Ruth Cheney Streeter
Ruth Cheney Streeter is a well-known leader before entering into the services. In New Jersey she was a one-time president of the Welfare board in Morris County. Along with this she was a member of the New Jersey commission of Inter-state Cooperation, State Relief Council, and Board of Children’s Guardians. Before becoming involved in the Aviation, she demonstrated great qualities of a leader in her home town New Jersey. As she became involved in Aviation she served as adjutant of Group 221, Civil Air Patrol before learning how to fly in the 1940’s. From here she took a great achievement of becoming a member of the Committee on Aviation of the New Jersey Defense Council. Streeter is marked as the only woman member at this time. Her next achievement was acting as chairman of the Citizen’s Committee in New Jersey dealing with the Army and Navy. Finally receiving her Commercial Pilot’s licenses in the year of 1942 she was now able to be a pilot of an aircraft while being paid for it. This leadership helped her become the first Director of the United States Marine Corps Women’s Reserve that was active on February 13th, 1943 and served there until December 7th, 1945. The following year she was awarded the Legion of Merit on February, 4th 1946 for her service during WWII. Streeter’s medals also include the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
In 1945 after Streeter resigned from the Marine Corps, General A.A. Vandegrift wrote to her in a letter, “…It is with deep regret that I contemplate your leaving, and I cannot let the occasion pass without conveying to you some expression of my admiration and appreciation of your outstanding service as Director of the Marine Corps Women's Reserve from its inception in January 1943 until the present time. Over that period, the Marine Corps Women's Reserve grew in size to a maximum strength of 831 officers and 17,714 enlisted. It set a standard of excellence which, in my opinion, could not have been excelled and would be difficult to equal."
Ruth Cheney Streeter demonstrated great leadership in her work with the Marine Corps but also left a legacy to stand up to. Many of her peers respected her, being the first director of the Women Reservation for the United States Marine Corps. The outstanding leadership demonstrated by her influenced many other women to progress their achievements in the Marine Corps. The legacy left behind encouraged women to take further steps to change the face of Women Marines.
Born: October 2nd, 1895- Brookline, Massachusetts
Died: 30 September 1990- Morristown, New Jersey
Served: From February 13th, 1943 to December 7th, 1945
In 1945 after Streeter resigned from the Marine Corps, General A.A. Vandegrift wrote to her in a letter, “…It is with deep regret that I contemplate your leaving, and I cannot let the occasion pass without conveying to you some expression of my admiration and appreciation of your outstanding service as Director of the Marine Corps Women's Reserve from its inception in January 1943 until the present time. Over that period, the Marine Corps Women's Reserve grew in size to a maximum strength of 831 officers and 17,714 enlisted. It set a standard of excellence which, in my opinion, could not have been excelled and would be difficult to equal."
Ruth Cheney Streeter demonstrated great leadership in her work with the Marine Corps but also left a legacy to stand up to. Many of her peers respected her, being the first director of the Women Reservation for the United States Marine Corps. The outstanding leadership demonstrated by her influenced many other women to progress their achievements in the Marine Corps. The legacy left behind encouraged women to take further steps to change the face of Women Marines.
Born: October 2nd, 1895- Brookline, Massachusetts
Died: 30 September 1990- Morristown, New Jersey
Served: From February 13th, 1943 to December 7th, 1945