Ruth Cheney Streeter

Infobox Military Person
name=Ruth Cheney Streeter


caption=
born= birth date|1895|10|2
died= death date and age|1990|9|30|1895|10|2
placeofbirth= Brookline, Massachusetts
placeofdeath= Morristown, New Jersey
placeofburial=
nickname=
allegiance=United States of America
branch= United States Marine Corps
serviceyears=retired in 1945
rank= Colonel
unit=
commands=United States Marine Corps Women's Reserve
battles=
awards=Legion of Merit
relations=
laterwork=

Ruth Cheney Streeter (October 2, 1895 – September 30, 1990) was the first director of the United States Marine Corps Women's Reserve (USMCWR). In 1943, she became the first woman to attain the rank of major in the United States Marine Corps, and was promoted to lieutenant colonel later that year, and to colonel in 1944.cite web|accessdate-2007-07-18
url=http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~uscnrotc/Alumni-USMC/mhistory/m-women-60.htm
title="USC Marine History - 60th Birthday of Women in the Corps"
author-Fisher, SSgt Cindy
work=Marine Corps News'
date=February 12, 2003
]

Born Ruth Cheney on October 2, 1895 in Brookline, Massachusetts, she graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1918."Colonel Ruth Cheney Streeter", "Who's Who in Marine Corps History".]

She lived in Morristown, New Jersey where she was involved in civic affairs. She married Thomas W. Streeter, and served as the first woman president of the Morris County, New Jersey Welfare Board. In 1943 she was appointed director of the United States Marine Corps Women's Reserve. She resigned her commission in 1945.

In 1946, she was awarded the Legion of Merit. The accompanying citation states in part::"Exercising judgment, initiative and ability, Colonel Streeter rendered distinctive service in directing the planning and organization of the Women's Reserve of the Marine Corps and skillfully integrating women into the basic structure of the Corps, carefully selected, trained and properly assigned them as replacements for men in shore establishments.""Colonel Ruth Cheney Streeter", "Who's Who in Marine Corps History".]

In 1947, she was appointed as a member of the New Jersey Constitutional Convention. She died of congestive heart failure in 1990.cite news
accessdate=2007-05-23
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DE0DD133CF93AA25752C0A960948260
title=Ruth Cheney Streeter Weds
publisher=New York Times |date=January 19, 1986
] cite news |accessdate=2008-03-29
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEEDC1E3AF931A35753C1A966958260
title=Ruth C. Streeter, 94, Ex-Leader Of Women Reserves in Marines
publisher=New York Times |date=October 2, 1990
]

ee also

*Katherine Amelia Towle, 1st Director of the Women Marines
*Margaret A. Brewer, first female to reach the rank of general in the Marine Corps

References

*cite web|accessdate=2007-11-18
url=http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Streeter_RC.htm
title=Colonel Ruth Cheney Streeter, USMCWR
work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps

External links

*cite web|accessdate=2007-05-23
url=http://www.scc.rutgers.edu/njwomenshistory/Period_5/streeter.htm
title=Ruth Chedney Streeter
work=New Jersey Women's History
publisher=Rutgers University