Page 6 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, November 20, 2020

6 November 20, 2020 News Desert lightNiNg News s. NevaDa
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wwii-era Marine veteran celebrates 99th birthday

by John Archiquette “but secretly, they were proud of us.”
VA Southern Nevada Healthcare Several Marine veterans and VASNHS
staff members paid tribute to Del Vecchio
The U.S. Marine Corps was established with a cake, honorary flag display and
on Nov. 10, 1775, in the Tun Tavern in a challenge coin. “She was there in the
Philadelphia. beginning and paved the way for female
Almost 146 years later to the day, Mary Marines like me,” said VASNHS Chief of
Del Vecchio was born in Minneapolis, Prosthetics and fellow Marine Veteran
Minn. Deb Bolda. “She opened doors to a lot of
Both monumental events were cel- opportunities for those who followed in
ebrated by Marines, family members, and her footsteps.”
VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System Following the war, Del Vecchio used
staff at the North Las Vegas VA Medical her GI Bill to attend St. Katherine’s
Center Nov.10, 2020. University, where she earned degrees in
“It’s so nice to celebrate today with fel- sociology and psychology and a Master’s
low Marines,” said Del Vecchio. “To this Degree from University of Minnesota.
day, I still have so many fond memories She later married, had seven children, and
of my time with the Marine Corps and it’s now lives in Las Vegas.
great to spend the day with other Marines. More than 20,000 women Marines
Del Vecchio, 99, enlisted in the Marine served in World War II, in over 225 differ-
Corps in 1943 and served as one of the ent specialties, filling 85 percent of the en-
first members of the Women Marines listed jobs at Headquarters Marine Corps
Reserve until the end of the war in 1945. and comprising one-half to two-thirds of
She filled many roles as a Marine during the permanent personnel at major Marine
World War II, including clerical work, Corps posts. “For a lot of young woman,
nursing, and even driving a truck while this opened the doors for us to be able to
her male counterparts were deployed to travel, serve our country, and earn a col- VA photograph
Europe and the Pacific. “The men had a lege degree,” Del Vecchio said. “It was a Mary Del Vecchio, 99, celebrates both her birthday and the 245th anniversary of the
lot of nicknames for us,” Del Vecchio said, glorious opportunity.” U.S. Marine Corps alongside fellow Marine veterans Eric Lord and Deb Bolda at VASNHS.

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