We have at one time or another read or heard stories about women who served in the United States military: Harriet Tubman was a military leader and Union spy during the Civil War. Bea Arthur was a truck driver in the Marine Corps. The 688th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-female U.S. Army unit to serve overseas in World War II who worked tirelessly to sort over 17 million pieces of mail for servicemen in Europe, a mission that was crucial for troop morale.
They worked in three, eight-hour shifts, seven days a week, and successfully processed over 17 million pieces of mail by the end of the war. Dr. Ruth, trained as a sniper in the IDF.
Army Women’s Foundation Our own Susan Freeman was the first Captain and Commander of the first overseas unit of black nurses. She served in the Army Nursing Corps during WWII where she first encountered segregation with other black nurses and doctors. We have our own Women Warriors who served with honor and distinction in the military. A visit to the Stratford Veterans Museum you can field their stories, many of which have been immortalized in videos by family and friends. Their videos are available for viewing following the listing of their names.
The Stratford Veterans Museum roster includes the following women:
Barrett, Dorothy, World War II
Burns, Martha, United State Marine Corps, WWII, Observer trainer
Dalling, Kerry A. (Parker), Southeast Asia
Dlugos, Evelyn, Navy WAVE, Korean War
Durkin, Patricia Ann, Marine Corps
Goldbach (Tottenham), Mary, WWII
Anne Jones, First Stratford girl to enlist in the Marines, WWII
Knox, Ruth,. United States Marine Corps, WWII, machinist mate
Meehan, Elizabeth Gill, Navy WWII
O’Donnell, Karen, Navy, Afghanistan
Richard, Margaret, Navy Petty Officer, WWII
General Laura Richardson, United States Army , Four Star General
Ross, Priscilla Joan, Navy, Chief Petty Officer serving for 30 years
Sanches, Diana, United State Marine Corps
Schoop, Marlene, Army Cpl. 3 rd Armored Division
Seirug, Annette, Cadet Nurse Corps, WWII
Smith, Jean, Army, WWII Weather observer
Sulzicki, Julie, Navy, Yeoman 2nf Class, WWII
Smith, Nancy, Army, Spec-5 24 Infantry Division 1977-1981
Starrett-Guerin, Deborah, Master Sgt Air Force, 1977-1997, Japan, Korea, Germany,
Schrader-Pratt, Army Sgt. 1 st Class
Toce, Angela, Army, Sgt. Angela C.Toce, WAC,
Tomlinson, Olive, Lt. Tomlinson, Army, WWII Nurse
Wyatt, Josephine, Navy WAVE, WWII, Radio operator
Note: The Stratford Veterans Museum’s mission is to recognize those veterans
from Stratford who have served our country honorably in war and in peace and to
act as a repository for their stories. If you are a veteran who lives in or has lived
in Stratford, or family of a Stratford veteran, and would like to share your story of
service, or if you have items related to a Stratford veteran you would like to loan
or donate, you can email the museum: svm5952@gmail.com.
Thank you for attending our Veterans Day in town on Saturday at Academy Hill!
