The We Are Marines Collection

06/24/2026

Ladies who served during this time, is this how you remember it? What was different from the video?

💪Women's History Month💪Check out this 1971 recruitment film for th...

06/24/2026

Military uniforms tell a story of service, sacrifice and tradition.

Join us for the Virginia War Memorial's free online program at 10:30 a.m., June 30. Master Sergeant (Ret.) Jeannine Franz, USMC, explores the history and evolution of military uniforms and the veterans who wore them.

Register free at vawarmemorial.org/events.

06/23/2026

Livestream with We Are Marines!

Although free, register early for this ONLINE ONLY event: https://bit.ly/4dkth4A

06/22/2026

🥁 WWII MARINE CORPS WOMEN’S RESERVE BAND DRUMHEAD-RHODA ANDERSON

We just received it back from framing. It is in archival materials with an acrylic UV resistant cover to protect the signatures and photos. The Frame Game https://www.facebook.com/share/1ZAQfMzuTy/?mibextid=wwXIfr in Jacksonville, NC did a wonderful job and had it ready quickly for us to share at an event this week. Also a big thanks to SgtMaj William Frye for his contribution!

More information‼️

Attention: Jeannine Franz

Thank you for your warm reception to the drum head from the Women's Reserve Band. I was a college student and alumni of California State University Long Beach. "Randi" was a professor there, whose courses I took my Junior and Senior year. I was fortunate to have taken courses from both Dr. Jensen and Randi! I am forwarding more information about Randi from Dr. Marilyn Jensen, the Dean of the Department and lifelong friend of Randi's. Dr. Jensen is still in contact with Randi's sister. Please let me know if there is anything else we can provide. We appreciate your service and your continuing to keep the memories of these women alive through the We Are Marines Collection.

Here are two texts I received from Dr. Jensen in the last week regarding your appreciated endeavors.

Rhoda Marilyn Andersen. Born in Howard, South Dakota on July 3,1922. Died on December 10, 2008. Joined the Marines in ————-(I’ll get that for you) Assigned to the Women’s Reserve Band from ——- to— when the Band was officially ended. An accomplished musician, she played 8 different instruments including double reeds, and the bass drum in the marching band. *Her years of service were likely from 1943 to 1945.
I am delighted the drumhead has found a useful place where more people can view it! Since Randy’s death in 2008 I have been the custodian and just waiting for the right organization to surface where it could respectfully honor the service of these women.

The Marine Corps was a critical part of Randy’s life. She entered the Service as an accomplished musician who played eight different instruments, including double reeds. She had not been able to attend college, but with the urging of other band members she took advantage of the GI Bill.
There was a slight interlude between discharge from the Marines and college. Recruited by Mr. Hormel, she joined the Hormel marching Band as well as the Hormel All Girls Orchestra.

THEN came college! Still not ready to settle down, she jumped at the opportunity to organize and direct Service Clubs for the military and the USO in France, Germany, and Greece. After 9 years overseas it was time to come home. The National YMCA offered her the position of Program Director. Two years later she took the position of Director for the Los Angeles Voluntary Action Center. That was followed by a traveling job as the Western Regional Director for the National Center for Voluntary Action Center. Two years was rough traveling, and when a position opened to teach at California State University, Long Beach, she immediately took it. What began as a one-year assignment evolved into a 25-year career!

She never forgot the Women Marines. The group stayed connected through a newsletter called Quarter Notes and biennial reunions that lasted from 1945 through 1972.

Hers was a life well lived…. An excellent musician, effective community organizer, creative writer and programmer and master educator. She was most proud, however, of being a Marine!

Semper Fi!
Jodine

*Rhoda is on the right in the photo.

06/18/2026

If you are in the WARRENTON, VA area, please swing by and celebrate CHESTY PULLER’S birthday 🎉🎂with us on June 26, 2026 at the Puller Veterans Care Center. It is free!

While exhibiting WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam we are taking this oportunity to shine a spotlight on service of our men and women from the Korean War era. If you possess Korean War memorabilia that could enrich our exhibit, we invite you to consider a donation.

‼️🙌For those who wish to support our mission and offset travel and lodging costs associated with this event, please visit our donation link. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, we ensure your generosity is tax-deductible, and we extend our deepest gratitude in advance. https://share.google/vqSvu7Tl9t20hEU1n

06/17/2026

Happy anniversary to the United States Navy Hospital Corps!

Today we celebrate the men and women of the Hospital Corps, established on June 17, 1898, whose unwavering dedication to caring for Sailors, Marines, and service members has earned them a place among our nation’s most respected warriors.

To generations of Marines, they are simply “Doc”—a trusted healer, protector, and friend. The cry of “Corpsman Up!” has echoed across battlefields for decades, signaling the arrival of someone willing to risk everything to save another.

