United States Marine Corps Women's Reserve

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This article is part of a feature on women in the military during World War II.

Three Marine Corps Women Reservists at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The three women are identified as (L to R) "Minnie Spotted Wolf of the Blackfeet, Celia Mix, Potawatomi, and Violet Eastman, Chippewa." c. 1942-1945.

Photo by Office of War Information, courtesy National Archives and Records Administration, 535876.

The United States Marine Corps Women's Reserve (MCWR) was created during World War II and allowed women the opportunity for military service. Led by its first director Ruth Cheney Streeter, the MCWR's stated goal was to free male Marines for combat duty by filling their jobs with qualified women. About 23,000 women served in the MCWR during World War II.

Learn more about the Marine Corps Women's Reserve here.