DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) – The Marines turn 251 on the 10th and women have been part of the Corps now for more than a hundred years.
“I could be living in a swinging condo instead of with I better not say anything until I’ve had my coffee.” is a line from an old TV show starring Bea Arthur.
Instead of a swinging condo, Bea Arthur of The Golden Girls spent World War Two at Camp Lejeune North Carolina as a woman Marine. Opha May Johnson became the first woman in the Corps in 1918. Boot camp has always been tough for men and women.
“It’s just as intense and they recently integrated them a few years ago so we’re going through the same boot camp, same everything.” said SSgt David Preja who is a Marine recruiter in Duluth.
Donna Bergstrom of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa joined in the 1980’s. She went to officer candidate school in Quantico, Virginia which was no picnic.
“The trainers were right on me and they said come over here and look at this one! Watch her and they just try to embarrass you and push you to try harder.” said Bergstrom while remembering her service days.
Donna became an intelligence officer and took part in several operations in the 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s.
“I prepped out battlefields and our people who needed to go into harm’s way based on the intelligence we had collected.” said Donna.
Lt. Colonel Bergstrom retired after 21 years of service. As the Corps celebrates its birthday on the tenth, Marines will pause to remember the important work of men and women.
“100%, they are vital to the Marine Corps because any of the over 300 jobs any female Marine could accomplish it.” said SSgt Preja.
Donna Bergstrom feels her two decades of service made her a better American citizen.
“I can’t think of any other way I could have met so many wonderful people who had a passion to belong to something bigger than themselves.” said Bergstrom.
Holding on to History in Duluth, Dave Anderson, Northern News Now.
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