Yong Fang
07-12-2016, 06:44 AM
For those not in the know, Bea Arthur (known by her maiden name Beatrice Frankel) served in WWII in the United States Marine Corps. Per her Wikipedia article.....
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bea_Arthur
"During World War II, she worked as a truck driver and typist in the United States Marine Corps Women's Reserve, receiving an Honorable Discharge in September 1945."
She was in the USMC for at least two years, and got an Honorable Discharge in September of 1945, the month Japan formally surrendered to the United States.
However this is all Wiki says about it. There is a military picture of her in an ID photo wearing her uniform with the Globe and Anchor.
Arthur did not want people to know about her service, and down played it a lot, which I think is a shame but can see somewhat why she did this, because Bea was a masculine woman. But, women were not obligated to join the service, they were not drafted, yet this Jewish New York City girl joined the freaking Marine Corps of all things. Not that she was Jewish or a female, but it is interesting. I would like to know the story behind that, where she was stationed, her rank and responsibilities. How tall was Bea Arthur. She looked like a big, strong woman to me, which I think is what she wanted to get away from. But I would like to know the story.
I wish she would have embraced her service and got involved in USO and other military stuff for the troops, but she didn't and that is her right. I think she would have been an invaluable recruiting tool for the service.
Are there stories online of her service in WWII. I think she was probably stateside or very much in the rear with the gear. What did female Marine Corps members do in WWII? And it would have fascinated me what possessed her to join the USMC in the first place.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bea_Arthur
"During World War II, she worked as a truck driver and typist in the United States Marine Corps Women's Reserve, receiving an Honorable Discharge in September 1945."
She was in the USMC for at least two years, and got an Honorable Discharge in September of 1945, the month Japan formally surrendered to the United States.
However this is all Wiki says about it. There is a military picture of her in an ID photo wearing her uniform with the Globe and Anchor.
Arthur did not want people to know about her service, and down played it a lot, which I think is a shame but can see somewhat why she did this, because Bea was a masculine woman. But, women were not obligated to join the service, they were not drafted, yet this Jewish New York City girl joined the freaking Marine Corps of all things. Not that she was Jewish or a female, but it is interesting. I would like to know the story behind that, where she was stationed, her rank and responsibilities. How tall was Bea Arthur. She looked like a big, strong woman to me, which I think is what she wanted to get away from. But I would like to know the story.
I wish she would have embraced her service and got involved in USO and other military stuff for the troops, but she didn't and that is her right. I think she would have been an invaluable recruiting tool for the service.
Are there stories online of her service in WWII. I think she was probably stateside or very much in the rear with the gear. What did female Marine Corps members do in WWII? And it would have fascinated me what possessed her to join the USMC in the first place.