Mary Cugini Necko Collection
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Letter from Mary Cugini Necko to her sister Dena
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Mary Cugini Necko writes to her sister Dena telling her about recent visits from her mother and Leonard. Necko discusses changes in her work as well as social activities with the Marines and Lady Marines.
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Mary Cigini Necko in uniform
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Mary Cugini Necko stands outside a building in her hometown of Brighton, Massachusetts, wearing the Marine Corps summer white uniform and bell crown hat, which had gold braid instead of red, in 1945.
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Mary Cugini Necko
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Formal portrait of Mary Cugini Necko following her induction into the Marine Corps Womens Reserves in November 1944.
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Mary Cugini Necko at work
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Mary Cugini Necko at work at Marine Corps Headquarters, Arlington, Virginia, surveying records of Marines in service at her desk, 1945-1946.
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Mary Cugini Necko in front of mural
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Mary Cugini Necko in uniform, posing with two girls wearing medals, in front of a mural depicting the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima, circa 1998.
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Mary Necko Service Album and Scrapbook
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Mary Cugini Necko's service album and scrapbook contains a handwritten diary, photographs, clippings, and other memorabilia documenting Necko's service in World War II. Photograph subjects include Necko and her colleagues, scenes fom the base, and trips to various locales and restaurants in Washington, D.C. and New York City.
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Oral history interview with Mary Cugini Necko
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Primarily documents Mary Cugini Necko's early life in Massachusetts; her experiences with the Marine Corps Women's Reserve from 1944 to 1946; and her life in the years following World War II. Necko discusses going on welfare during the Depression; her parents' backgrounds, including her mother's Italian childhood; conflicted feelings about her American citizenship and her Italian heritage; social life in Boston, including dances and dating. " Topics related to the military and World War II include joining the Women Marines to "free a Marine to fight" her family's and friends' reactions when she joined the military; her father's opinion of Mussolini; her guilt at leaving her parents; training in military etiquette and procedures; social life; her work in Arlington, Virginia, and living next to Arlington Cemetery; visiting a friend who was wounded at Iwo Jima; worrying about the war and her Marine friends; meeting her future husband at a USO picnic; security at Marine Corps Headquarters; having tea with Eleanor Roosevelt; and going to church on V-E Day. " Other topics include her favorite musicians, including Artie Shaw and Glenn Miller; religion and political correctness; her five marriage proposals; her consideration of becoming a nun; worrying about her husband when he was serving in the Korean War; patriotism; her opinion of women in combat positions; and her involvement in veterans' groups.
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Women Marines in chow line
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Mary Cugini Necko and fellow members of Company C stand in the chow line at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, during boot camp in January or February 1945. Mary Cugini Necko (center, the tallest women smiling in the top row) and her fellow Women Marines wear the forest green winter uniform and forest green bell crown hat.
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Women Marines outside in snow
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Mary Cugini Necko (right) and her friends Norma (left) and Roseann (center) stand in the snow at Henderson Hall in Arlington, Virginia, in February 1946. "The Lady Leathernecks," as they called themselves, wear the Marine Corps Women's Reserve forest green winter uniform and forest green bell crown hat.
