Alice Marie Joralemon-Strong

Fifty years ago - what was I doing?

December 10 th, 1970, is my PEBD (Pay Entry Base Date), the day I signed the paperwork to become a Marine Officer. It was also the day I began the greatest adventure of my life.

At the time, I was only 20 and a student at Mansfield State College in PA. On that day, my OSO, Captain Tschan and the MSGT drove me 25 miles from the college campus to my home for my parents to give their approval.

My Mom thought joining the Marine Corps would be a good opportunity to get out of our rural area and see more of the world. Dad was a different story. He had been exempt during WW2 as a dairy farmer whose milk supported New York City. His younger brother served in the Army in Alaska during the Korean War. So, we weren’t sure what Dad would decide and his was the deciding signature.

The Captain and the MSGT explained all about the Woman Officer Candidate Course (WOCC). As a junior in college, I would be committed to an 8-week course in the summer of 1971 at MCB Quantico, VA. before returning to college and completing my senior year. At week 5 in the training, the Marine Corps or I could call it quits if we didn’t fit. No harm. No foul.

“After all, Dad, what can they do to me in 5 weeks that I can’t survive?” He signed.

Five weeks into WOCC, even though I wasn’t the greatest at drill and I had been advised continuously that my hair was too short and too straight, and my acne was unsightly, the Marine Corps did not ask me to leave. I didn’t ask to go home either! I loved the Marine Corps so much that I didn’t want to return to college; I wanted to stay. Rules are rules though, so a college graduate I must be before becoming an Officer.

The summer of 1972 began with my graduating from Mansfield State College (MSC) in my USMC Dress Whites. During the ceremony, Captain Tschan and GySgt David administered the oath. Later that evening, we discovered that the local television station included my part of the MSC graduation ceremony in their broadcast. (All of the male graduates joining the Marine Corps had a separate, private ceremony elsewhere).

So, fifty years ago, I was beginning my journey with the Marine Corps. It was a journey that would took me to Quantico, Parris Island, El Toro, 29 Palms, Washington DC, Glenview, Chicago and Camp Smith.

I met and worked with some wonderful people and I made friends who remain close to my heart. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.