Mary Ann Merritt
12-30-2004, 05:44 PM
Col. Margaret M. Henderson was born in Cameron, and earned a BBA
from The University of Texas. She taught at several schools in Texas
as well as Lubbock High School before her enlistment in the Marine
Corps in 1943.
She was commissioned a Second Lieutenant June 29, 1943, and had
assignments at Camp Lejeune, N.C. as Officer in Charge of the
Business School, Marine Corps Institute, Washington, D.C., and
Executive Officer, Marine Corps Women's Reserve Battalion, Camp
Lejeune. Col. Henderson was detached from active duty in May 1946
and returned to Lubbock where she served as an instructor at Texas
Tech for two years.
She was selected to be one of the first Regular Woman Marine
officers and returned to active duty in 1948. In addition to her
regular duties, she helped develop personnel assignment policies for
the newly integrated Women Marines. She served consecutively as
Commander of the Women's Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps
Recruit Depot, Parris Is land, S.C. and Commander of the Women
Officers Training Detachment, Quantico. She also saw duty at Camp
Pendleton, Calif. Col. Henderson served in Washington D.C. as the
fourth Director of the Women Marines.
Upon her retirement on Jan. 31, 1966, she returned to Washington
D.C. as Executive Director of the Navy Relief Society. In 1967, she
was named Director of Lubbock's Community Planning Council and
Volunteer Bureau, a division of the United Way. Later that year she
was invited to Washington, D.C. to witness the signing of a bill
that removed restrictions on women in the service.
Among her awards was the Legion of Merit. In 1985, she received the
Distinguished Citizen Award from Governor Mark White during a Texas
celebration marking the 40th anniversary of the end of World War II.
She also was the recipient of the Daughters of the American
Revolution Medal of Honor in 1972. Col.
Henderson is preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. D.M.
Henderson and is survived by several cousins and many friends.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, Dec. 30, 2004, at 2 p.m. at
Sanders Funeral Home Chapel. Burial with military honors will follow
at Resthaven Memorial Park. Memorials are suggested to Macular
Degeneration Foundation, Inc., PO Box 531313, Henderson, NV 89053.
from The University of Texas. She taught at several schools in Texas
as well as Lubbock High School before her enlistment in the Marine
Corps in 1943.
She was commissioned a Second Lieutenant June 29, 1943, and had
assignments at Camp Lejeune, N.C. as Officer in Charge of the
Business School, Marine Corps Institute, Washington, D.C., and
Executive Officer, Marine Corps Women's Reserve Battalion, Camp
Lejeune. Col. Henderson was detached from active duty in May 1946
and returned to Lubbock where she served as an instructor at Texas
Tech for two years.
She was selected to be one of the first Regular Woman Marine
officers and returned to active duty in 1948. In addition to her
regular duties, she helped develop personnel assignment policies for
the newly integrated Women Marines. She served consecutively as
Commander of the Women's Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps
Recruit Depot, Parris Is land, S.C. and Commander of the Women
Officers Training Detachment, Quantico. She also saw duty at Camp
Pendleton, Calif. Col. Henderson served in Washington D.C. as the
fourth Director of the Women Marines.
Upon her retirement on Jan. 31, 1966, she returned to Washington
D.C. as Executive Director of the Navy Relief Society. In 1967, she
was named Director of Lubbock's Community Planning Council and
Volunteer Bureau, a division of the United Way. Later that year she
was invited to Washington, D.C. to witness the signing of a bill
that removed restrictions on women in the service.
Among her awards was the Legion of Merit. In 1985, she received the
Distinguished Citizen Award from Governor Mark White during a Texas
celebration marking the 40th anniversary of the end of World War II.
She also was the recipient of the Daughters of the American
Revolution Medal of Honor in 1972. Col.
Henderson is preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. D.M.
Henderson and is survived by several cousins and many friends.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, Dec. 30, 2004, at 2 p.m. at
Sanders Funeral Home Chapel. Burial with military honors will follow
at Resthaven Memorial Park. Memorials are suggested to Macular
Degeneration Foundation, Inc., PO Box 531313, Henderson, NV 89053.