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Women Marines Association
PA~2
Liberty Belles ChapterNovember 20, 2007
The Voice Vol. 2, 1st EditionKathy Van Gorder, Editor Newsletter Page 1
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Marines:
Veterans Day weekend was a very busy one for us. On Friday, I went to OJR School for a veteran’s ceremony, and we made the front page of the Pottstown Mercury. Many people asked about the green cover (so we got good exposure)! Photo from the Mercury below features Joan Alexander, right-front, and husband Mark Alexander, center front.
On Saturday I went to a ceremony at one of our local cemeteries that was being officially dedicated as a Veterans’ Cemetery. Following that we shared a booth at Wal-Mart to solicit contributions and offer our Koozies for sale, advertising our presence as Women Marines. We brought in just over $70. Later, on Saturday evening we went to the Pron-Seton Detachment Marine Corps Birthday Ball. Sunday we were represented at the dedication of a local memorial to veterans, followed by representation at the park where we gave our own presentation and were recognized as the Women Marines Association. These activities were capped off with a flag burning ceremony with the Boy Scouts.
I know that the rest of you were equally busy and we would like to report on your activities. If you will send an email to joanv15@verizon.net I will do my best to post these reports to our web site to help everyone stay abreast of what we are each doing, and give each of us ideas of things we might also do.
Joan Alexander, President
PA-2 Liberty Belles Chapter
Minutes from 11 August 2007
The meeting was held at the Chester County MCL Detachment home. Lunch of meatball subs was prepared by Loyal Escort Van, plus green salad, fruit bowls and drinks provided by others. The meeting was called to order at 12:50PM for the transaction of official business.
ROLL CALL:
Officers: all present except for Kay Croll, Parliamentarian, excused due to husband being in the hospital.
General Membership: four general members present (plus officers) and two Loyal Escorts. Ferne Lauter and Venice Stovall were excused due to their "Dedicated Driver" Shirley Savelli having to attend to other commitments.
REPORTS:
Members Sick or in Distress:
Ozetta Hirschmann’s husband is now in rehab and showing some improvement.
Belinda Brown was excused to be with her sister who is back in the hospital.
Word has been received of the death of Rasheeda Hastings’ husband. Leticia reported that she believes Rasheeda has returned to the Philadelphia area from Tennessee.
Lee Robinson reported that she had been in the hospital for surgery, and is now fairly well on the mend. She was happy to be able to make it to the meeting.
Treasurer:
The check book balance is now $821, with $275 in Accounts Receivable for dues and inventory out on consignment. The inventory value of our Yard Guards is $275. Motion to receive the report subject to audit was seconded by Lee Robinson and carried.
Membership:
We have another new member to welcome: new WMA member Dolores Ascensi from Wolf Street in Philadelphia. Dolores does not drive, so we need volunteers from the Philadelphia area to step up and see that she has transportation to attend meetings. Dolores has been very active in the MCL and will be a great asset to our chapter.
Loyal Escorts:
Van showed a picture of a 1926 Liberty Bell as a suggested image for note cards and on our web site. He also expressed appreciation for our having been invited to attend the Reading WWII Air Show to represent the Women Marines Association and the Loyal Escorts.
Old Business:
Kathy sponsored a young lady for a Women Marines Association scholarship to attend Gettysburg College. Ginnie sent information about scholarships to her adopted marine in Iraq, Kesha Williams, who is due to be discharged in November 2007.
Having been discussing a trip to Washington in previous meetings, Ginnie brought some information from an agent of Rep. Jim Gerlock regarding a bus trip he could sponsor for us. Lacking any reaction to the possibility of putting a trip together, the matter was tabled.
New Business:
Joan displayed flyers she printed up from templates received from the WMA PRO Officer through our Area 2 Director, Alice. She urged each to take a supply of them to distribute in as many public places as possible as a recruiting tool.
Kathy agreed to contact Kay Croll regarding the status of the scrapbook, and to turn over a pile of photos and newspaper items for posting, but will wait until the situation with her husband’s health problems settles down.
Good of the Organization:
In an effort to improve planning of schedules, the suggestion was made to set a specific Saturday of every other month (even numbered months) for our meetings, so that members would know that (i.e. the third Saturday of even numbered months) would be our meeting dates. This was not brought to a vote.
The next meeting is scheduled for October 20, 2007 at 12:00 noon for lunch at the Chester County Detachment Home in Downingtown.
