Woods at Cedar Run Women were Instrumental in WWII Effort

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Nov. 10, 2013 - PRLog -- The Women of World War II will be a theme this Veterans Day at The Woods at Cedar Run senior living community in Camp Hill.

     “The Woods at Cedar Run is grateful for the service of all our veterans who have served our country with honor and dignity,” said Julie Seifried, Activities Director at The Woods at Cedar Run. “We salute all of those men and women who served. This year, we wanted to bring to the forefront the service of the Women of World War II who are part of The Woods at Cedar Run family.”

·         Edna Grissinger Neyhart, now 94, was among the first enlistees in the U.S. Naval Reserve’s Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES), serving from September 22, 1942 until her honorable discharge in 1946.

     She trained in Bloomington, Ind., and served as a storekeeper 1^st Class at bases in Texas and Hawaii. Upon her discharge, Grissinger Neyhart was awarded the American Campaign Ribbon, the Victory Ribbon, the Asiatic-Pacific Area Ribbon and the Good Conduct Ribbon.

     Edna and six of her siblings were recognized by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marines in 2000 with certificates of commendation for their service. Six of the Grissingers served in the U.S. Navy and one with the U.S. Marine Corps. They served in Germany, Britain, Okinawa, Philippines, Guadalcanal and the Marianas.

     Among those who honored the Grissingers was Rear Admiral Linda Bird, commander of the Naval Suppy Systems Command in Hampden Township. “You are truly a trailblazer, Bird told Edna Grissinger Neyart at the time. “I personally am grateful to you for the doors you opened for me in my career.”

   Edna is the widow of Truman Kelley Neyhart Sr., who also served as a technical sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II. She is a retired schoolteacher, has four children, 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

·         Doris Blue lived in the sweetest town in America, Hershey Pa. when the war began.  And since a woman needed to be 20 years old before she could enlist, Doris took a job at the Hershey Chocolate Factory as a secretary.

     Once she turned 20, she enlisted, and on June 29, 1944,  became a WAVE. Blue did her training at Hunter College and then went to Memphis, Tenn., to Naval Air Training base then on to Corpus Christi and then finally to  Oahu, Hawaii.

     Her service took this small-town girl on an incredible journey across the country and beyond. She was honorably discharged in 1946.

·         Irene Bigler enlisted in the Marines on Feb. 8^th, 1944 in Philadelphia and trained at Camp Lejeune. New enlistees were sent to the Brooklyn Naval Yards to be  trained to become a  movie projector operator.

     Bigler’s class was taught to operate 35 millimeter projectors and since the projector was carbon arc powdered the entire group had to be very careful in order to prevent any fires.

After her training in Brooklyn was completed she was sent to Quantico for two weeks.

     She reached her final destination at Cherry Point, an air station and was assigned to work with a man in the camp’s movie theater.  Her schedule included showing a matinee, the evening movie and a movie at The Officer’s Club.

     Prior to enlisting Irene was teaching in a small school after her graduation from Lebanon Valley College.  She had the opportunity to utilize her teaching skills during her time in the military because many of those serving didn’t have the chance to complete their high school education. Irene was given the job of teaching them the lessons they needed to earn their diploma.

     All three of these Women of World War II share a bond. They each believe that serving in the military taught them discipline, responsibility and a sense of duty to their country. Even they didn’t carry weapons or fight on foreign soil, they suppored the war effort in a myriad of different ways.

For more information, contact Julie Seifried, Activities Director at The Woods at Cedar Run, at 717.737.3373 or at jseifried@integracar.com.