WR (Women's Marine Reserves)
The Marine Corps was only male until World War II except for 305 Marine Reservists, popularly termed “Marinettes,” who served during World War I. Although Corps Commandant General Thomas Holcomb had at first opposed recruiting women, he followed the example of the Army, Navy and Coast Guard and began to “replace men by women in all possible positions.” And so the Marine Corps Women's Reserve was established in early 1943.
The public anticipated a catchy nickname for the women and bombarded headquarters with suggestions such as Femarines, Glamarines, and even Sub-Marines, but General Holcomb ruled out the cute titles. In a March 1944 issue of Life magazine, he announced, “They are Marines. They don't have a nickname and they don't need one. They get their basic training in a Marine atmosphere at a Marine post. They inherit the traditions of Marines. They are Marines.” In practice, they were usually called Women Reservists, shortened to WRs.
Training for the WRs took place at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, but the change from civilians to Marines began even before their arrival. Recruits traveled to Wilmington, NC, on troop trains of about 500. At the depot, they were lined up, given paper armbands calling them "boots" (trainees), and ordered to pick up luggage–anybody's luggage–and march onto another train. At the other end, shouting drill instructors herded them to barracks with large, open squadbays, group shower rooms, male urinals, and toilet stalls without doors. No time was allowed for adjustment. A few wondered what they had done and why they had done it.
WRs were not allowed to go overseas or be close to battle according to Public Law 441, that 78th Congress, signed on 27 September 1944 which amended Section 504, Public Law 689, 77th Congress, 30 July 1942 by providing that: "Members of the Women's Reserve shall not be assigned to duty on board vessels of the Navy or in aircraft while such aircraft are engaged in combat missions, and shall not be assigned to duty outside the American Area and the Territories of Hawaii and Alaska, and may be assigned to duty outside the continental United States only upon their prior request."
Among all the womderful quotes said about the women Marines of World War II, is a simple statement from General Holcomb: “Like most Marines, when the matter first came up, I didn't believe women could serve any useful purpose in the Marine Corps. ... Since then, I've changed my mind.”
For more information on the Women's Marine Reserves click HERE.
The public anticipated a catchy nickname for the women and bombarded headquarters with suggestions such as Femarines, Glamarines, and even Sub-Marines, but General Holcomb ruled out the cute titles. In a March 1944 issue of Life magazine, he announced, “They are Marines. They don't have a nickname and they don't need one. They get their basic training in a Marine atmosphere at a Marine post. They inherit the traditions of Marines. They are Marines.” In practice, they were usually called Women Reservists, shortened to WRs.
Training for the WRs took place at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, but the change from civilians to Marines began even before their arrival. Recruits traveled to Wilmington, NC, on troop trains of about 500. At the depot, they were lined up, given paper armbands calling them "boots" (trainees), and ordered to pick up luggage–anybody's luggage–and march onto another train. At the other end, shouting drill instructors herded them to barracks with large, open squadbays, group shower rooms, male urinals, and toilet stalls without doors. No time was allowed for adjustment. A few wondered what they had done and why they had done it.
WRs were not allowed to go overseas or be close to battle according to Public Law 441, that 78th Congress, signed on 27 September 1944 which amended Section 504, Public Law 689, 77th Congress, 30 July 1942 by providing that: "Members of the Women's Reserve shall not be assigned to duty on board vessels of the Navy or in aircraft while such aircraft are engaged in combat missions, and shall not be assigned to duty outside the American Area and the Territories of Hawaii and Alaska, and may be assigned to duty outside the continental United States only upon their prior request."
Among all the womderful quotes said about the women Marines of World War II, is a simple statement from General Holcomb: “Like most Marines, when the matter first came up, I didn't believe women could serve any useful purpose in the Marine Corps. ... Since then, I've changed my mind.”
For more information on the Women's Marine Reserves click HERE.