We are proud to display the uniform of a FMF Corpsman worn and donated by Cynthia Cole LeHew. Here is her story.

06/17/2026

If you haven’t heard of Sgt Siwash 🦆, here you go! Watch all of the way until the end.

On November 20, 1943, 18,000 Marines charged the shores of Tarawa— but this Marine waddled. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Jamie Arzola)

06/14/2026

Before sending this rare WWII Marine Corps Women’s Reserve Band drumhead for archival framing, we were honored to share it with Band of America’s Few and members of the 2d Marine Division Band during our combined band concert reception on Saturday at the Carolina Museum of the Marine.

This historic drumhead was generously donated by the family of Rhoda Anderson, a percussionist with the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve Band during World War II.

The Marine Corps Women’s Reserve Band served from 1943 to 1945, providing music and morale support throughout the war. They were stationed aboard Camp Lejeune and toured throughout the United States. Following Japan’s surrender, the demobilization of the Women’s Reserve began, and the band was disbanded—making way for musician billets to once again be filled by men.

A small number of women Marines continued to serve until June 12, 1948, when President Harry S. Truman signed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, granting women the right to serve as permanent, regular members of the United States Armed Forces.

We are proud to preserve and share artifacts like this drumhead that help tell the remarkable stories of the women who paved the way for future generations of Marines.

Learn more about our mission at https://thewearemarinescollection.org/

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZlWosjua_z/?igsh=MTZucTRnZGY1aW9hZg==

06/12/2026

On March 11, 2018, the Marine Band presented a Living History program titled Marine Corps Women’s Reserve Band Tribute. The program told the story of the tal...

06/12/2026

DRUMHEAD DONATED BY THE FAMILY OF RHODA ANDERSON. SHE WAS A PERCUSSIONIST WITH THE MARINE CORPS WOMEN’S RESERVE BAND-WWII‼️ Zoom in and check out the photos and signatures! By the blemishes, you can see that it is the same one as in the photo with the three ladies.

Our intent is to loan this to museums and display at a few events each year. I served in the band for my first few years in the Corps, so this is an extra special treasure to care for.

We are sending this for archival framing by a company that is trusted by a museum. 💵 The cost is over $600. For those who wish to support our mission and help offset the cost, please visit our donation link. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, we ensure your generosity is tax-deductible, and we extend our deepest gratitude in advance. https://share.google/TNALBDwUS2mu0fxjM

“Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps, Washington. 13 July 1943.
Since members of the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve are being procured and trained to relieve male Marines, a Marine Corps Women’s Reserve Band is to be organized for duty at Camp Lejeune, New River, North Carolina, with an initial allowance of 43 enlistees, distributed as follows: 1 Master Technical Sergeant, 2 Technical Sergeants, 1 Drum Major, 1 Staff Sergeant (tech.), 10 Sergeants, 12 Corporals, and 16
Privates…”

The band was active from 1943 to 1945. Following the surrender of Japan, demobilization of the Women’s Reserve began and the MCWR Band disbanded (🥁 ching), making way for the musician positions to be refilled by men. A small number of women Marines remained in service until the Women's Armed Services Integration Act was signed by President Harry S. Truman on June 12, 1948, allowing women to serve as permanent, regular members of the United States Armed Forces.

* If you zoom in on the blemishes you can see thet it is the same one in the last attached pic with the three ladies.

Our intent is to loan this to museums and display at a few events each year. I served in the band for my first few years in the Corps, so this is an extra special treasure to care for.

We are sending this for archival framing by a company that is trusted by a museum. 💵 The cost is over $600. For those who wish to support our mission and help offset the cost, please visit our donation link. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, we ensure your generosity is tax-deductible, and we extend our deepest gratitude in advance. https://share.google/TNALBDwUS2mu0fxjM

“Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps, Washington. 13 July 1943.
Since members of the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve are being procured and trained to relieve male Marines, a Marine Corps Women’s Reserve Band is to be organized for duty at Camp Lejeune, New River, North Carolina, with an initial allowance of 43 enlistees, distributed as follows: 1 Master Technical Sergeant, 2 Technical Sergeants, 1 Drum Major, 1 Staff Sergeant (tech.), 10 Sergeants, 12 Corporals, and 16
Privates…”

The band was active from 1943 to 1945. Following the surrender of Japan, demobilization of the Women’s Reserve began and the MCWR Band disbanded (🥁 ching), making way for the musician positions to be refilled by men. A small number of women Marines remained in service until the Women's Armed Services Integration Act was signed by President Harry S. Truman on June 12, 1948, allowing women to serve as permanent, regular members of the United States Armed Forces.