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We are so excited that our friend, Flo Dunn, is featured in a new exhibit called, “50 YEARS BEYOND: The Vietnam Veteran Experience” at the Virginia War Memorial. Flo, a Board Member with the Friends of the Army Women’s Museum Association (FAWMA), is a volunteer and advocate for the AWM. We are thankful that visitors to the War Memorial will learn about Flo’s service as a WAC in Vietnam. The exhibit highlights 49 other Virginia Veterans through images and oral histories.  Be sure to stop by if you are in Richmond!


Learn about WWII veteran and 6888th Central Postal Battalion WAC, Romay Davis.

 (AP Photo/Jay Reeves

Click here to learn more.


Sharing the story of recently passed Muriel Phillips, a front-line Army nurse of WWII.

Click here to learn more.


Army Quartermaster Foundation

May 28 at 11:05 AM 

Meet CW5 (R) Candy Martin, the newest recipient of the Ancient Order of Saint Martin, who was awarded this most prestigious honor by BG Michelle Donahue, the 56th Quartermaster General, during the Quartermaster Honors Ceremony at the Lee Club on 4 May 2022. The Ancient Order of Saint Martin recognizes the select few who stand above their brethren of the Distinguished Order and is reserved for those Quartermaster Soldiers and Civilians who have performed conspicuous long-term service that singularly distinguishes themselves as contributors to the Quartermaster Corps. CW5 Martin is undeniably deserving of this highest honor. Her impressive bio follows:

CW5(R) Candy Martin receives Ancient Order of Saint Martin

Candy Martin was born and raised in South Dakota. She enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps in 1975 and retired from the U. S. Army 38 years later as a Chief Warrant Officer Five. She served in a variety of positions and deployed in support of Iraqi Freedom from August 2005 to July 2006.

She has been awarded multiple military awards, to include the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star. She proudly served in the United States Army Quartermaster Corps and was inducted into the Quartermaster Hall of Fame in 2017.

Candy follows her passion of serving Veterans and Gold Star Families. Candy is married to Sergeant Major (Retired) Ed Martin, and they raised four children. Tom, a 2005 graduate of the United States Military Academy, was killed in action while serving in Iraq on October 14, 2007. Ed and Candy have three adult daughters and four grandchildren. Candy and Ed enjoy balancing family, volunteering, traveling, and retirement!

For more information log into the Quartermaster Foundation Facebook Page


Photo credit: AWM staff
Sourced from: Army Women Museum

We would like to kick off Women’s History Month with a birthday wish for a real history maker, Bobbie Ann Lane Fallon! Bobbie, who turns 100 on March 11, joined the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps a short while after the attacks on Pearl Harbor in 1941. She was sent to the University of Wisconsin to study Physical Therapy and was later assigned to work with amputees in France. After the war, Bobbie married her fiancé, Dale Fallon, who served in the Pacific Theater. The Fallons went on to have six children and a happy marriage spanning many decades.


Belated birthday wishes to Bernnice Liverette, who turned 103 on January 12. Bernice served as medical transportation
in the Army during World War II. She married Buford Liverette in 1947 after he was discharged from the Navy. They
moved to North Carolina and had 2 children, and now have 4 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Bernice Liverette currently resides at the NC Veterans Home in Black Mountain.


With deep sadness we announce the passing of Command Sgt. Major Helen “Johnnie” Johnston. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends.

Command Sgt. Major Helen “Johnnie” Johnston’s esteemed Army career blazed a trail for many of us to follow. Helen stepped up to the challenges of the integrated Army once the WAC ended and established a high bar for both women and men. Throughout her military career and following it, she mentored, guided and supported other Army women. Following her retirement, she became an active and engaged supporter of the organizations important to her and to so many of us—the WAC Museum and then the U.S. Army Women’s Museum and the Women’s Army Corps Veterans Association, Chapter 62-Anniston.

Her work has made a difference to women in innumerable ways. She will be greatly missed!


The Army Women’s Museum gets a lot of research requests but one that was especially unique was from an archivist in Petit Quevilly/Rouen, France that was looking for information related to the arrival of the 6888th, US Army Central Postal Directory Battalion, in France.  The archivist was planning an exhibit about Major Charity Adams and the WACs of the “Six Triple Eight” that came to tackle the backlog of US mail for American troops.  The AWM staff found the information and sent it on but sure had no idea of what would follow.  A few months later, the French archivist sent pictures of the 6888th exhibit and followed it up with a copy of a Petit Quevilly proclamation that they named one of their new streets in honor of Charity Adams.  This was such exciting news and so well-deserved!!


SOUTHCOM welcomes Army general as its first woman leader. General Laura J. Richardson assumed command of the United States Southern Command on October 29, 2021. Prior to that, she was the commanding General of the United States Army North.

