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Pitching in

Wheaton woman served through WAVES program during WWII; received two new medals at age 100

By Nanc Rixe of Wheaton


Doris in her Navy blues in 1944. Contributed photo

Doris L. Neumann Rixe of Wheaton turned 100  on Aug. 30, 2023. 


It was up to her three daughters (Nanc, Karen and Donna) to make sure her birthday parties were a reality. I live twenty minutes from my mom so I was the party manager, and my sisters Donna and Karen pitched in as they could.


In the summer of 2022 Doris fell and hit her head. Because of the head injury, she needed more assistance than her daughters could provide, so she decided to move into an assisted living community in Countryside Inn in Rosholt, SD. This is where she was living when she turned 100, and where she lives today.


Since moving required Doris to downsize, most of her things that were not tossed or sent to the thrift store ended up with me for distribution. It was during this cleanout phase that I found something special. While cleaning out my mother’s front closet, waaaay back in the corner, under a plastic covering, two uniforms were hidden. One was my dad’s dress Marine blues and the other was my mom’s Navy blues.


Off to Mulberg’s Cleaners I went with the uniforms as they specialize in vintage garments. I was told that the mold, which covered both uniforms, had gone through the fibers and that restoration was no longer possible. They said it would be best if the uniforms were tossed. I wanted to cry!


My mom wore the uniform when she served in the U.S. Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). In 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt launched the WAVES program, which was a division of the U.S. Navy, to free up male personnel for sea duty during World War II. My mom was 18 at the time. To participate in WAVES, you needed to be between 20 and 40. Those at 20 needed a parent’s signature to join. If they were 21, they could join on their own.  My mom’s dad was an old German who believed the military was only suited for men, so I am still amazed that she managed to get his consent to get into the service at age 20. 


Pictured (L to R) are Nanc Rixe, Karen R. Fiege and Retired LTC Dan Braun; Seated: Doris L. Neumann Rixe. The refurbished uniform jacket, plaque and flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol are pictured as well. Contributed photo

Mom did her basic training at Hunter College in teh Bronx, NY. She was then sent to serve at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia. Her job there was to serve the enlisted men their meals which allowed a male sailor to fight the bad guys.  This is what she did from August 1944 until she was discharged in September 1945.  


I took the uniforms home, dreading what I had to do. One night, I gathered up all my courage, laid the uniforms on the dining room table and took them out of the plastic. Dad’s uniform jacket was dismantled and disposed of first. With a heavy heart I turned to my mom’s uniform. I very gently took the skirt off of the hanger and headed to the kitchen to gently dispose of it. 


Then it was time to deal with her jacket. Mom had used her uniform as a suit after she was discharged from the Navy. This meant she had stripped the uniform of all of its decorations and replaced the Navy buttons with civilian buttons. My next step was to take off the replacement buttons. I started to take the jacket off of the hanger. I stopped. I stared. My mouth dropped open. A slow screech escaped. I slowly walked over to Dan Braun, my husband, and said “Look what I found.”


Doris smiled proudly after receiving her two medals. Contributed photo

Fast forward one year. We were now at Doris’ 100th birthday party in August. Dan, who is a retired Lieutenant Colonel, entered the room with Doris’ restored uniform jacket. During his presentation, he said. “You may be aware that Doris served in the U.S. Navy WAVES during World War II. Doris has been recognized for her military service only a few times in her life. In recognition for her service, she was flown on a WDAY Honor Flight to Washington, DC, in 2016. She boarded the USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, with eight side-boys in attendance in 2019. This story will continue that recognition.”


Dan continued, “This is not the original uniform that was issued to Doris in 1944, but it is a uniform that she did wear. The purse accompanying this uniform is the original purse that she was issued in 1944. In the 1940s, the uniforms the WAVES were issued originally  had specifically designed buttons and insignia of rank. Many of these pieces are now collector’s items because they are so rare.


“I rarely put on my uniform and only for very special occasions. I am here in uniform today because I am on official duty pursuant to my status as a commissioned officer of the U.S. Regular Armed Forces per Title 10 of the United States Code. My commission is for a lifetime and I am subject to recall to active duty at any time in service of the needs of our nation, such as this evening.


One is the World War II American Campaign Medal and the other is the World War II Victory Medal. Contributed photo

“In preparing for this evening’s events, it was discovered that on Sept. 28, 1945, the U.S. Navy had made two errors in conjunction with Doris’ discharge and to ceremoniously make these presentations. The first medal to be presented to Doris tonight will be the World War II Victory Medal. It should have been awarded to Doris in September of 1944. She also should have been awarded a second medal in August of 1945. It is my privilege to officially award Doris with the World War II American Campaign Medal.”


Doris sat straight and still as the medals were connected to her clothing. After the party, she described the party as “fantastic,” and made these comments about her time in the military...

 

“FDR had said that everybody/every person was to pitch in and help,” said Doris. “When FDR stated that women could go into the service, that is what I did. That was my way of helping. My non-combatant service freed up a male sailor so he could go and fight.”

She added, “Leaving home for the very first time was terrifying. But I made it!”

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