Shirley F. John Collection

Details

Who's responsible?: Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, UNCG University Libraries (Repository)
How much has been digitized?: This collection has been digitized in its entirety.
Where can I find more information?: https://uncg.as.atlas-sys.com/repositories/2/resources/1133
What's in the full collection?: 1 February 2002 oral history transcript; portrait photograph of Shirley in official Marines uniform with bell-crown hat and forest green uniform, circa 1954-1955
Full biography: Shirley Ferren John (1935-2018) of Seymour, Iowa, served in the United States Marine Corps (United StatesMC) from 1953 to 1955, then worked with Carolina Telephone in Jacksonville, North Carolina, from 1968 to 1996. Shirley John was born in Seymour, Iowa, on 11 December 1935. She graduated from high school in 1953 and then worked as a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell in Des Moines, Iowa, until she was old enough to join the Marine Corps. In January of 1954, John enlisted in the United States Marine Corps (United StatesMC) and attended basic training at Parris Island. She was then stationed at Camp Lejeune outside Jacksonville, North Carolina, where she worked in the provost marshal's office. In February 1955 she was sent to S-3 training. John left the service in July of 1955 after getting married. After leaving the United StatesMC, John worked as a bookkeeper for Pabst Blue Ribbon while her husband was stationed at Parris Island. She later lived in El Toro, California, and Iowa while her husband continued his military service. In 1968 John settled in Jacksonville, where she had a long career with Carolina Telephone (now Sprint) before retiring in 1996. John died 29 April, 2018.
Topics: Women's History
Military
Branch of service: Marines -- Women Marines
Conflict: Post World War II, Korea (1947-1963)
Subject headings: Korean War, 1950-1953
United States. Marine Corps--Women
Contributing Institution: Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, UNCG University Libraries

: Oral history interview with Shirley F. John; Interview primarily documents Shirley Ferren John's service in the USMC (United States Marine Corps) from 1953 to 1955. John discusses her reasons for joining the Marines; her family's reaction to her enlistment; segregation; the cap on female enlistment after WWII; gender separation; servicemen's responses to female Marines; and other details of basic training at Parris Island. She also describes working in the provost marshal's office at Camp Lejeune; tension with Marines' wives; a typical work day at Camp Lejeune; shooting at the rifle range; and being pushed out of the service after her marriage. " Personal topics include: John's early desires to serve in the military; the death of her uncle, an army air force pilot in WWII; the Ribbon Creek Incident at Parris Island, South Carolina; her husband's career as a Marine; her career at Carolina Telephone; opinions on women in combat positions; patriotism; and the "Marine Corps Hymn."

: Portrait of Shirley F. John; Portrait of Shirley F. John, circa 1954, in the Women Marines' forest green uniform and bell-crown hat. The photo is signed "With love, Shirley."

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Women Veterans Historical Project

Shirley F. John Collection

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