Hamblet, as Director of the Women's Reserve, received the
first bouquet.  Later, when the Director became a member of the Commandant's
staff, each succeeding Commandant continued the custom. Sometime in the
1970's, as emphasis on a separate anniversary for women waned, Colonel Sustad
received the last bouquet of red roses from General Cushman.

     In addition to the roses, for many years, the Commandant sent a formal
message to all women Marines to mark the special day.  On the occasion of the
eighth anniversary of the founding of the Women's Reserve, General Cates, then
Commandant, wrote gallantly to Colonel Towle:

It was a proud day in the annals of the Corps when the women joined us in
1943.  Your record of achievement since then well merited the permanent
recognition of Women Marines.  The filling of your ranks by Regulars and
Reserves since the outbreak in Korea has greatly aided our Corps to attain new
glories.  All ranks in the Corps join me today in a fond salute to our "lady
Marines."

     In 1953, Headquarters encouraged all commands to promote, celebrate, and
publicize the observance, but in 1954, the Chief of Staff directed that
nothing should ". . . emanate from this Headquarters in connection with the
11th anniversary of the women Marines, 13 February 1954."  Two years later,
the Commandant, General Pate sent a similar message to the Director which
stated:

I have directed no specific Marine Corps-wide observance of the 13th
Anniversary of the service of women in our Corps.  This was for the sound and
satisfying reason that Women Marines are now a completely integrated part of
our Corps.  I felt certain that as a permanent and integral part of our Corps
and sharing alike in all our traditions, our Women Marines would consider a
separate celebration to be inappropriate.

However, I cannot let this occasion pass without extending a greeting to you
as the representative of all Women Marines.  I should also like to
congratulate you on the splendid manner in which you are discharging this
responsibility.

My very best wishes to you and all Women Marines for the future.

     The local celebrations continued, nevertheless, and General Pate relented
by resuming the habit of sending greetings to all women Marines in the ensuing
years.

     Apparently, when General David M. Shoup became Commandant the propriety
of the observance was again questioned.  Colonel Henderson, the director,
prepared a year-by-year study of the celebrations and concluded with the
thoughts:

It is my personal belief that the Women Marines think of 13 February 1943 not
as a birthday, but as the date which commemorates the opportunity given them
to become a part of the Marine Corps and to share in all its traditions.
Because of this belief and their esprit de corps, I recommend that they
continue to celebrate their anniversary.

I know that it will please every woman in the Corps to have a personal message
of recognition from the Commandant and make her prouder than ever of being a
woman Marine.

     And so it went until the question was settled once and for all in 1974.
The Commandant made known that in the future only 10 November would be
acknowledged by a CMC message.  Colonel Brewer, Director of Women Marines,
agreed with the theory that, with ". . . increased effectiveness in the
utilization of women Marines as an integral part of the Corps, it is
appropriate and timely to discontinue the practice of publishing 'WM
Anniversary' messages by the Commandant and the Director of Women Marines."
Referring, however, to the wide reaching changes in policy approved by the
Commandant in 1973, she reasoned that a final message would be an excellent
way to reemphasize the increased opportunities for women Marines and to
announce the discontinuance of the tradition.  General Cushman, therefore, in
the final anniversary message, said:

With each passing year, we Marines working together will meet the challenges
of the future, willing and able to fulfill our responsibilities as the
"Nation's Force In Readiness."

In recognition of the role of the women members of our Corps in fulfilling
this mission, and since all Marines share one Birthday, it seems appropriate
to recognize your achievements for this, the last time, as a separate, special
occasion.  Accordingly, we pause today to reflect on the day 31 years ago when
women became members of our Marine Corps team ready to meet all challenges.

Women Marines and Mess Night

     For a number of years, it was generally understood that formal mess
nights were for men only.  Women officers did not expect to be included and
indeed they were not.  As women were assigned to more and more billets outside
the WM program, the situation became increasingly awkward, and on rare
occasions, they were invited to take part in the ancient social custom.  The
first woman to attend a mess night was probably Colonel Helen A. Wilson.

     The date of the first formal mess night sponsored by a WM unit is known -
12 February 1970.  To celebrate the 27th anniversary of the women Marines,
officers of the Women Marine Recruit Training Battalion, Parris Island, and
the women officers of the neighboring Marine Corps Air Station at Beaufort,
gathered at the officers' club and followed the time honored procedures under
the direction of Major Roberta N. Roberts (later Patrick), Madam President.
Madam Vice, the junior officer present, was Chief Warrant Officer Bertha
Peters Billeb, who had been one of the original staff members when the
battalion was activated in 1943, and later in 1961 became the first Sergeant
Major of Women Marines.

     The battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Jenny Wrenn, invited the
guests of honor, Major General Oscar F. Peatross, Commanding General, Marine
Corps Recruit Depot, and Colonel Richard J. Schriver, Commanding Officer,
Marine Corps Air Station.  In his remarks, General Peatross praised the women
for their patriotism.  He said:

You have no obligation to serve in the military.  You are not subject to the
draft or to any other impetus to serve except your own patriotism and desire
to serve your country and fellow man.  You must be counted as the most
patriotic among the citizens of our nation.

