Lt Col Vanda K. Bresnan, USMC Ret. Oral History

title:

Lt Col Vanda K. Bresnan, USMC Ret. Oral History

creator:

Bresnan, Vanda (Brame) (1945 June 30 - )

subject:

Marine Corps

description:

Vanda Bresnan (formerly Brame) was born on June 30, 1945 in Greenville, North Carolina. After graduating high school, she attended Greensboro College in North Carolina before joining the Marine Corps in 1967. She spent a year stationed at Cherry Point as an administrative officer. In 1968, she was moved to Des Moines, Iowa to work as a recruiting officer covering a 13-state area in the Midwest, where she was the sole person focusing on recruiting women officers from colleges in the region. In 1970, she then became the commanding officer, responsible for administration, budgeting, training and inspiring Women Marines at the Marine Corps Supply Center in Barstow, California. The following year, Bresnan was the commanding officer for the only training company for enlisted women at Parris Island, South Carolina. In 1972, while still stationed at Parris Island, she was the Congressional Interest/Equal Employment Opportunity Officer. In 1974, she was the Adjutant at the Marine Corps Air Station in Tustin California before being sent to Okinawa, Japan in 1975. There, Bresnan was instrumental in establishing and expanding the Marine Corps Family Service Center for 40,000 Marines and their families on Okinawa, Japan, a trail blazing effort as the Marine Corps expanded the number of families allowed overseas. She then returned to the States in 1977, serving as Adjutant for the Marine Aircraft Group 16 in Tustin, California. In 1979, while serving as Adjutant for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in El Toro, California, she prepared orders for the 1980 attempted Iranian rescue mission. Until her retirement in 1987, Bresnan continued to serve as an Adjutant in various capacities in El Toro, California. Since her retirement, she worked as the Director of the Criminal Administrative Services for the Orange County Superior Court, a position she retired from in 1996 to pursue her interest in veterans’ issues. She left the service with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and for her service she received the Navy Marine Corps Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Equal Employment Opportunity Achievement Award, Outstanding Young Women in America in 1970 and 1977, Outstanding Veteran leader in the United States award by Jewish War Veterans in 1996, and the California Department of AMVETS AMVET of the Year award in 1996. No transcript of this interview is currently available.

publisher:

Military Women's Memorial Foundation

contributor:

Wilson, Eleanor M.

date:

2001-07-03

type:

Audio

format:

Cassette

identifier:

105; 2001.015

source:

MCHC | CLIR - Recordings at Risk

language:

English

relation:

011525

coverage:

1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1967-87

rights:

Unrestricted