Sgt Maj Mabel A. R. Otten, USMC Ret. Oral History

title:

Sgt Maj Mabel A. R. Otten, USMC Ret. Oral History

creator:

Otten, Mabel A.R. (1924 May 14 - )

subject:

Marine Corps Women's Reserve | Marine Corps

description:

This is the original, unedited interview audio. Mabel Otten was born on May 14, 1924 in Centerville Township, Illinois to parents George and Emma Otten. She worked in a factory prior to her enlistment in the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve on May 16, 1944, right after she turned 20 years old. She went to basic training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and her first assignment afterwards was at the Depot of Supplies in San Francisco, California. She then went to San Diego California to ship out to her next station: Mauna Loa Ridge on Oahu, Hawaii. After the War ended in December 1945, she returned to California to work as a clerk typist in San Francisco. She was discharged in 1946 when women were being demobilized but reenlisted in April 1948. She was assigned to HQMC in Virginia as a stenographer. She was promoted to staff sergeant in the disbursing field while stationed there, and her next assignment was at Cherry Point, North Carolina. She attended NCO School and Recruiters School and, in 1954, was assigned to recruiting duty in South Charleston, West Virginia. In 1957, she was transferred to Quantico, Virginia where she was the Disbursing Chief. In 1960, she was assigned duty as S-3 Operations Chief at Parris Island, South Carolina. She continued serving in disbursing offices at her next stations: Camp Lejeune, North Carolina from 1964; Treasure Island, California from 1967, and Fatima, Okinawa from 1968. On August 1, 1969 she was selected as the 4th Sergeant Major of Women's Marines, a position she stayed in until 1972 when she retired from active duty. After retiring she attended George Washington University and Eastern California University. When she left the service Otten had reached the rank of maser sergeant, and for her service she was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal with a silver service star and 2 bronze service stars, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, American Defense Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and National Defense Service Medal with a bronze service star. Mabel passed away in April 2013 at the age of 88. No transcript of this interview is currently available.

publisher:

Military Women's Memorial Foundation

contributor:

Wilson, Eleanor M.

date:

2002-09-01

type:

Audio

format:

Cassette

identifier:

711; 2002.711

source:

MCHC | CLIR - Recordings at Risk

language:

English

relation:

069559

coverage:

World War II (1939-1945) | Vietnam War (1964-1975) | 1944-46 | 1947-72

rights:

Unrestricted