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Sgt Valerie Annette Meyer Oral History
Publication date: 31 July 2024
File metadata
Dublin Core Metadata
title:
Sgt Valerie Annette Meyer Oral History
creator:
Meyer, Valerie "Val" Annette (Graf) (1917 July 26 - )
subject:
Marine Corps Women's Reserve
description:
Valerie “Val” A. Meyer (formerly Graff) was born on July 26, 1917 in St. Louis, Missouri. She enlisted in February 1944 after her mother told her if she waited too long, the war would be over, and she’d keep thinking about how she could’ve enlisted. She went to basic training for five or six weeks at Parris Island, South Carolina and was stationed in Washington, DC after competing basic. She had been a stenographer at home before enlisting, so she worked as a stenographer and clerical worker as a Marine as well. She worked at the Pentagon, what Val calls the Navy Annex throughout the interview. She enjoyed her time in DC, and she thought the food they got was always excellent. She was discharged in January 1946 and got married when she returned home. She had known him before joining the military, but she didn’t want to get married before they were both out of the service to make sure she wasn’t left to raise children on her own because of the war. They initially broke up over her opinion on the matter, but wrote a letter to him after enlisting and they remained in contact throughout the rest of the war from there. When she left the service Val had reached the rank of sergeant, and for her service she was awarded an American Campaign Medal and World War II Victory Medal. A transcript of this interview is available.
publisher:
Military Women's Memorial Foundation
contributor:
Vernau, Victoria
date:
2006-06-11
type:
Audio
format:
CD
identifier:
1141; 2006.1141
source:
American Legion Post 404 | CLIR - Recordings at Risk
language:
English
relation:
062490
coverage:
World War II (1939-1945) | 1944-46
rights:
Unrestricted