Primarily documents Boileau Hester's service in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve at Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point during World War II and her life after leaving the Women Marines. Hester describes learning about the attack on Pearl Harbor; her parents' reactions when she joined the Women Marines; train and bus travel; culture shock upon arriving in North Carolina; segregation in the Marines; working in the post exchange; treatment of Women Marines by male Marines; ages and previous careers of Women Marines; friendships; accidentally walking into men's barracks; meeting and dating Ras Hester at Cherry Point; patriotism; President Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt; and celebrating V-J Day in Santa Ana, California. " Hester also discusses contracting polio while pregnant in 1948; the advantages of her military service, including greater independence and willpower; her opinion of women in combat; women's liberation; and the difficulty of keeping in touch with her military friends.