World War II Honoree

Mary J. Monforte Hicks

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cleveland, Pawnee County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE ON MAY 30, 1943. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT FORT DEVENS AT AYER MASSACHUSETTS. SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE WOMEN’S ARMY CORPS (WAC) IN THE AMERICAN THEATER DURING THE WAR. WORKED ON THE MANHATTAN PROJECT, THE CODE NAME FOR THE U.S. PROGRAM TO BUILD THE ATOMIC BOMB. STATIONED AT OAK RIDGE, TENNESSEE, SHE ASSISTED IN THE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING OF THE FIRST BOMBS. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, WOMEN’S ARMY CORPS SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON JULY 20, 1945 WITH THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.