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Sgt Frances A. Kasparek Oral History Side A
Publication date: 31 July 2024
File metadata
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title:
Sgt Frances A. Kasparek Oral History Side A
creator:
Kasparek, Frances A. "Denny" (Beekman) (1915 December 31 - )
subject:
Marine Corps Women's Reserve
description:
Side 1 of 2. This is the original, unedited interview audio. Frances “Denny” Kasparek (formerly Beekman, service name Dinsmore) was born on December 21, 1915 in North Manchester, Indiana. She was working as a nurse when the United States joined World War II and enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 1943. She went to basic training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and switched orders with her friend Iva to become a mechanic. She completed Motor Transportation School and Auto Mechanics School by May 1944 and was assigned to Parris Island, South Carolina from June 1944 until July 1945. At one point, she asked to transfer to the Navy Nurse Corps considering her pre-war work in nursing but remained in the Marines. She was ordered to Hawaii and went through overseas training, shipping out in August 1945. She was onboard the ship headed towards Hawaii on V-J Day, and once she got to Hawaii she was stationed at Mauna Loa Ridge on Oahu, working as a mechanic there until her discharge in December 1945. After her service, she returned to her nursing career and has worked with several veterans’ organizations, including the American Legion and WIMSA. When she left the service Kasparek had reached the rank of sergeant, and for her service she was awarded an American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and US Marine Corps Overseas Ribbon. No transcript of this interview is currently available.
publisher:
Military Women's Memorial Foundation
contributor:
Rosenkotter, Judy
date:
2004-01-07
type:
Audio
format:
Cassette
identifier:
505; 2004.505
source:
CLIR - Recordings at Risk
language:
English
relation:
047852
coverage:
World War II (1939-1945) | 1943-45
rights:
Unrestricted