Mary Ralidak
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Coast Guard
Mary Ellen Northey was a third-grade teacher in Floodwood in 1943 when she decided to help in the war effort. She became a Coast Guard SPAR.
After basic training in Florida, she worked as a recruiter in New York City and Albany, New York.
She was discharged from the service on November 21, 1945, and returned to teaching until she retired.
She also married to become Mary Ellen Northey Ralidak and raised a family. Now widowed, she lives in Meadowlands.
The Coast Guard SPARS were formed during World War II to free up males for front-line duty. The SPARS performed tasks like office work and recruiting. Ralidak spent her basic training as a Coast Guard SPAR at the famous Biltmore Hotel in the tourist mecca of Palm Beach, Florida.
However, she notes that the hotel was turned into a hot and crowded barracks when requisitioned by the Coast Guard to train recruits. The training at the hotel did not consist of lolling around the pool. Recruits lived four or six to a room and spent their time in classes or drills.
As a Coast Guard recruiter, Ralidak went along with members of the “TARS and SPARS” show, a musical tribute to Coast Guard men and women. This was no amateur production. Victor Mature, a major Hollywood actor, was the star of the show, which also featured TV legend Sid Caesar in the cast and Gower Champion as choreographer.
One of the photos features a portion of the collection she donated to Veterans' Memorial Hall, and the exhibit that was created and on display in 1999.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 260.
