Cpl Mary Ann Rogers Oral History

title:

Cpl Mary Ann Rogers Oral History

creator:

Rogers, Mary Ann (Solinger) (1924 July 27 - )

subject:

Marine Corps Women's Reserve

description:

Mary Ann Rogers (formerly Solinger) was born on July 27, 1924 in Minnesota. She grew up on a farm with her parents, 3 sisters, and 2 brothers. She wanted to be an ambulance driver because she knew how to drive, but went to one year of teacher’s college before deciding to enlist when she saw some Marines in dress uniform. She had to wait until she turned 20 to enlist, and as soon as she could after her birthday in 1944. She recalls she had to lose 15 pounds in 14 days to join. She succeeded in doing so, and received orders to report to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for boot camp. She enjoyed boot camp, but remembers some girls left because of the discipline. After boot camp, she was assigned to Cooks and Bakers school for a few days of classes. After completing all the necessary training, she was assigned to Cherry Point, North Carolina at the women’s mess hall. They had their own butcher shop there, and they were responsible for feeding 2,400 women each day. While working in the mess hall, she met her future husband who was a mess sergeant in the Marines. On V-J Day, everyone was given two cases of beer to celebrate. She got married in the spring of 1946 and was sent to Quantico, Virginia to receive her discharge in June 1946. Her husband remained in the Marine Corps and, in 1952, was promoted to the warrant officer. They followed his assignments to Parris Island, South Carolina’ Cherry Point, North Carolina; and 29 Palms, California. When her husband was sent overseas, she lived in Minnesota. Her husband eventually retired as CWO-4 in 1969, and they had eleven children together. When she left the service Rogers had reached the rank of corporal, and for her service she was awarded an American Campaign Medal and World War II Victory Medal. No transcript of this interview is currently available.

publisher:

Military Women's Memorial Foundation

contributor:

Wilson, Eleanor M.

date:

2003-03-24

type:

Audio

format:

Cassette

identifier:

802; 2003.802

source:

MCHC | CLIR - Recordings at Risk

language:

English

relation:

440023

coverage:

World War II (1939-1945) | 1944-46

rights:

Unrestricted