Maj Beverly Ann Short, USMC Ret. Interview

title:

creator:

Short, Beverly Ann (1947 June 6 -

subject:

Marine Corps

description:

Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Consent, bio. No transcript. Didn't think about joining the military until her second year in college. Graduated in 1970 and went to basic for officers in Jan 1971. Assigned as an admin officer. Becamse a WOSO after her first assignment, then became a procurement officer at HQMC focused on all Marines, not just women Marines. Became a trainer at basic school when women were being integrated in training in the late 1970s. Was still there when they had their first encounter with a woman who was pregnant when she was in basic - ended up completing the eight-mile hike and the rest of training while 5-months pregnant. Policy analyst right after the Director of the Women Marines was disbanded, so she was basically responsible for that in the larger admin organization. Spent 1987-1990 in El Toro after asking for her last station to be fun. Had jaw realignment surgery in August 1990, when Kuwait was invaded. Returned to work the next week to prep more Marines to go overseas. By December of 1990, her group headquarters was ready to go overseas. They were at a Naval station south of Jabail (sic), but squadrons were spread across multiple stations. She was responsible for keeping track of 5,000 people. Had people spread from Kuwait's airport to Bahrain after the war ended. Many women in one of their squadrons experienced heavy rocket fire. Her tents experienced distant fire, but wasn't hit directly. Last 5 staff members left May 1991, which included her. Sent in her retirement papers again when arriving back in CA, and went straight to seminary school from there, fast enough she didn't process her trauma at all. She woke up one night during seminary hearing alarms at a fire station that sounded like scud alarms, and she woke up searching for her gas mask.

publisher:

Military Women's Memorial Foundation

contributor:

Wilson, Eleanor

date:

2005-12-02

type:

Audio

format:

Cassette

identifier:

843; 2005.843

source:

MCHC

language:

English

relation:

603302

coverage:

1970s | 1980s | 1990s | Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm | 1971-1991

rights:

Unrestricted

Publication date: 11 December 2025

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Dublin Core Metadata