Living Legend Vicki is Honored at the Military Women’s Memorial
When Vicki was in high school, she met one of the most influential women of the time. Amelia Earhart came to her school for an assembly, and Vicki met her backstage!
“I want to be a pilot just like you,” she remembers saying.
Earhart’s powerful reply still rings clearly in her ears: “You can be anything you want to be,” she said.
As Vicki faced her share of tragedies and challenges in life, this experience helped her remain optimistic about her future. As a young woman, she was living with relatives in New York City when she heard the news that shook the nation—Pearl Harbor had been attacked. At that moment, Vickie knew that she had to help.
She left New York and moved to Akron, OH, home of the Goodyear factory, to become a riveter. As a “Rosie,” Vicki supported the war effort by working on parts for the P-61 Night Fighter airplane. Vickie embraced the challenge, working hard and getting promoted to manage a group of women.
Before the war, Vicki never imagined that she’d have an opportunity to serve her country like this or even do work like this. She loved her job and was proud to be a Rosie.
But, when she heard the news that the Navy was recruiting women, her heart skipped a beat. Although her work asked her to stay and even offered her a raise, Vicki knew this was the chance she had been waiting for.
It was a choice that would shape the course of her life. In April 1944, Vicki enlisted in the Waves, Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service. Her brave journey began with Boot Camp at Hunter College in the Bronx, followed by specialized training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Stillwater, OK. Finally, she was assigned to her first position in Boston with the Navy’s Eastern Frontier Command, where she tracked submarines in the Atlantic Ocean.
But Vicki’s journey with the military did not end there—it would take her even higher! Vicki was transferred to Kansas to serve as a flight orderly on DC-3 airplanes, transporting troops across the country. She loved her job, being in the air, and, most of all, meeting new people.
When she was discharged from the Navy in 1946, Vicki knew she wanted to stay in the aviation industry. She interviewed with TWA and was thrilled when they hired her as a flight attendant. She remained in this role until she married and transitioned to a new job with United as a reservation agent.
When Vicki reflects on over one hundred years of memories, she is proud of her WWII Naval service and grateful for how it shaped her life’s path. But throughout all these years, Vicki has never visited Washington, D.C., or seen the monuments honoring those who serve.
When we heard her inspiring story, we were honored to recognize Vicki for her WWII Navy service and help her revisit this critical time of her life.
At age 101, Vicki traveled to our nation’s capital for the first time to experience the beautiful Women in Military Service for America Memorial firsthand. Upon entering the structure, Vicki was warmly welcomed by Military Women’s Memorial staff members, who took her on a meaningful tour of the many artifacts and displays honoring women who served in the U.S. armed forces.
Among the exhibits, Vicki encountered a display of familiar posters and advertisements for the WAVES. She shared her memories with 18-year-old Navy Sea Cadet Chief Petty Officer Kenna Powell, who joined them for this unique experience. The two quickly bonded over their shared love of airplanes!
Vicki’s emotional journey culminated with a moving ceremony. She was presented with an official proclamation naming Vicki a Living Legend and permanently documenting her story in the memorial’s database.
Being honored in this way filled Vicki with joy and brought closure to this meaningful part of her life. It was incredibly emotional when Vicki’s new friend, Cadet Powell, presented her with a commemorative American flag.
“It was overwhelming and wonderful,” she shared. “It just blew me away. I felt like a celebrity. It couldn’t have been better.”