Women Marines: The World War II Era

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

The nexus of this study lies in the recollections of 146 Women Reservists who served in the US Marine Corps during World War II and who were surveyed by Peter Soderbergh in 1990 and 1991. Soderbergh's purposes were 1) to gather primary data before it was lost; 2) to cast the women's experiences in the social context of their time; 3) to contrast the role of women in the armed forces of the 1940s with the role they play today; 4) to give these female pioneers a voice that speaks to current counterparts, patriotism and competence; and 5) to provide a yardstick with which we may measure how much, if any, progress women have made in out patriarchal society over the past half-century. His study provides a social chronicles of a little-studied facet of US military and women's history. The basic purpose of the book is to pay tribute to the women of the World War II generation who were courageous enough to join the newly created military "auxiliaries". It is the only study of its kind done on Women Reservists in the US Marine Corps during World War II. There have been "official" histories written by female Marine Officers, but this is the first social history. The oral histories of these women add a dimension to our understanding of what life was like for Women Reservists. These women, most of them now in their seventies, come alive as they share their experiences openly, express their feelings candidly, and remember the "good war" vividly. The book includes many vintage photographs from the 1943-1946 period. Women who have or are serving in the military and their families, those interested in women's studies, and students of the military will be especially interested in this volume.

Reviews

Dr. Soderbergh's Women Marines: The World War II Era is a delight to read. He relates the personal experiences and stories of 146 Marine Corps women reservists (WRs) who served on active duty from 1943 to 1945. Dr. Soderbergh obviously has a great deal of admiration for these women because the tone throughout the book is characterized by warmth, understanding, and respect. The author's purpose for writing the book was to tell the 'real' story about the WRs.-Marine Corps Gazette
Embedded in a very thorough and helpful reading of the relevant historiography, this book wonderfully captures the experience of these young women who left home to serve their country as Marines. It is well worth reading for anyone really seeking to understand the broader realities of World War II.-The Journal of Military History
The result is a large collection of well-selected quotes that are woven together in an interesting narrative. This book adds flesh to the historical skeletons of the administrative histories.-Choice
"Embedded in a very thorough and helpful reading of the relevant historiography, this book wonderfully captures the experience of these young women who left home to serve their country as Marines. It is well worth reading for anyone really seeking to understand the broader realities of World War II."-The Journal of Military History
"The result is a large collection of well-selected quotes that are woven together in an interesting narrative. This book adds flesh to the historical skeletons of the administrative histories."-Choice
"Dr. Soderbergh's Women Marines: The World War II Era is a delight to read. He relates the personal experiences and stories of 146 Marine Corps women reservists (WRs) who served on active duty from 1943 to 1945. Dr. Soderbergh obviously has a great deal of admiration for these women because the tone throughout the book is characterized by warmth, understanding, and respect. The author's purpose for writing the book was to tell the 'real' story about the WRs."-Marine Corps Gazette

Author Bio

PETER A. SODERBERGH is Professor of Education at Louisiana State University. He served as a Platoon Commander in Korea and resigned from the Marine Corps as a captain. He has published eight books and numerous articles in a variety of professional journals and magazines.