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PFC Barbara D. Owen-Wilmoth Oral History
Publication date: 31 July 2024
File metadata
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title:
PFC Barbara D. Owen-Wilmoth Oral History
creator:
Owen-Wilmoth, Barbara (Roberts) (1937 September 24 - )
subject:
Women's Army Corps (WAC)
description:
Barbara Owen-Wilmoth was born on September 24, 1937 in Jackson, Michigan and graduated from Jackson High School. Her family was originally from Poland and her parents were farmers. She did not believe she could afford college, so she joined the Women’s Army Corps through a local recruiter at 18 years old in November 1955. She had several uncles who served in the Navy and an aunt in WAVES all during World War II. She had basic training at Fort McClellan, Alabama. Civil Rights was a big issue then, and Barbara recalls an incident where she encountered racism for the first time to a fellow soldier there. In 1956, she was stationed at Fort Jay with the 1st Army Headquarters, Governors Island, New York where she served as an intelligence clerk. She went to stenographer school at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, Indiana and returned to Fort Jay, where she stayed until her discharge in July 1957. She met her husband soon after and decided not to re-enlist. She was elected in 1994 to be the National 1st Vice Commander for the Polish Legion of American Veterans, 32nd Biennial Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Also in 1994, the Consolidated War Veterans of Michigan chose her as the Veteran of the Year and State Fair Veteran of the Year. She was the first woman in many of these roles. At the time of the interview, she had over 600 hours of volunteer service and has remained active in helping veterans. She is a member of the Polish Legion of American Veterans, life member of the Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS, WACVETS Chapter 15, and WIMSA. When she left the service Own-Wilmoth had reached the rank of private 1st class. No transcript of this interview is currently available.
publisher:
Military Women's Memorial Foundation
contributor:
Manta, Vince
date:
2011-06-22
type:
Moving Image
format:
DVD-R
identifier:
1191; 2011.1191
source:
VHP | CLIR - Recordings at Risk
language:
English
relation:
077115
coverage:
1950s | 1955-57
rights:
Unrestricted