Our walk today was dedicated in honor of:
WWII Marine Veteran Ann DiValerio, Age 93 of Huntley, IL.
Died May 28, 2017
a World War II veteran and former president of the Illinois Women Marines Association.
“Whether you’re a man or a woman, or whether it’s 1943 or 2017, Ann was a shining example of what it means to be a Marine,” said Maj. Shanelle Porter, commanding officer at the Marine Recruiting Station Chicago. “Her quiet confidence, strength of character and constant humility earned her so much respect.”
DiValerio graduated from Notre Dame High School for Girls in 1942. Later she worked at the Chicago Public Library, where she met a Marine and became engaged before he shipped out to serve in the Pacific Theater during WWII.
Active in the USO, DiValerio wanted to do more for the war effort, so in 1943 she joined the Marines, which had allowed women to enlist and perform clerical duties since 1918 and activated the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve in 1943.
She completed a six-week boot camp at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. While in training, she was notified that her fiance had been killed in battle. He later received the Silver Star posthumously.
After boot camp, DiValerio was sent to the San Diego Marine recruiting depot in California, where she worked in the library, under the supervision of a male sergeant.
“It was good duty, but I later asked for a change, and they made me a CQ, a Charge of Quarters person who performs security duty, both days and nights,” DiValerio told the Sun Day. “I had to stand for inspections and make sure I and everything I was responsible for was ‘spit and polished.’ It was great duty.”
By 1944, DiValerio was transferred to the Bremerton, Wash., Naval Yard, where she worked in the Quartermaster Corps, and helped Marines returning from the war zone by replacing their clothing and personal effects.
“I made out the requisitions for the stuff they needed, many had clothes in really bad condition,” she told the Sun Day. “It was depressing but important work.”
DiValerio served two and a half years of active duty and was discharged in 1946. She returned to the Chicago area, took a job at the Northwestern University dental school, and soon met her future husband, Anthony DiValerio, a veteran of the Army Air Forces. He died in 2000.
We had a great 5.73 Mile walk today. We walked up town to the War Memorial Park and back. I want to thank my friend Robert for walking with us today. I want to thank everyone who honked, waved, and saluted in helping us honor this hero. We had 149 Honks today. Thank You.
WWII Marine Veteran Ann DiValerio will not be forgotten !
