Marlyn Beach

Era: World War II

Military Branch: Navy

Marlyn Beach served in World War II, and she served stateside.

She served in the U.S. Navy in the Navy Hospital Corps. Mrs. Beach joined the Navy in May 1944. She attended boot camp at Hunter College, New York City. She had advanced training at Bethesda, Maryland. She was subsequently assigned to Sheomaker Naval Hospital in California.

Her rank was Pharmacists Mate 2nd Class.

She was discharged in 1946.

Mrs. Beach was born in 1923 in Duluth, Minnesota, the daughter of Erick and Charlotte Anderson. She graduated from Duluth Denfeld High School in 1941.

Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall veteran history form; veteran’s account (below)

“I left home (May 1944) via bus to Minneapolis and on to Hunter College in New York City. This was boot camp. From there (after six weeks) I went to Bethesda, Maryland, for training. It was hot and humid and I was homesick—I was only 21 years old and never that far from home alone. My duty was to be in California with short leave en route. I was stationed at Shoemaker Naval Hospital until I was discharged in March 1946.

“While at Shoemaker, I worked as a unit secretary on a hospital ward for the officers’ dependents. I also was the secretary in the Transportation Department at Shoemaker. During that time I stood my ‘watch’ as an ambulance driver. Thank goodness there were few ‘calls.’

“Liberty towns were Oakland and San Francisco, and they were ‘special’ places to see at that time.

“I made many friends during that time and still correspond with one gal. Discharged in San Francisco, and home to Duluth in March 1946.”