PFC Minnie Spotted-Wolf Oral History Part 1

title:

PFC Minnie Spotted-Wolf Oral History Part 1

creator:

Spotted-Wolf, Minnie (1923 June 20 - 1988) | England, Geraldette

subject:

Marine Corps

description:

Part 1 of 2. The narrator of this interview is Geraldette England, discussing the life of her mother Minnie Spotted Wolf, who was the first Native American woman to join the Marine Corps during World War II. Minnie was born on June 20, 1923 on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana and worked on her family's homestead as a child into adulthood. According to her and her family Minnie was the best horseman there and could break a horse better than all of her brothers. During World War II, she read about the Marines and decided to join, signing up two days after her father had passed away in 1943. She went to basic training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, then served for two years in Hawaii, Korea, and Japan. Minnie did motor patrol in all of these locations, driving the military Jeeps. In fact, when she left the service, Minnie's friends gave her a toy Jeep as a gift. She stated that the Marines were hard for some women, and that people were harder and tougher on women in particular while they served. At one point she didn't think she was tough enough for it, but does think that her upbringing ultimately prepared her for the challenge. She also talked about protecting herself against men, claiming that if they thought that they could get away with something and were proven wrong, they'd leave her alone after that first attempt. After she joined the Marine Corps, more Native American women joined too, and while she thought the military was hard work, she did enjoy it and the people that she met and worked with along the way. If she had been recalled to duty, she would've proudly gone back. After leaving the service in 1947 Minnie remained active in the American Legion, carrying flags in parades, marching, and saluting at cemeteries on the reservation. After leaving the service, her tribe also wrote a special song honoring her and her service, and her family was proud of what she'd accomplished. Upon returning home, she got married and used her money from the service to go to school, becoming a teacher and working all over the Blackfeet Reservation. Although she was proud of her service and would've gone back if asked, she discouraged her daughter from joining the military, telling her it isn't the life for a girl. By the time she left the service, Minnie had reached the rank of Private First Class. She passed away in 1988. No transcript of this interview is currently available.

publisher:

Military Women's Memorial Foundation

contributor:

Chase, Shirley

date:

2002-06-26

type:

Audio

format:

Cassette

identifier:

1010.01; 2002.1010

source:

OHP

language:

English

relation:

559012

coverage:

World War II (1941-1945) | 1943-1947

rights:

Restricted