Photo Credit: U.S. Southern Command website


Hello Girl Uniform on the Way!

A reunion is in the making! For many years, the AWM has been home to the archival collection of Marie Louise Ruffe, a telephone operator during World War I. Ruffe’s collection is filled with amazing documents that capture her life from arrival at Ellis Island to her death in 1975. In 1918, Ruffe volunteered to work as a bilingual telephone operator with the American Expeditionary Forces. She was trained in New York then sent overseas to work in Paris and Verdun. Now, Ruffe’s uniform will be transferred from the Signal Corps Museum to the AWM and will go on display in the Origins of Service Gallery. This is a wonderful reuniting of the archives and artifacts that represent Marie Louise Ruffe’s amazing life story.  We’ll keep you updated on the progress of this collection!

Photo Credit: The Old Guard, U.S. Army


Congratulations to the U.S. Army Old Guard for this momentous occasion! For the first time in the 84-year vigil, on the 30770th day of continuous guarding, an all-female guard change occurred with the 38th Sergeant of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.


Congratulations to 1st LT Amber English for her win at the Olympics, earning a Gold Medal in Women’s Shotgun Skeet shooting event. Further information can be read about the event here. We are excited to see the future wins of team USA at the Olympics.


After 17 years of loyal service to the Army Women’s Museum, our Collections Specialist, Ron Bingham, is retiring. Ron began working at the AWM in 2004 after retiring from the Army. During his tenure, Ron has been steadfast and loyal in his commitment to preserving and teaching Army women’s history and heritage to Soldiers, the Fort Lee community, and the public at large. He set the standard in the Army Museum Enterprise for collection management with his perfect accountability and flawless care of our artifacts.  He also played a crucial role in the development of the museum’s first-class exhibit galleries. He educated and inspired thousands of Soldiers and leaders by conducting countless tours, developing numerous programs and exhibitions at the Army Women’s Museum.

Thanks to Ron whose professionalism and commitment reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army Women’s Museum. We will miss him dearly!


On June 24, 2021,  Michelle K. Donahue, the 56th Quartermaster Corps Commandant was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General.The ceremony was hosted at the Fort Lee Army Women’s Museum by the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General (Ret.) Martin E Dempsey.


BG Donahue stated,  “I am forever in debt to the Quartermaster Corps for giving me the opportunity to succeed.  I am also in debt to General Dempsey for many reasons, but today for hosting the ceremony, for believing that trust transcends gender, and for championing the repeal of the Combat Exclusion Rule for women.  It is also fitting that we honor the generations of women veterans that paved the way for me to join the ranks of 24 other female general officers on active duty today.  General Dempsey recently quoted the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who said, ‘Women belong in all places where decisions are made.’  I couldn’t agree more.”   Congratulations BG Donahue!


Happy 100th birthday to WWII WAC veteran, 1SG Sandra Intorre.

Sandra “Sandy” Intorre was born on July 4, 1921 in Gallatin, Pennsylvania. In May 1943, Sandy Intorre was sworn into the service of the Women’s Army Corps.  In June 1943, she reported to Fort Oglethorpe, GA, for 4 weeks of basic training.  She went to Fort Des Moines, IA to wait for an assignment, where she lived in converted horse stables.  She was assigned to clerical duty in Fort Dix, NJ, when she really wanted to be a cook.  In 1943, she was sent to Taunton England to work at the post exchange store, or PX.  

On D-Day plus 6 (6/12/44), she was sent to Cherbourg France and worked in the Adjutant General AG radio and cable message center, where she received teletypes, some coded, which she evaluated and distributed to all necessary branches, such as ordnance for weapons, quartermaster for food and supply, etc.  In one instance, working round the clock, she dispatched a message where she had mistyped the word “Swiss” as “Swill”, evoking the response from the captain “Where is this land of Swill?”  

Later, when the headquarters was moved, she was transferred to Deauville France, at a beach resort on the English Channel.  She decided to visit her brother Sam in Le Havre, France before he was sent to the Far East (Philippines).  She obtained a 3-day pass, and tagged along in a helicopter on a mail courier run to Le Havre.  Since there were no women’s quarters where Sam was living, and being protective of his younger sister he scolded her for the impromptu visit, without any lodging or return transportation plans.  His chaplain found a hotel, where she was the first guest since the war, so both guest and host were pleased for the stay. 

On November 1, 1945, she was discharged, as the Army was disbanding the WACs.  She worked at home, then worked as a civilian assigned to the Bureau of Aeronautics in Washington DC as a civilian stenographer.  Then, the Army reversed its decision to disband the WACs and she reenlisted into the Army Air Corp.  When the Air Corp was divided, she chose Army, rather than be demoted to start over in the newly formed Air Force.  

