RIP -- Brigadier General Brewer

Gidge

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Brigadier General Margaret Brewer, USMC (Ret), passed away on Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at the age of 82. She was the first woman Marine to reach flag rank.


Born in Durand, MI, in 1930, she received her primary education in Michigan. She graduated from the Catholic High School in Baltimore, MD, prior to entering the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. She received a Bachelor Degree in Geography in January 1952, and was commissioned a Marine second lieutenant in March of that year.

Her first assignment was at the Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, CA, where she served as a communications watch officer. She was transferred in June 1953 to Brooklyn, NY, where she spent two years as Inspector-Instructor of a woman Marine reserve unit.

From September 1955 until June 1958, then, Capt. Brewer served as Commanding Officer of the woman Marine companies at the Naval Base in Norfolk, VA, and at Camp Lejeune, NC. During the following 18 months, she was a platoon commander for woman officer candidates at Quantico, VA, during summer augmentation. She was also a Officer Selection Officer for women while headquartered in Lexington, KY.

She was transferred to Camp Pendleton, CA, in November 1959, for duty with the Commissioned Officers Mess (Open), was promoted to major in September 1961, and in April 1963 returned to Quantico to serve as executive officer, and later as commanding officer, of the Woman Officer School.

From June 1966 to February 1968, she was the Public Affairs Officer for the 6th Marine Corps District, Atlanta, GA, where she was promoted to lieutenant colonel in December 1966.

She served as Deputy Director of Women Marines, HQMC, from March 1968 to March 1971. She was promoted to colonel in December 1970. She reported to Quantico as Special Assistant to the Director, Marine Corps Education Center. She became Chief of the Support Department, Marine Corps Education Center in June 1972, serving in this capacity until she was selected as the 7th Director of Women Marines on February 1, 1973.

On July 1, 1977, Colonel Brewer assumed duty as Deputy Director of the Division of Information, HQMC, when the Director of Women Marines' office was disbanded when integrating women into an expanded role in the Corps. For her meritorious service as the Director of Women Marines, she was presented the Legion of Merit by the Commandant of the Marine Corps on June 30, 1977.

While serving as the Deputy Director of the Division of Information, she was nominated in April 1978 for appointment to the rank of brigadier general, and assumed duties as Director of Information on May 11, 1978. She became the first female to attain flag rank in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Brigadier General Brewer served as the Director of Public Affairs until her retirement on July 1, 1980, and was awarded a second Legion of Merit.


[iwojima]
 
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