Reasons Why there are no female U.S. Marines during World War II, but there are now

There were; they did not serve in combat.

This lady, a Marine Sergeant, is Lena Mae Riggi Basilone. She married one of the USMC’s greatest heroes of WWII, Sgt. John Basilone.

They were married for only 7 months before John was deployed to the Pacific again, to fight on Iwo Jima. He was killed on the first day of battle. Below, she is christening the USS Basilone, in honor of her husband.

Lena never married again. When asked why, she said, “I was with the best, why settle for less?” She was truly Semper Fi.