In November 1946, she went to Bolling Field in Washington DC.  She applied for an overseas tour and was assigned to the Chief of Ordnance office in both Frankford and Heidelberg Germany in 1947.  In 1950, she was sent to Yokohama Japan, working as chief clerk administrator in the Judge Advocate General’s office and additional duty with the law library.  Upon arrival in Japan, when there were no other volunteers, she agreed to go to Camp Zama on temporary duty, to document the interrogation of returning American POWs, used to track violations of the Geneva Convention. 

After Japan, she had various assignments to include Fort McClellan, Alabama and Fort Lawton, Seattle. When her brother Angelo was stationed in Hawaii,  she thought it would be a nice place to live, so she asked for an assignment there.  In 1959, she began a 3 1/2 year duty including night shift radio and cable of classified messages.  Later, she was sent to Fort Sam Houston in Texas as First Sergeant over 450 women.  

She retired from the Army on November 1, 1967. Subsequently, she was a Civil Service Army Recruiting Officer in Detroit, MI for 10 yrs.  She was also a JROTC instructor and had a supply job until retirement in 1984.    


May 26 is the 5th anniversary of the AWM Historical Marker dedication.  LTG (Ret) Karen Dyson was a guest speaker at the event and has been a huge advocate for FAWMA and the AWM. Click this Link to find the original article.


Happy Birthday, Ilene!

Ilene E. Dougherty, a WWII Army Nurse will celebrate her 101st birthday on May 19. Ilene served from Nov 1, 1942 until Jan 31, 1946.  She earned the American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and World War II Victory Medal. Ilene joined the 11th Evacuation Hospital in Rabat, Africa, and is one of the few military remaining who have had a conversation with General George C. Patton, who called her “LT Blondie.” Ilene’s Army career spanned over 3 years and included deployments to Tunisia, Sicily, Naples, Rome, Southern France, Germany, and Central Europe. Please help us in wishing Ilene a Happy 101st Birthday.  

Cards may be sent to 
Ilene E. Dougherty
Colonial Heights Health Care Center
Room 125
831 Ellerslie Avenue
Colonial Heights, VA 23834

This article talks about the subject and gives further information on her, which can be located here.


Congratulations to Marshal. Col. Tammy Smith on her appointment to Chief security officer. Additionally here is an article that talks about this occurrence.


Congratulations to MG Tammy Smith for retiring! Best wishes and the very best in her future endeavors!! Here is a link to the Retirement Ceremony that occurred on Friday, April 30th. Along with a link to the Personal ceremony that was hosted at the Women’s Memorial on Saturday May 1st.


This Spotlight is dedicated to the nomination of Christine Wormuth as the new Secretary of the Army. The ArmyTimes website wrote up a full article on this subject matter also. Click through to read more.

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Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced on March 6, 2021 that the president has made the following nomination:
Army Lt. Gen. Laura J. Richardson for appointment to the grade of general, and assignment as commander, U.S. Southern Command, Doral, Florida. Richardson is currently serving as commanding general, U.S. Army North, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.

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Wishing a WWII WAC a Happy 104th

Maureen Lamm Davis

Maureen Lamm Davis is celebrating 104 years on February 22 and wants you to celebrate with her. 

Davis is an official star with two newspaper articles published about her 100th and 103rd birthdays.  Both articles (citations below) reveal she has always been feisty and ready to take the bull by the horns!  And Davis is no stranger to bulls as she recalls a personal encounter in the 2017 article.  Her Texas hometown had bulls roaming the streets, and 10-year old Davis had to jump a fence to get away from a charging bull — a feat she was quite proud of despite not being considered lady-like by her parents.

Davis, a middle child, was born in 1917 to Walter and Gennie Lamm in Haskell, Texas with the family later moving to George West.  Being her high school salutatorian, she pursued further education and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Education from the Texas State College for Women. 

When the war started, Davis decided to join the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, and graduated as a member of the 1st Regiment, 29th O.C. Class, 1st WAAC Training Facility Center, Fort Des Moines IA, on May 23, 1943.  During her service, Davis had administrative duties to induct and discharge men from the service. She trained in Des Moines, Iowa then went on to Fort Mason, California, and eventually ended up at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, where she inducted the men of Tennessee.  She separated from the military in 1946 as a Captain having served her country proudly. 

In 1949, she married Bill Davis and they were together for 53 years until his passing in 2002.  Always active, Davis returned to work after her military service and also received a Master’s Degree in education.  She continues to be active even after deciding to move to an assisted-living facility as evidenced by the gardening picture shared by the Facility Staff.    

