Marine Corps·Integration / civil rights·In Memoriam
Marine Corps Women's Reserve
Served: 1943–1948
~23,000 served. At peak, women made up 85% of enlisted personnel at HQMC. Roles included motor transport, aviation mechanics, parachute riggers, weapons assembly.
The Story
Marines were the *last* US branch to admit women in WWII. The press tried "Marinettes" and "Femarines." Commandant Holcomb killed both, ruling: "Women Marines don't have a nickname. They're Marines." That doctrinal line holds to this day.
Epitaph
“No cutesy name. No separate identity. Just Marines.”
Sources
- NPS — USMC Women's Reservewww.nps.gov
- Wikipedia — USMC Women's Reserveen.wikipedia.org