Women's History Month | The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula
Women's History Month | The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula
Another great woman for Women's History Month! Mercedes Stiegler was born just west of the Missoula Airport in 1923. She worked for Lockheed (where this jumpsuit came from), and later joined the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) in 1943 and served for 20 months. After attending basic training, she was stationed in Savannah, GA attached to the Army Air Force at Chatham Field.
After her years of service, she worked as a medical records clerk for Montana State School in Boulder, MT. While living in Boulder, she also became a “Gray Lady” with the Jefferson County Red Cross. She received her cap, pin, and certificate at the Montana State Training School in 1964. It is unclear how long she served with the Red Cross, though we know the Gray Lady service was discontinued in the late 1960s.
According to her obituary, “One of her goals in life was to quietly ease the way for those less fortunate. Her philosophy was, “We do not have the power to make all things perfect. We just work, play and worship in that direction.’”
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