Person:Edna Stein (2)

Sources: Family Bible and other records, letters, memories, photos. Federal Censuses, Military records, social security death index. Below is a short biography written shortly before her death by great-niece, Tammy L. Hensel, freelance writer, who read it as a eulogy at the funeral. ________________________________ The Memories of Master Sergeant Edna Earle Stein Garrett, USMC retired

(copyright by her great-niece, Tammy L. Hensel, email for permission to use through website Dedicated Publication Services.com)

Edna Earle Stein Garrett was s a true 20th century pioneer. Like her German ancestors who settled the Texas frontier, she helped open a new territory of opportunity for women through her active and reserve service with the United States Marine Corps (USMC).

Edna was born on November 6, 1915 in Rockdale (Milam County), Texas. She was the eleventh of Joseph and Emilie Stein’s twelve children. Her father had emigrated from Germany as a teenager and was the local baker and a pillar of the Rockdale community. Her mother, who was born in Fredericksburg, Texas, was of German-Dutch heritage.

On February 10, 1944, Edna and her older sister, Helen, joined the USMC at the Dallas recruiting office. They were sent to camp Lejeune, North Carolina for basic training at paymaster school.

"We were in there to release a man to fight. That was our main duty," she proudly stated.

After completing her "boot camp," Private First Class Stein was assigned to the paymaster at Camp Lejeune and then transferred to Parris Island, South Carolina, where she served in the disbursing office for the duration of the war. Helen served as an administrative chief during the war and their brother Joseph Stein, Jr. was an aerial engineer, flying many missions in Europe.

After the war Edna was transferred to Washington, D.C. for further duties at Marine Corps Headquarters until she was discharged on March 2, 1947 with the rank of Sergeant.

"After the war was over and the men came back we were not needed,” she continued, "so they just said ‘goodbye’ – and they put us out. Then later on somebody in Congress or somewhere decided ‘well that’s not right. These women gave up their jobs; they gave up everything to come in and we just let them out with no thank you or nothing else.’”

The women were allowed to join the men’s reserve units temporarily to preserve their rank and seniority, until a Women’s Reserve was formed.  Edna was one of the original members of the Women's Reserve Unit at the Naval Air Station, in Dallas, which was organized in February 1950.

"We had to go down and clean up the barracks at the old air station, and we opened it up for our two weeks there."

The unit soon had their first mobilization in July of that year for the Korean War, and Edna was sent to San Francisco, California.

"They called up for the Korean situation," she reminisced. “I was on active duty out of San Francisco. An officer and myself went out on Treasure Island and opened a so-called "pay office" so we could pay the boys as they came in off the ships."

In 1952, now a Technical Sergeant, Edna was transferred back to the Marine Corps headquarters in Washington as NCO in charge of Correspondence Section, Settlement Section. In 1954, she was transferred to Worcester, Massachusetts, to join the Inspector-Instructor (I & I) Staff of 1st Signal Company. She was discharged on March 3, 1959 from active service due to her marriage to E.W. Garrett, but returned to reserve duty.

"At that time when you got married in the Marine Corps you were automatically out," Edna said, "so when I married in 1958, they discharged me, but I could join the reserves. We were living in Hobbs, New Mexico, so I was assigned to I&I staff in Midland, TX, after I was discharged at Parris Island.”

Now known as Gunnery Sergeant Stein to her fellow reservists in the 15th Motor Transport Battalion, Edna traveled from Hobbs to Midland one weekend a month for her duty as administrative chief for the unit, and often worked other weekends for "some of the boys" on active service. In November of 1967 she was called back into active service for about six months to help promote the 25th Anniversary of Women in the Marines. She served as NCO Assistant Project Officer in the Division of Information in Washington, D.C. During that time she was promoted to Master Sergeant. She preserved memories of this special project in her "Marine Book." It contains several 8 x 10 press photos of the anniversary celebrations and women marines who were honored that year. She also kept some press photos from the Vietnam War.

Edna returned to her reserve unit in Midland in June of 1968 until her retirement from the USMC in 1975. The following is a quote from a citation for meritorious service she received on June 12 1971, signed by her commanding officer, William R. Smith, Jr.:

"On numerous occasions you have spent countless hours without pay, giving freely of your off-duty time. Your personal example and devotion to duty has created a harmonious atmosphere with both your seniors and subordinates alike. Although trained in the field of disbursing, your unwavering dedication and enthusiasm have carried you through the changing of billets with relative ease. In doing so, your performance has upheld the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps. Congratulations on a job Well Done."

In the mid-1980s, Edna moved back to her hometown of Rockdale, where she lived until her death on May 20, 2010. She was honored in June 2005 at the Rockdale High School Homecoming during a tribute to the World War II veterans. She was described by Milam County historian Joy Graham in The Rockdale Reporter as follows: "Edna came to the Rockdale Homecoming in full uniform. Sixty years later, she looked as regal as a newly-enlisted Marine in her uniform, decorated with all her medals and master sergeant stripes."