By Brittany Anderson
WIMBERLEY — Nestled along one of the many winding roads of Wimberley is the home of 100-year-old Mary Riddle — one of the last remaining World War II veterans.
Riddle is part of what many call the Greatest Generation. Born in September 1921, she was one of a small minority of women who served during WWII in the Marines — a branch that, at the time, was not keen on welcoming women into their service.
“They resented us something terrible,” Riddle said. “Marines didn’t want women out there for them … You had to be firm. Some of the girls were not that firm.”
Riddle, who was born in Germany to German parents and then grew up in Dallas, TX, joined up in 1942 at the age of 20. Her parents were ultimately supportive of her decision, despite her mother’s hesitation.
“My dad went and talked to them, and I could go in at 20 instead of 21,” Riddle said. “I was happy. I was going to be a Marine.”
Riddle worked as a pay clerk for two years at the Marine headquarter base out of San Diego, CA, taking care of soldier’s allotments. The job still required her to attend six weeks of boot camp in North Carolina where she trained and “learned how to do everything.” The flight to boot camp was also her first time on an airplane.
Riddle even recalled seeing Japanese submarines off the coast of San Diego, saying that’s as close as she got to the enemy while serving, but it didn’t phase her much.
“I wasn’t afraid,” Riddle said. “It didn’t scare me.”
Riddle is also acutely aware of the sacrifice the end of the war meant, particularly for those in Japan.
“Thousands of people were killed with one bomb,” Riddle said. “You don’t feel good about it, but Japan surrendered. We were celebrating that the war was over, but not about how many people died. You don’t celebrate that.”
Despite knowing the challenges she would face as a woman, Riddle didn’t let that sway her decision to join up.
“Something kept urging me,” Riddle said. “You’re young and you see what’s happening. I was led. In my heart, [I thought] I can do this. And I’ll do it. And I did it.”
Riddle has lived a colorful life since. She met her husband Jim on a blind date while they were both in service (he had just finished 32 months in the South Pacific) and went on to have two children together before he passed away in 1990. Together, they “had a good life” and traveled to national parks, Europe and on mission trips to Africa and South America.
Riddle also proudly holds two college degrees — one in English and one in history. She lived in Japan for two years following the war, as Jim was stationed there, and traveled to China to teach English, remembering fondly of how kind her students were to her. She took her latest English-teaching trip to China at the age of 90 for six weeks.
Today, Riddle lives independently. She still does her own grocery shopping at H-E-B and recently got her driver's license renewed for another two years. She’s never broken a bone or had any replacements, and only takes eye drops and multivitamins. She said her secret to life is waking up every day and asking how she can serve the Lord.
Riddle has been attending First Baptist Church of Wimberley for over 30 years and is an active member, still finding herself deeply grounded in her faith as she was all those years ago.
“I don’t know why I chose to be a Marine. I don’t,” Riddle said. “God has you in positions, and you make a choice, and that was my choice.
“Time is of the essence”
In early April, Riddle had the opportunity to go on a “trip of a lifetime” through , a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to give veterans the opportunity to find camaraderie with fellow veterans and visit the many memorials honoring them across Washington D.C. for free.
There are four flights in the spring and four in the fall, and expenses for the flight, hotel, bus rides and food for the day-and-a-half trip are all paid for through donations from various community members and organizations.
WWII veterans are made a priority, as statistics show that hundreds of them are dying every day, but Korean and Vietnam War veterans are also invited. On her flight, Riddle was one of three WWII veterans out of the 40 some-odd veterans who attended, and was the only female.
A mutual friend from the VFW between Riddle and Honor Flight Austin volunteer Kathy Cummings got her signed up for the trip.
Cummings, a retired teacher and longtime Dripping Springs resident, was “honored” to be asked to be Riddle’s “Guardian” on the trip. Guardians travel with a veteran and ensure they have a safe and memorable experience.
The trip began at Austin Bergstrom International Airport, where veterans were greeted with a small parade, bagpipe performance from the Austin Police Department and a decorated plane cabin on Southwest Airlines. Once reaching D.C., the group visited the many war memorials across the city.
Some sites were understandably difficult for veterans. Cummings said that while Riddle had been to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial before, she didn’t want to see it again as she knew many names on the wall, so they just passed by it.
Active military members were also present to assist the veterans, but were also able to speak with them and get advice.
“I loved that active women in the military would seek you out,” Cummings told Riddle. “Every place we stopped at, they wanted to be with her … “I’m here because you started it. I’m having a full life and doing what I want to do because of women like you who had the strength to do it.””
But Riddle’s favorite part of the trip was seeing kids in D.C. learning about the nation’s history and what veterans have sacrificed for the country, something that is very important to her.
“I’m an old historian, so seeing our children learning about the history of our country, well, I get teary-eyed,” Riddle said. “They don’t know what it means … And it could happen again.”
The whirlwind trip included six miles of walking around D.C. to visit the sites, which was not a problem with Riddle’s spunky spirit.
“She could walk it; I just want everyone to know that,” Cummings said. “But I was her secret service. I wanted to wrap her in cellophane, like, “Nothing is going to happen to you on my watch.” We had a compromise. She would walk some [and be pushed in a wheelchair some]. At one point, she was walking faster than me … Even at 100 years old, she still wanted adventure.”
Despite having only known each other for a month now, Riddle and Cummings have forged a special lifelong friendship. She said looking at Riddle is like “looking at a unicorn.” Riddle will celebrate her 101st birthday later this year on Sept. 22, and if it’s anything like her 100th birthday, multiple parties will be held.
As for her next adventure?
“Wherever He sends me,” Riddle said. “I’m going to leave it all up to Him … The Lord has something for me to do. I’m still here.”
