Thousands of attendees at the USS Midway Museum got the opportunity to speak to local World War Two veterans on Saturday.
“It’s kind of embarrassing because I really didn’t do anything,” said Roberta “Randy” Tidmore, who was being modest about her service in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.
Tidmore enlisted in 1944 and served for 2 and a half years. She was assigned to a motor transport unit at Marine Corp Base Quantico in Virginia. Before that, she also rolled up her sleeves and become a Rosie during the height of the war.
“I worked at this JIK company as a Rosie the Riveter for 9 months I think, in 1943,” said Tidmore.
The event was organized by the museum along with Honor Flight San Diego. Attendees got to speak to 10 WWII veterans on the hangar deck of the USS Midway and ask them about their service. The veterans also signed autographs and took photos with attendees.
“They’re dedicated to their country which I think is super important for everyone, especially this day and age,” said Stephanie Gallo, an attendee visiting the museum with her family.
Among the veterans sitting at the table was Al Hansen, who joined the Navy in 1943 at 16 years-old as a gunner with a Navy patrol bomber squadron in the Pacific Theater. Hansen has also volunteered every single week on the USS Midway with his wife Carol for the last 20 years.
“We came here one day and as we left, I said to Carol that I’d like to volunteer. She said, ‘What are you talking about, you haven’t volunteered for anything in your whole life!’,” said Hansen.
The meet and greet event came ahead of the Navy’s 250th birthday on October 14. The museum held a cake cutting ceremony with the veterans to honor the occasion.