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UNDER THE C OL ORS

ing and shipping of military medals. Tellez then returned They were married in 1949
clothing to various naval bas- to San Antonio and enrolled and have since been blessed
es and working at the Ship in Durham Business College with four children, seven
Service Exchange, providing with a focus on stenography. grandchildren, and five
customer service and ship- great-grandchildren.
ping of various items. Tellez became a stay-
By September 1946, the at-home mother during
demobilization of W.A.V.E.S. her children's younger
was all but complete. years, helping her husband
Though W.A.V.E.S. no longer with his bookkeeping. She
existed, the obsolete acro- then worked in logistics at
nym continued to be popular Kelly Air Force Base in San
and in official usage until the Antonio, retiring from civil
1970s. service. Tellez now devotes
"Serving as a W.A.V.E. in herself to her family and her
the Navy during WWII gives church.
me a sense of pride in know- Upon the occasion of
ing I served my country, Tellez's 100th birthday, the dor, presented the proclama-
especially during wartime," Military Women Memorial in tion on Feb. 25.
said Tellez. Arlington, Virginia, recog- As a W.A.V.E.S. program
After her naval service, nized her with a Living Leg- participant, Tellez and those
Tellez received an Honorable While in college, she met end Proclamation. Retired she served with played a role
Discharge pin and was au- her future husband, Tony U.S. Navy Command Master in changing history. Happy
thorized to wear the Amer- A. Tellez, who had recently Chief Octavia S. Harris, the birthday to this American
ican Campaign and Victory served in the Army Air Corps. Memorial's Texas Ambassa- hero.

San Marcos native recognized as ATLANTIC OCEAN - Informa- ing means I get to look at the
tion Systems Technician 3rd
future with many opportuni-
Warfighter of the Day aboard USS Class Xander Nysenbaum, ties and look at the present,
a native of San Marcos,
having a proud career.”
George Washington California, was recognized in the Navy for a year and a
Nysenbaum has served
as Warfighter of the Day on
earlier this year aboard the half and is a 2022 graduate
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice
Geoffrey L. Ottinger Nimitz-class aircraft carrier of San Marcos High School.
USS George Washington. Aircraft carriers, such as
Warfighter of the Day is George Washington, proj-
a command program where ect power and presence
the ship’s captain personally worldwide by serving as
recognizes an exemplary the cornerstone of a carrier
sailor for their accomplish- strike group and launching
ments. Nysenbaum was and landing various types of
selected by his leadership aircraft.
for this honor. His commit- USS George Washington
ment to training and main- is named after the first presi-
taining safety is inspiring dent of the United States.
to his peers and represents George Washington is
the “Spirit of Freedom,” the underway in the Atlantic
ship’s nickname. Ocean and is slated to return
When asked what serv- to Japan later this year. The
ing in the Navy meant to ship’s motto is “First in War,
him, Nysenbaum said, “Serv- First in Peace.”

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