Should you want to send birthday wishes to Maureen, her address is:  Mrs. Maureen Davis, Argent Court, 1951 Texas Highway 97 E, Jourdanton, Texas 78026

Sources:

-The Progress, Feature, “100 Years Young”, Nikki Weithauer, Mar 5, 2017 Updated May 1, 2017 (The Progress, 501 N. Harborth Ave., Ste D, Three Rivers, TX)

-Pleasanton Express, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAUREEN!”, Pleasonton Staff, on February 12, 2020 (Pleasonton Express, 114 E. Goodwin, Pleasonton, TX)


WAAC Veteran Celebrates 103rd Birthday

Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps veteran Edna Keiper Sheeler has seen many historical events since her World War II service. Now, Edna is about to become a part of history herself, as she celebrates her 103rd birthday on January 3, 2021.

Sheeler, who lives with her daughter in Philadelphia, joined the Army at a time when patriotic women were coming to the defense of their country. She enlisted in March 1943 and was sent first to Camp Ruskin in Louisiana and then to Camp Denton in Texas for training. She was then sent to Ft Benjamin Harrison, Indiana to the hospital supply unit where Sheeler
said she worked until it closed.

“I got sent overseas to Port Moresby, New Guinea, where I worked in mail,” she says. “Then to the Philippine Islands where I met my husband…at the end of the war I went to Manila for 3 weeks, then home.”

“I remember when it was announced the war was over I was on a Philippine Island with my future husband and thinking no one would
make bed check so stayed out.” However, Sheeler’s commanding officer found out and told her to stay in for 4 days but then dropped it to 2 taking into account the good news of the war ending.

Edna, one of The Greatest Generation, returned home after the war as a T5 “between a private first class and corporal,” she says. “I loved every minute of it,” she added. Edna retired from the Philadelphia Post Office. Now she spends her days watching TV, playing Rummy and writing pen pals until early this year when her fingers began to bother her.

Sheeler has been honored with a Tribute Brick at the U.S. Army Women’s Museum, Fort Lee, VA. “It’s the least one could do for her,” says one of her pen pals. “After all, she paved the way for the rest of us who have served in the Army.

Edna was able to celebrate her birthday happily with multiple cards
delivered to her.


Staff Sergeant Daniel M. O’Rourke Remembered

Members of the Star Spangled Unit of the WAC Exhibit Team including SSGT O’Rourke in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 28, 1967 with LTC Mildred Bailey and Mrs. Beatrice Burns, wife of Hawaii’s Governor and Army Nurse Corps veteran.

Member of 1966-67 Star Spangled WAC Unit Remembered.

Staff Sergeant Daniel M. O’Rourke had a varied military career but his most memorable tour was with the Women’s Army Corps Exhibit Team as it traveled the country with the Star Spangled Pageant.  The pageant started in 1963, the 21st anniversary of the WAC, as part of an Army public relations program to promote the future of women in the military.  Lieutenant Colonel Mildred I.C. Bailey was selected to head the team with a mission to educate people about WAC life, talk about the jobs open to women and to increase recruitment.  The small team of WACs, with LTC Bailey and O’Rourke, traveled the US giving presentations to clubs, schools, civic organizations and other groups.  The WACs modeled historic outfits as well as women’s military uniforms from the past and present – all to tell the brave stories of women’s contributions to this country. 

No exhibiting tour is complete without an excellent narrator that can tell the stories of the women that helped create the United States.  O’Rourke was chosen as the narrator during the 1966-1967 timeframe and he was a superb storyteller. His job was considered to be the envy of many soldiers with one officer signing a promotional picture of the pageant addressed to O’Rourke with the quote “The only man I would change jobs with”.  O’Rourke had very fond memories of LTC Bailey, who was later promoted to Brigadier General and became WAC Director from 1971-75. According to his son, Tom, his dad felt a sense of duty and dedication to LTC Bailey and a strong bond with the WAC team.

During O’Rourke’s assignment to the Exhibit Team, he visited many places to include Texas, North Dakota, Florida, California, Hawaii and Wisconsin and had an opportunity to meet Vice President Hubert Humphrey. O’Rourke’s narration skills and enthusiasm were top-notch and attracted the attention of a primetime news network, says his son. Although offered the job, O’Rourke declined as it wasn’t his dream.

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O’Rourke served in the Army from 1962 to 1968 then moved back to civilian life where he spent 40 years in the transportation business in Wisconsin.  Daniel Martin O’Rourke (age 79) passed on in November. His family was well aware of his fond memories of his time as the WAC Exhibit narrator, and has asked that donations be made to support the Army Women’s Museum at Ft Lee.  O’Rourke was in attendance at the dedication of the Museum in 2001 when it was relocated to Ft Lee, Va.  Information on donating is at armywomensmuseum.org/donate/ or can be mailed to Friends of the Army Women’s Museum Association (FAWMA), PO Box 1027, Prince George, VA 23875.


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