Closing:
The meeting was adjourned at 1:45 PM
Respectfully Submitted,
Ginnie Rueber, Secretary
On September 28, 2007, President Joan Alexander, Treasurer Kathy Van Gorder, and Loyal Escort "Van" (E.S.) Van Gorder attended the first ceremony of "A Hero’s Welcome" orchestrated by Sharon Hyland Keyser. A Hero’s Welcome is a new grass roots organization begun by a third generation Marine, "Ensuring that all Service Members get the proper Welcome Home". Sharon’s Grandfather, George Hyland was Commandant of the Valley Forge Detachment, MCL several years ago, and her Father and brothers all also served in the Marine Corps. This first effort was for a young Marine home from Iraq, Aaron Martin, a 2001graduate of Pottsgrove High School who wore the #32 football jersey for the Pottsgrove Falcons. Aaron was picked up at the airport only hours before the kickoff for the game between the Falcons and the Boyertown Bears. When Sharon found out that a graduate of the Boyertown High School and former player from that team had also returned from Iraq a week or two earlier and would be at the game, the Welcome was extended to him, as well. Both schools and both teams went all out to show their appreciation to these two former team mates and the crowds enthusiastically joined in. There were a lot of flags being waved, and a lot of veterans wearing ball caps proclaiming their branch of service or home ships, but we were the only ones sporting our WMA and MCL covers and jackets. (Joan had forgotten hers so Kathy shared her WMA cover and wore the MCL cover)
Pre-game picture below: Kathy, Van and Joan.
Sharon’s second effort took place in Conshohocken for PFC Leah Murray, US Army. A 2006 graduate of Pottstown High School, Leah suffered 3 separate incidents of being hit by IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices, or Roadside Bombs) and had to miss her Father’s funeral when he died while she was deployed in Iraq. This Welcome received widespread coverage on The Glenn Beck Show on CNN Headline News, and in local area newspapers. Leah had 18 days leave from her 12-15 month tour in Iraq. Joan was unable to attend this welcome observance due to an engagement to serve with the rifle squad for a military funeral, and Kathy was committed to drive an 84 year old retired Gunnery Sgt of WWII, Korea and Vietnam service to a Veteran’s Appreciation Luncheon for Marines in West Chester, while another member had a doctor’s appointment in Coatesville. Very busy day.
PA-2 Liberty Belles Chapter
Minutes from 27 October 2007
Since the only members who could attend this meeting are from Norristown and Stowe, the meeting was held half way between the two in Collegeville at the home of Kathy and Van, who provided home made Chili, prepared by Loyal Escort Van, a fruit tray from Mickey and rolls from Joan to round out the meal. An informal meeting was called to order at 12:35 PM for the transaction of official business.
ROLL CALL:
Officers: President, Secretary and Treasurer present, Vice President excused for school (but was able to link up by cell phone during the meeting), and Parliamentarian excused due to husband’s continued serious health problems and still in the hospital.
General Membership: One general member present, along with one Loyal Escort. Leticia and Belinda were excused due to family commitments, the group from Reading had another meeting in Reading, and the Hatfield area ladies were unable to drive the distance. New members, Naudette Baldwin excused to be with daughter in hospital in Allentown, and Dolores Ascensi excused for lack of a ride from Phila. We need to get better communication going sooner so we can help line up transportation for some of these members who cannot drive more than a few miles. We had one guest, Mark Alexander, who has applied for membership in the Loyal Escorts.
As an informal meeting, reading of the minutes from the August 11 meeting was dispensed with.
REPORTS:
Members Sick or in Distress:
Ozetta Hirschmann was reported ill and unable to attend the meeting, as were Venice Stovall, Liz Rawding and Lee Robinson.
Treasurer:
The check book balance as of October 27 of $995, and undeposited cash of $74. To date, we have sold $539 worth of Tee Shirts and Sweat Shirts for a net profit of $294. Koozie sales have grossed $619 for a net profit of $408. Yard Guards sold total (3 @ $40) $120 yielding a net profit of $38. Values of products on hand are $139 for shirts, $324 for Koozies, and $190 in Yard Guards, of which $122 are on consignment to us and have not been paid for yet. We have been doing well with the shirts and the koozies thanks to the ads in the ‘Nouncements. We are preparing to complete all State and Federal paperwork to comply with the new requirements to file annual tax reports.
