American Legion Beaufort Post 207 brings you Vera Gwin, 83, who joined the United States Marine Corps in Austin, Texas in 1961. After Boot Camp at Parris Island, she was assigned to MCAS El Toro, Calif. She was meritoriously promoted to First Class. While there she met and married another Marine who was to be her lifelong partner for 59 years. Since Women Marines could not be married then, she was honorably discharged. She was with her husband, Richard, on every tour except the two he spent in Vietnam. During one Vietnam tour she used the GI Bill to earn a degree in accounting from the University of Texas in Austin. On other assignments, she worked as a special education teacher in Calif., taught English to foreign spouses at Andrews AFB in Washington D.C., was a Spanish and math teacher at Robert Smalls High School, and worked at the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society at MCAS Beaufort. She also works 19½ years for the S.C. Employment Office in Beaufort as the farm representative for migrant workers on the Sea Islands.
Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 207. For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.
