Mary F. Starr - WW1 Ambulance Driver - Biography-1
Mary F. Starr -- WW1 Red Cross Ambulance Driver
1918 Waltham Depollier Trench Watch
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Mary Starr (1884 - ??) was a WW1 heroine, serving her country as one of the first female battlefront ambulance drivers for the American Red Cross (ARC) Overseas Motor Corps.
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In October 1917, Mary was “determined that she shall represent her family in the great war of Uncle Sam for world democracy”. Undeterred by the reality that women were not allowed to drive nor be near the front lines, Mary returned to her Salt Lake City hometown, and persuaded a local truck dealer to teach her how to drive and maintain a huge GMC Model 16 truck (used by the Army for ambulances).
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​​​In December 2017 Mary traveled to Washington DC to personally convince Sectary of War Newton Baker to let her be an ambulance driver with the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). Baker refused, stating “I regret, but I would not be guilty of sending a woman to France as an ambulance drive in the front lines as you seek. However, with your determination to go to France…a place may be found in the Red Cross for you.”​​
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Mary then began eight months of rigorous training to serve in the ARC Overseas Motor Corps. In September 1918, prior to sailing on a troop ship to Europe, she purchased a silver, 15-jewel Waltham Depollier-cased trench watch, engraved on the back, “Mary F. Starr ~ 4772 ~ A.R.C. ~ A.E.F. 18”. As she explained in a newspaper article published after arriving in France,​​​
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“I have my [A.R.C.] disk with my number on it and attached to a silver chain around my neck. I have this engraved on the back of my wrist watch, “Mary F. Starr No. 4772 A.R.C.”. The same number appears on the disk. If my head is blown off the number will be on my wrist, and if my arm is torn off the number will be on my neck. I am going into a dangerous sector…..”.
Mary served as a front-lines ambulance driver in France, transporting the wounded and sick to Red Cross field hospitals. After the Armistice, Mary was stationed in Bourges, France cataloging American soldiers buried in French cemeteries. She did not return to the U.S. until July 1919.
Pvt. Paul R. Thomer Biography-1
Paul Thomer's Watch Returned to His Family - Sept 2023
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On Sept 9, 2023, Pvt. Thomer’s watch was returned to his daughter Deborah and her four siblings, exactly 80 years after Paul purchased it. They will treasure it as a tangible memory of their courageous Dad. Semper Fi.
Pvt. Paul Thomer -- 1942 Guadalcanal Marine & His Watch
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Private Paul R. Thomer (1923–1992) fought at Guadalcanal as a member of the famed 1st Marine Division. Paul was from Pittsburgh PA, and enlisted in the Marines in January 1942.
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The 1st Marine Division sailed from San Francisco in June, and landed on the island of Guadalcanal on Aug 7, 1942. This was the first major US amphibious landing of World War II. The invasion ignited a ferocious struggle with Japanese forces, marked by seven major naval battles, numerous clashes ashore, and almost continuous air combat through December 1942.
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The fighting at Guadalcanal took a terrible toll; the 1st Division suffered 650 killed in action and 1,278 wounded, with a further 8,580 contracting malaria and other diseases. As one Marine recalled, ”the Division suffered 100% casualties, with the dead, wounded, and those sick from malaria, dengue fever, jungle rot, malnutrition and combat fatigue… “.
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Battle-weary and in poor health following the Guadalcanal campaign, the men of the First Marine Division were shipped to Melbourne Australia for nine months recuperation in January 1943. “They were greeted with warm hospitality; these 15,000 young American men found a home away from home”.
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On Feb 10, 1943, Paul Thome purchased a steel-cased wristwatch from a local Melbourne jewelry store, and had it engraved “Paul R. Thomer ~ U.S.M.C. ~ 343824 ~ Australia ~ 2-10-43”.
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The 1st Division returned to combat in the South Pacific in October 1943, leading the December offensive at Cape Gloucester, New Britain. “The action they found there has been described as the toughest man has ever endured.” In July 1944, the 1st Division returned to the US for stateside duty. Paul was honorably discharged in 1945.
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In 1954, Paul married Frances Mary LaRoche in Pittsburgh; in 1962, they moved to California. Paul and Frances had five children – two sons and three daughters. Paul died on February 16, 1992, and is buried with Frances in the San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, CA.
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