     Subsequently, the most frequent WM-sponsored mess nights occurred at The
Basic School, Quantico, when the training schedule precluded a joint affair.
With the complete integration of women into the Basic School program in 1977,
scheduling problems disappeared and separate mess nights along with them.  At
all commands where women now serve, they take their place at formal mess
nights along with their male colleagues.

Molly Marine

     "Molly" is the nickname of a statue which has stood at the intersection
of Elk Place and Canal Street in downtown New Orleans, Louisiana, since it was
originally dedicated on the Marine Corps Birthday in 1943.  Originally cast in
marble chips and granite because of wartime restrictions, Molly had become
weather beaten.  In 1961, a local committee decided to erect a monument to
women who had served in all branches of the service in all wars, but, they
proposed to erect their monument on Molly's beachhead, and remove the statue
of the woman Marine.

     Molly's many friends blocked this action.  Heading the long list of her
benefactors was Mr. Frank Zito, Jr., former State Commandant, Marine Corps
League, Louisiana, who pledged that Molly would be bronzed and placed on a new
pedestal.  Thus, Mr. Zito established the Molly Restoration Fund for her
refurbishing.

     During the ensuing controversy, it was pointed out that New Orleans was
the site of the first statue of a woman in the United States, that of Margaret
Haughery, erected in 1884; that the first statue of a woman in uniform
anywhere in the world was Joan of Arc, in her armor, in Orleans, France; that
New Orleans was the namestake of Orleans, France; and that therefore, it was
appropriate that Molly Marine, the first statue of a woman in uniform in the
United States, should remain in New Orleans.

     At the 1964 national convention for the Women Marines Association and the
Marine Corps League, both organizations unanimously passed resolutions
pledging support to the restoration project.  The Marine Corps Reserve
Officers Association added its aid with a Support the Restoration of Molly
Marine resolution passed by the national delegates in 1966 at Houston Texas.
Through the efforts of the New Orleans Cajun Chapter of the Women Marines
Association, and local friends of the Corps, a full-scale drive was launched
for the final completion of Molly.

     After many years of working and waiting, Molly received her new dress.
She was taken from her post to be returned dressed in her new bronze finery
where she awaited her unveiling which took place during the Women Marine
Association National Convention, 29 June - 1 July 1966.

[See Molly Marine: Molly Marine, monument in New Orleans, dedicated to women
who served as Marines.]

     On hand for the occasion, as personal representative of the Commandant,
was Brigadier General Edward H. Hurst, Director, Marine Corps Landing Force
Development Center, Quantico, who as a major in 1943 had been the commanding
officer of the Marine Training Detachment, Naval Reserve Midshipmen School
(WR), Northampton, Massachusetts, and later the commanding officer of the
Officer Training School, MCWR, Camp Lejeune; Colonel Barbara J. Bishop,
Director of Women Marines; and Gunnery Sergeant Helen Hannah Campbell, USMCR,
President, Women Marines Association.  Many of Molly's benefactors were at the
ceremonies to see the culmination of their efforts in the restoration.

     The original inscription, which read:

                   Dedicated by the People of New Orleans
                           To the Women of America
                  In the U.S. Marine Corps Women's Reserve
                   for recognition of the patriotic service
                          rendered to their country
                               10 November 1943

was changed to:

                                Molly Marine
                              November 10, 1943
                           Free a Marine to Fight
                    Rededicated July 1, 1966 In Honor of
                    Women Marines Who Serve Their Country
                   In Keeping With The Highest Traditions
                      Of The United States Marine Corps

Women Marines Association

     The Women Marines Association (WMA) traces its origin to a 1923 dream of
a couple of World War I veterans, Florence Miller and Louise Budge, who tried
without success to organize the "Girl Marine Veterans."  The idea lay dormant
for years until a handful of members at large met at the first WMA convention
in Denver in 1960.  The founders who laid the groundwork for the unofficial
organization of women Marines were headed by Reserve Major Jean Durlee and
included former WRs Marion A. Hooper Swope, Mary Jeane Olson Nelson, June F.
Hansen, Lois Lighthall, Ila Doolitle Clark, and Babara Kees Meeks.  Colonel
Margaret M. Henderson, the Director of Women Marines, attended the convention
and gave her support and encouragement.

     A constitution was adopted, setting forth WMA objectives and providing
for biennial conventions, national officers and directors were elected; and
the attendees returned home to mount a vigorous membership campaign which
netted approximately 350 charter members by February 1961.  Shortly
thereafter, the first issue of a quarterly newsletter, WMA announcements
appeared.  Subsequent conventions were held in Cleveland, Saint Louis, New
Orleans, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Honolulu, Galveston, and in 1976, the
nation's bicentennial birthday, in Boston.  For the first time in WMA history,
the women were addressed by a Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Robert
E. Cushman, Jr., at the 1974 Texas meeting.  The WMA is the only national
organization open exclusively to women who serve or have served as United
States Marines.