World War II Honoree

Mary Gentry

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Kansas City, Missouri

Honored By

Lyn, Jack, Jim, Nancy, John and Marty

Relationship

Nieces and Nephews

JOINED U.S. ARMY ON AUGUST 10, 1942. BASIC TRAINING IN DES MOINES, IOWA. FOLLOWING THIS, WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS AND POSTED TO MIAMI, FLORIDA AS AN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER. WAS INVOLVED IN THE HIGHLY SECRET POSITION OF MONITORING THE ACTIVITY OF GERMAN SUBMARINES IN THE ATLANTIC AND CARIBBEAN. SHE AND HER COMRADES WERE KNOWN AS THE 'HUSH HUSH' GIRLS. ALSO TRAINED IN EXPLOSIVES, BEING THAT ONE OF HER SECONDARY JOBS WAS TO DESTROY THE UNIT SAFE IN THE EVENT GERMANS TRIED TO SEIZE IT. FOLLOWING THE STINT IN MIAMI, WAS SENT TO THE PENTAGON AND ASSISTED TWO GENERAL OFFICERS IN THEIR DUTIES. IT WAS THE LAST POSTING AS THE WAR ENDED. AWARDED ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL, WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.