Devil dog, Golden Girl
Celebrating Staff Sgt. Bea Arthur’s birthday May 13 May 13, 1922 – April 25, 2009Beatrice Arthur applied to join the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve just days after its creation. She had been doing office work but wasn’t really fulfilled.
A family friend wrote a recommendation letter for Arthur’s entry into service:
“She has always been looked upon as a leader by all her associates in the school and in the community,” the friend wrote, “and in my opinion, possesses every qualification for leadership in the organization to which she is now making application.”
Though the Marine Corps was behind the other branches in allowing women to serve, they were the only branch that didn’t use an acronym for its female members. Anecdotally, names like Dainty Devil Dogs, Glamorines, Femarines, Women’s Leatherneck Aids and Sub-Marines were considered, but Commandant Lt. Gen. Thomas Holcomb, who approved the formation of the reserve, said he wouldn’t use any of those. Women who entered the Marines were Marines.
Arthur entered the Marines at age 20. About a year later she was called to active duty.
Arthur was promoted to private first class on May 1, 1943, while assigned to Headquarters Battalion, Company E.
Having enlisted in the Marine Corps to be a truck driver, according to her service records she requested a transfer in June 1943 to Motor Transport School in North Carolina, believing she would be “of more value to the Marine Corps in this duty because of past experience.”
She reported to Camp Lejeune the following month and was one of two women promoted to corporal from the Specialist Schools Detachment, Marine Corps Women’s Reserve Schools. In December 1943, she joined 11 others in another promotion, this time to sergeant. She was promoted again in January of 1945 and was a staff sergeant until her discharge in September 1945.