Membership:
We have 26 registered members in our Chapter, of which 13 have paid CHAPTER dues for 2007-8, and 13 have not. I accept most of the responsibility for these 13 members who have not paid because, even though I had prepared reminders to be mailed with the next newsletter, I have not been able to put out a newsletter in quite awhile due to work commitments and the death of my favorite Aunt in NY whom I visited every 5-6 weeks in the Bath VA Hospital. Consequently, I did not get renewal notices sent out, so those who have not been attending meetings may not have known that the dues were to be paid as of April for the 2007-8 year. Some members thought that if they were Life Members of WMA, they did not have to pay Chapter Dues. But that is not the case if you remember, because you paid the $10 dues when we started the Chapter, with the By-Laws stating that the dues for the Chapter would be $10 annually. This is to defray costs of running the Chapter, and perhaps contribute to our volunteer activities. Be aware of the fact that National WMA does not share a portion of the Life Members’ dues because any interest earned on those funds goes to National programs, not to the Chapters. So please keep in mind that in 4 months, dues for 2008-9 will also be payable to maintain recognition as a member of PA-2 Liberty Belles.
Loyal Escorts:
No report.
Old Business:
Reviving the discussion of a trip to Arlington or Washington in previous meetings, Ginnie brought up the information from Rep. Jim Gerlock’s office regarding a bus trip he could sponsor for us. Joan and Mark had recently participated in a trip to the Marine Corps Museum and to Parris Island with their MCL Detachment, and Mark agreed to put together information as to what would be required for a trip to the museum and perhaps the monuments in Washington and bring back a report of proposed expenses for a proposed time frame in April 2008.
New Business:
1) Kathy reported that she has been appointed Assistant VAVS Rep for WMA, and will be attending the annual VAVS Committee meeting in Orlando, Fla. in April.
2) Kathy also reported that we have received a request from the Area 2 Director, Alice Dolbear, to research a possible site for the Biennial WMA National Convention for 2012, and to be in charge as the host chapter. Sites being looked into include Pittsburgh and Erie (to raise awareness of WMA in the areas), Harrisburg, Scranton and Philadelphia. It was agreed that Philadelphia would be the best choice due to it’s abundance of attractions in and near the city, ease of transportation logistics for getting there from all over the country, and being geographically easier for us to make necessary arrangements and contracts. This will be a major undertaking, with support of all of the chapters and states in Area 2 and other chapters that have experience from prior conventions. National WMA’s convention committee would also be working with us to make sure everything goes as planned. The bid for hosting this convention must be filed during the very short (and very near! ) period of January to March, 2008.
3) Kathy reported on The YPF Program run by the United States Marines Youth Foundation, Inc. Last year Joan represented PA-2 and WMA at the annual meet in Bethlehem, PA. This year we hope to have a larger presence at the meet to help with the judging and coaching. YPF stands for Youth Physical Fitness and strives to be "The Solution To A Drug-Free America"™. We have volunteered to support this program and to bring it to the awareness of WMA National to encourage all of the WMA Areas to become involved as well.
4) As noted in the Officers’ Roll Call of Dee Green’s cell phone connection, she announced that she will be inducted into the Honor Society at her school on November 18. We DO have some bright people in our chapter, don’t we? Congratulations, Dee.
5) We are committed to support our "Friend of a Veteran" program with the Southeastern PA Veterans Medical Facility with a Christmas gift and our presence at the Christmas party for the residents Dec 10.
Good of the Organization:
On October 20, we shared a booth with the Pottstown Joint Veterans Council at the Fall Festival for the grand re-opening of the Sunny Brook Ballroom, to recruit new members for WMA. Joan is the PA-2 WMA rep with the council. On November 1, Joan, Mickey and Kathy met Lee and Liz at the Coatesville VA for the annual Salute to Women Veterans luncheon. Also there were Helen Collins (wearing her WMA cover) and Annette Nichols, with the Bucks-Mont Joint Women Veterans Council. So PA-2 had an impressive representation there, enough so that many people, including the Key-note Speaker, asked us "What are the green hats representing?" On November 3, there will be a Veterans Day Dinner in Pottstown. Kathy and Joan paid for an ad for PA-2 in the program book. November 10 will see Joan and Mark attending the Marine Corps Birthday Ball in Royersford, and Kathy will be escorting her favorite Ret. GSgt and his lady (both in wheel chairs!) to the Chester County Birthday Ball. (Tough duty, <g> but hey, they deserve it!) Sunday, November 11 Joan will be attending a wreath laying ceremony at the Pottstown Library and later representing WMA at the Memorial Park ceremony. Then in the afternoon, she will attend a flag burning service and dedication at the East Coventry Township Building which will be followed by (more tough duty) the Marine Corps Band concert in Reading.
