Honoring our Vets: Lucille E. McClarren

Women played a part in the armed services in America as early as the Revolutionary War, where they served as laundresses, cooks, nurses and even spies. Some even served as soldiers by disguising themselves as men. At the turn of the century and because of World War I, women’s roles in the armed forces became more prevalent; by World War II they were serving as mechanics, pilots, and field intelligence agents. Part of the changing stance of women in the military was the creation of the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve in 1943. The first woman to enlist in the MCWR was Lucille E. McClarren.

Lucille Ellen McClarren was born on August 25, 1922 in Graceton, PA to Olive Hockenberry McClarren and Daniel McClarren. She had an older brother, Daniel Edwin, and three younger siblings: Harry, Wayne, and Loretta Jean. The McClarren children grew up in Nemacolin and attended the Nemacolin Elementary School. Lucille graduated from Cumberland Township High School (now Carmichaels Area High School) in 1940.

After graduation, Lucille worked as a stenographer for the U.S. War Department in Washington D.C., living in the city. After the creation of the MCWR, Lucille became the first woman to enlist on Saturday, February 13, 1943. McClarren was sworn in by Captain H.W. Branson of the Marine Officer Procurement Unit, and once on active duty, would receive a starting salary of $50 and a $200 uniform allowance.

The March 4, 1943 issue of the Klondike Bulletin reports, “fellow-workers in the War Department entertained Pvt. McClarren at the swank Lotus Club in Washington Friday evening… Attending the affair were two other Nemacolin girls: Mildred Wilson and Patricia [Slevin], both close friends of the honored guest.”

The Saturday after her enlistment, Lucille was a guest at the Press Building for Marine Day celebration. The lone woman in the room, she gave a speech and was personally congratulated by Brigadier General Robert L Denig, who served as the Public Relations Chief of the Marines. Before going on active duty, Lucille was permitted a trip home to visit family.

The Klondike reported that Pvt. McClarren said, “With the Marine band and about 1600 fighting Marines, press reporters and high officials present, and me the only girl in the auditorium, you can imagine my excitement and joy. I was swamped for autographs and finally had to be escorted from the hall by an honor guard. Little did I expect when I left Nemacolin that one day I would receive all this publicity. But you can tell everyone I’ll give my best and endeavor to emulate the brave men in the Marines by doing every assignment given me to the very best of my ability. I am happy and proud to be the first girl Marine private in World War II.”

Lucille was sent to Hunter College in The Bronx, New York City to begin training with the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). While there she would take part in “uniforming, drill, physical training, and lectures on customs and courtesies, history and organization, administration, naval law, map reading, interior guard, defense against chemical attack, defense against air attack, identification of aircraft, and safeguarding military information.”

After training, she was stationed in San Diego as a Clerk Typist 405 and advanced to Staff Sergeant. McClarren was discharged on September 22, 1945.

After her military career, she returned to Washington D.C. where she eventually married Army Captain William Andre DesMarais, a fingerprint expert for the FBI. She worked in the Pentagon in the 60s as Secretary to the Secretary of the Army, Cyrus Vance, Jr., under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. She later worked for the Veterans Administration until her resignation in 1970 to return to Nemacolin to care for her parents.

Dawn Rilk, her daughter, remembers some of the time spent in Washington, especially Wednesdays, when they would get dressed up and go through the halls of the Pentagon, where Lucille worked. “It was a very prestigious job for her, “ Dawn said. “And it was an honor to get to know the people that she worked with there.” They would then go to the Capitol, ride the train from the east to the west side and eat lunch at a cafeteria frequented by senators.

“I’m very blessed to be her daughter,” said Dawn. “I had a very awesome upbringing in Washington, growing with the culture and everything there. It was a phenomenal experience, even though I didn’t recognize it then at that age.”

Lucille was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1987 and passed away on January 29, 1990 at the age of 67. She is survived by her daughter Dawn DesMarais Rilk, granddaughters Jenifer Kendall and Chelsea Sokol, and step-grandaughter Danielle Nyland.

In August of 2018, a memorial service was held on her 96th birthday at her resting place in Greene County Memorial Park in Waynesburg. The ceremony consisted of remarks by County Commissioner Dave Coder, a welcome by Buzz Walters, and a prayer by Marine Corp. League Chaplain Barry Bebout. Also in attendance was a representative of Pam Snyder, Nate Regotti. Lucille’s family was represented by her daughter Dawn and granddaughter Chelsea. A firing squad salute and the playing of TAPS closed the ceremony. The ceremony was a joint effort between the Marine Corp League and the Tri-County Leathernecks.

We join Dawn and her family in paying tribute to Lucille McClarren DesMarais for her service and dedication to preserving the rights of Americans and other people around the world. Thank you, Staff Sergeant Lucille McClarren DesMarias.

Published in November 2018 GreeneScene Magazine.