Rochester, N.Y. – In 1944; while some frowned upon women in the military then, 21-year old Marjorie Writz stood tall. Writz enlisted in the Marines in October of 1944 in hopes of making her older brother, also in the military proud.
She says that’s the main reason she joined.
Her brother died in service.
“We had one purpose and that was to release a Marine, take over his job so he could go into active duty,” Writz said.
Writz was a Projectionist.
She ran cameras, shooting military training films at Camp Lejeune and in Washington.
Though Writz's stint in the military was short, her memories have lasted a lifetime.
“Oh I met some wonderful friends,” Writz said.
Writz says she'll never forget the uniform she wore.
“The white one I didn't like,” Writz said. “Nobody liked it, it had no style.”
But it's when she put on an old jacket she lit up.
“A lot of good memories and pride,” she said. A pride Marines carry.
Something Writz shares with the generation of today.
Writz was honored Saturday night at the annual Marine Corps Ball.
“It's a great honor and pleasure to meet her, generations ago she was there, she did it in World War Two,” Master Sergeant Mark Acton with the U.S. Marines said.
“There's something about 'em that Semper Fi is for real, they're a special band of brothers,” said Writz.
