Roberta” Randy” Tidmore was waiting at a bus terminal in , Chicago , more than 80 years before on her way again to , Rockford, Illinois, when a group of attractive young gentlemen in the , U. S. Marine Corps , walked beyond.
For the 21-year-old, next serving in , Rockford , as a Rosie the Riveter — one of thousands of women who worked in factories and factories during World War II to help the , U. S.  , war efforts — it was the press she needed to join the , Marines , herself.
” They looked so lovely, and I thought,’ Gee, that looks great,'” Tidmore told , The San Diego Union-Tribune , with a grin Tuesday at the Women ‘s , Museum of California , in , Balboa Park, where approximately 150 people gathered to celebrate her new 103rd day, officially , March 19.
Tidmore’s sense of humor and power are obvious. But she also has a life of service under her buckle that suggests her interest in joining the , U. S. Marines , wasn’t just because of the people already enlisted.
As one of the next remaining Rosie the Welders, Tuesday’s party honored Tidmore’s reputation in the defense and her longtime volunteer work — including work with groups such as the , Women Marines Association  , and the now-defunct San Diego Globe Guilders, which raised money for the , Old Globe Theatre.
The event included a screening of an episode of” Trailblazing Women”, part of the Women’s Museum of California’s video series, that focused on Tidmore’s life and career.
And Tidmore was presented with a surprise birthday surprise: a bundle of 10 small bottles of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, a favourite of hers.
” We are celebrating a person who embodies history”, said , Laura Mitchell, the executive director of the gallery and the vice president of applications at the , San Diego History Center.
In her 103 times, Tidmore has witnessed and been a part of important events in , U. S.  , story.
She became a Rosie in 1943 after a few years of school at the , University of Iowa , — including a stint at medical school, which wasn’t for her.
As a Rosie, Tidmore was assigned to help create B-26 flight arms for the battle work at a company in , Rockford , before she decided to engage in the , Marine Corps , Women’s Reserve.
There, she became one of about , 23, 000 women , who served in the , Marines , during World War II and , took on jobs , such as mechanics, clerks and aerial gunnery instructors.
For Tidmore’s part, she served as a driver, transporting military officers from the , Marine Corps Base Quantico , in , Virginia , to , Washington, D. C.  , Later, she drove a garbage truck around Quantico — a job she especially loved.
Tidmore’s eyes light up when she talks about driving, and how much she loves it. ” I don’t know why, but I do, and I’ve driven all over the United States”, she says.
It wasn’t easy work, though. She even temporarily had her driver’s license suspended , after she crossed an intersection in her garbage truck in front of a general’s marked car.
And at times she faced discrimination as a woman. She described in the” Trailblazing Women” episode that, while working in , San Diego, she was refused , food and drinks by the , Red Cross, which was providing support to military personnel during the war.
” It’s not a piece of cake to come into the , Marine Corps” , , Jim Gruny, the community liaison officer for , Marine Corps , Recruit Depot San Diego, told the audience Tuesday. ” In 1944, when you were female, it was almost unheard of”.
Tidmore was discharged in , August 1946, after attaining the rank of sergeant, and went on to work for , United Airlines , as a flight attendant. In 1960, she married her late husband,  , Terry Tidmore, and the two moved to , Baja California , to start a tomato farm. She later moved to , San Diego.
But she was never too far removed from the , Marines , and her contributions to the service.
She was honored by the Retired , Marine Chapter , in , Chula Vista , in 2016, and at the , Veterans Museum , in , Balboa Park , the following year. She was part of the 2016 Honor Flight, which honors veterans with a visit to , Washington, D. C.  , And in 2021, she was named a woman of dedication by the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary of , San Diego County.
And while women like Tidmore weren’t allowed to serve in combat during World War II, they helped pave the way for future generations, said , Julie Roland, a naval aviator based in , Coronado, who also spoke at the event.
Roland flies an MH 60 Romeo, a helicopter used on missions for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, medical evacuation and search and rescue.
” I have been an officer for 10 years… and still, I’m often the only woman in the room”, Roland said. ” But on tough days at work, I remind myself that I’m continuing the work that women like Randy started. Like them, my presence and performance proved to my male colleagues and to the world that I belong”.
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