Virginia Bellemeur joined theWAVES Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service, part of the U.S.
Naval Reserve in 1944 and retired as an Aviation Metalsmith, 3rd Class in 1946.
She is now 100.
There was a war on and it was all hands on deck, she toldAARP Experience Counts.
I wanted to contribute to my country."
There was a group of us and we women forged through the unknowns together.
We were all driven by our desire to pitch in, she said.
We knew we were doing something powerful, special and unique.
There werentwomen doing this jobbefore us girls.
You might find her doing the word search, working on puzzles or watching the History Channel.
Her granddaughter, Leah Snell, said that Bellemeurs service to her country wasnt something she brought up much.
After all, shes a no-nonsense, get-the-job-done bang out of woman.
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This kind of thing happened well into her late 80s.
Bellemeur knew a group of immigrants from Mexico who lived nearby and she started teaching them English at night.
I have always felt it was the latter.
The country was at war and the Navy needed servicemembers so she signed up.
She has a quiet strength and won’t back down.