The next meeting is scheduled for December 8, 2007 at 12:00 noon for lunch at the Brookside Family Restaurant, 1338 N Charlotte St, Pottstown. Please call Joan (610-326-8856) for directions and be sure to regularly log in to our website: wmapa2.org to find out more or keep current with news.
Closing:
The meeting was adjourned at 1400 hours. Respectfully Submitted,
Ginnie Rueber, Secretary
A NOTE FROM OUR AREA 2 DIRECTOR
(reprint)
Dear PA-2 members,
I should never doubt the tenacity of a Woman Marine. When you say you will do something you do it. The "Liberty Belles" are a great asset to the Community in and around where you live. You have been working to pull the chapter together and thinking of ways to do things for your communities. I am proud of all of you. What an asset you are to Area 2. I am so glad that we were able to get all of you together. You are one dynamite Chapter.
I hope that you are trying to get articles in your local newspapers about your projects. This is a great PR voice for you. You can write the article and e-mail them to the newspapers. They will put it in most times. Do not forget to send in pictures with your articles. Make sure you have several copies of your pictures of the chapter’s activities. You will need this for your books. Those of you taking any picture make sure that you give them to who ever is putting the chapter books together. Be creative and use some Scrap Booking techniques. You must not write in the books. Everything must be printed. Please read the instructions carefully.
Now that the USMC Museum is open, you might want to plan a trip to Quantico, VA. There is a Crossroads Inn right on base. You can stay there. It would be a great trip for all of you. You can see what the beautiful state of Virginia has to offer. I will meet you there if you ever decide to come down. I really like it down here. I do miss Philly, the way it was years ago and all the delicious food up there.
Have a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New.
Semper Fi,
Alice Alden Dolbear
Area 2 Director
Women Marines Association
***************************************
Editor’s Note:
National WMA Officers and our own Area 2 Director have given our Chapter a tremendous amount of recognition and respect for our accomplishments and energy. As noted in the minutes included in this newsletter, we have been asked to spearhead a site requisition, recommendation and bid for hosting the WMA National Convention for 2012. With the diversity of talent and enthusiasm of our membership, I believe we can do it. I suspect that none of us have experience in organizing such a task, but with the help of the National Convention Committee and the prior Chapter Convention Committees, plus the joint effort of all the Chapters in Area 2, it will be a tremendous learning experience for all of us, to learn what is available in our area, plan and orchestrate the contracts and activities, and most importantly, strengthen our ability to work as a cohesive unit through cooperation and teamwork. We will discuss this issue briefly at the December Christmas Party meeting, but we must then have our bid prepared to submit within the next 3 months after that if we are to do it. Those of us at the meeting in October agreed we should try.
I have also been asked to be a Workshop Speaker at the 2008 WMA Convention in Houston on Chapter Networking as part of the "Building Better Chapters" workshops, so I will be looking to all of you to offer ideas on the subject, because I cannot take credit for the success of our PA-2, for it has taken all of us working together to make this Chapter as strong and active as it is.
With a further note, our Area 2 Director is suffering from some debilitating health issues that will have her incapacitated for the next several months as she struggles to regain her health through therapy several times a week. She had been experiencing progressively more pronounced symptoms for the past several months and finally received a diagnosis and plan of treatment. In the meantime, I have been asked to step in as a temporary Assistant Area 2 Director until Alice regains her health.
This is a big responsibility that I have accepted, and look to each of our PA-2 members to support me with this job, to help PA-2 and WMA continue to grow and shine in Pennsylvania and the Middle Atlantic States. Sometimes I say "Yes", because I truly believe in the project, even when I have no experience, but rely heavily on those who do, as now. In addition to working on the bid for the 2012 Convention, we will be looking for support for the Youth Physical Fitness Program (YPF) in the Spring, and supporting Alice with the PA units of MCJROTC for the graduations in May. Additionally, I have assumed responsibility, with the assistance of Joan, to contact members of the PA-1 Susquehanna Valley Chapter to see what we can do to help them get back on their feet. They started off quite strong and then suddenly dropped from sight, so we will be trying to pull them back together again.
Joan is making a tremendous effort to keep our web site current with items of interest, scheduled meetings and activities and photo galleries, so please make a habit of checking it at least weekly. I promise to do my best to re-activate this newsletter to also keep the membership informed and interested. And I ask each of you to do whatever you possibly can to schedule time for attending our meetings so you can help plan our activities, and promote our volunteer efforts in our communities, in WMA and other Veterans Organizations.
We are Marines, trained to be tough and resourceful, but we are also women, raised to be nurturing and helpful. The world needs more of these attributes to promote peace and prosperity.
I like the thought quoted by our WMA President, Paula Sarlls while signing off on her emails:
All your strength is in your union
All your danger is in discord;
Therefore be at peace henceforward,
And as brothers live together.
[From The Song of Hiawatha. Part i.]
In humble appreciation for the support and confidence bestowed on me, I remain
Semper Fidelis,
Kathy Van Gorder
Women Marines
Association
PA~2
January 26,
2007
Newsletter Vol. 1, 5th Edition
Kathy Van Gorder, Editor
The Voice
Minutes from 9 December 2006:
The meeting was called to order at 1:40PM for the transaction of
official business.
ROLL CALL:
Officers: all present except for Kay Croll,
Parliamentarian, excused for prior commitments.
General Membership: seven present (plus officers) and two Loyal
Escorts of the Green Garter.
REPORTS:
Members Sick or in Distress:
Ozetta Hirschmann’s
husband was in the hospital during our last meeting but is back home now and doing better.
Belinda Brown’s nephew has brain cancer and she asks for our
prayers for him and his family.
Treasurer:
The balance remains at $287, no money having been paid out nor
deposited.
Membership:
We have 20 paid members registered in our Chapter.
Loyal Escorts:
April said she is willing to travel to give a speech on the Women
Marines, or to show the Molly Marine display she and her family set up, but that winter
months would require in door settings. She and
her husband are also willing to take a trip to
Old Business:
Ferne Lauter
said she wants to donate the cost of the shirts purchased from Jeanne Hesser
for our fundraising efforts instead of being reimbursed as noted in the last minutes. She also received permission to send invitations to
other Women Marines within a 60 miles radius of
One of the issues raised at the Officer’s Meeting in January was
to plan a uniform for our group, so that when we appear in ceremonies or take part in
volunteer activities we can be recognized as an organization. Motion was made to use black slack, white shirts
and red blazers with our WMA green caps for formal ceremonies or parades, etc., and the
sweatshirts or tee shirts we’re selling can be a more informal uniform for meetings
or other functions. Hopefully this will result
in our buying out the supply of shirts at the old price before we need to order more.
New Business:
The need to assign a Chaplin as an appointed position was raised, for
opening and closing rituals at our meetings and for sending cards for members noted in
Sick or in Distress. Shirley Savelli agreed to serve in that office.
A reminder was brought out regarding the 10th Anniversary for WIMSA in
October 2007. Alycee
will check on the performance schedules of the Silent Drill Team and the new museum at
Kathy agreed to try to identify Women Veterans residing at the Spring
City VA Hospital, to be remembered for special days such as Christmas, Veterans Day,
Birthdays, etc.
Good of the Organization:
Kathy and Mickey each donated Marine related items for raffle at the
meeting, including a bear in dress blues and a Woman Marine doll in Cammies
purchased at the last national convention. This
netted $58 for the treasury.
Kathy requested suggestions for naming our newsletter. Two suggestions brought to the table so far are: The Bell Ringer, and The Town Cryer. Come on,
ladies, we need more names, please! Several
expressed a desire to receive the newsletter via email, so we will try that with the next
edition, but continue to use the postal service as well, at least for now.
The next meeting is scheduled for February 3, 2007 at 12:00 noon for
lunch at the same place, the Trappe Diner,
Closing:
The meeting was adjourned at 2:45 PM to continue on with our Christmas
party.
*********************
Our December meeting was combined with a Christmas Holiday Party,
where gifts were exchanged using “second hand” gifts or items we didn’t
want, couldn’t use, etc. It was so much
fun when everybody started out by handing their gift to the person named in their drawing
and saying something like “I am SO sorry!” Some
really interesting objects showed up, but I think the prize goes to the really limp
looking pig received by
(This was written for our December
Newsletter, but we didn’t put one out then, so here it is now.)
A NOTE
FROM OUR AREA 2 DIRECTOR:
Dear PA-2 members,
I should never doubt the tenacity
of a Woman Marine. When you say you will do something you do it. The "Liberty
Bells" are a great asset to the Community in and around where you live. You have been
working to pull the chapter together and thinking of ways to do things for your
communities. I am proud of all of you. What an asset you are to Area 2. I am so
glad that we were able to get all of you together. You are one dynamite Chapter.
I hope that you are trying to get
articles in your local newspapers about your projects. This is a great PR voice for you.
You can write the article and e-mail them to the newspapers. They will put it in most
times. Do not forget to send in pictures with your articles. It is good to know that Dehra will be getting books together for 2008. Make sure you have several copies of your pictures of
the chapter’s activities. You will
need this for your books. Those of you taking any picture make sure that you give them to Dehra or who ever is putting the chapter books together. Be creative
and use some Scrap Booking techniques. You must not
write in the books. Everything must be printed. Please read the instructions
carefully.
I was so glad to see Dehra and Kathy at convention. I was glad also to be able to
spend some time with both of them. That was a blast on the balcony, Dehra.
What a great representation of your chapter, your flag. It was good to see it flying in
the parade of flags. Sorry that Dehra had foot problems
at rehearsal. She was bare foot on the last go round. We put everyone through the ringer
that afternoon. It turned out great and was an awesome presentation.
More of you will have to come to
I was busy with responsibilities
but I made time to see everyone. It was good to see all of the WMA members I know
throughout the
I must say that I was glad to get
home and in my own bed.
Now that the
I do e-mail your president with
lots of items. If there is ever anything I can do for you, please let me know.
Have a very Merry Christmas and a
very Happy New 2007.
Semper Fi,
Alice Alden Dolbear
Area 2 Director
Women Marines Association
Note: Bold highlights are added by your editor for emphasis.
Two of our members, whom many of you have not yet met, were written up
in the Suburban Philadelphia Inquirer last month. Helen
Collins and Annette Nichols are also members of the Bux-Mont
Women Veterans Association. Founded in 1988,
the organization was one of the earliest to bring all branches of the military together in
one organization for Women Veterans. Retired
Brig. General Wilma Vaught, President of the WIMSA Foundation has visited this group
several times, and ranks them among the top two or three of women’s groups.
Ferne is hard at work on the plans for the
Women Marines Anniversary Luncheon, which we have deferred until April 15 in hopes of
better weather for travel. She and her
committee have secured the Giannotti’s Country Manor Restaurant in
***************************************
I assume that all who ordered shirts from Ferne
have received them by now. I know mine came in
just before I went to the MCL Staff Meeting, so I took them with me. It was so cold in the meeting room that I sat with
my sweatshirt draped over my shoulders. Mid
point of the meeting, another Woman Marine said she wished she could borrow my shirt, so I
said “I’ll sell it to you!” She
bought it! She hasn’t joined WMA
(yet) because she is from the
I like the thought quoted by our WMA President, Paula Sarlls while signing off on her emails:
All your strength is in your union
All your danger is in discord;
Therefore be at peace henceforward,
And as brothers live together.
[From
The Song of Hiawatha. Part i.]
Our next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, February 3, 12:00 noon at the Trappe Diner,
“GETTING TO KNOW YOU”
Dehra
Green
Dehra McNulty graduated from high school
early, and at the age of 17 marched in to the Marine Corps Recruiting office wearing a
pale lavender suit and announced that she wanted to join the Marine Corps. As with most of us, she had to start out arguing
with the recruiter about why she wanted to be a Marine and why she should be a Marine. Showing a glimmer of the determined individual she
developed into, she won her arguments with him and later with her Father, a career Air
Force man who couldn’t understand why his baby girl should want to join the last
“He-Man Club” in existence.
Scheduled under the Delayed Enlistment Program to enter boot camp in
the fall, she began working two jobs and stepped up her physical training to be ready. On June 15, 1983, the recruiter called and said he
would pick her up at 3:00 AM the next day, if she thought she could be ready. She jumped at the chance, even though it meant
changing her chosen MOS. In Dee’s words,
she chose to “Swing with the Wing” and off she went to
Graduating at the top of her class in
In 1985 she traveled to
In 1987, she served at 29 Palms for CAX,
and in 1988 in the
“I would not trade anything for the experience I have gained by
becoming a Marine. To all of those who came
before me, Thank you for paving the way. To all those who have come after me, stay strong. Thank you for taking my place”
Obviously,