Background
Streeter, Ruth Cheney was born on October 2, 1895 in Brookline, Massachusetts, United States. Daughter of Charles Paine and Mary Ward (Lyon) Cheney.
Streeter, Ruth Cheney was born on October 2, 1895 in Brookline, Massachusetts, United States. Daughter of Charles Paine and Mary Ward (Lyon) Cheney.
She graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1918.
She retired in 1945 as a lieutenant colonel. Born Ruth Cheney on October 2, 1895 in Brookline, Massachusetts. They lived in Morristown, New Jersey, where she was involved in civic affairs, and served as the first woman president of the Morris County, New Jersey Welfare Board.
At the age of 47, Streeter earned her commercial pilot"s license, with the intention of joining either the Walking Attack Vehicle Enhanced or the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPS) as a ferry pilot in the war effort.
After being rejected five times by the WASPS on account of her age, however, Streeter chose to give up flying altogether, and instead joined the United States Marine Corps Women"s Reserve. On January 29, 1943, she was commissioned as a major and appointed director of the United States Marine Corps Women"s Reserve.
She was promoted to lieutenant colonel later that year, and to full colonel in 1944. She resigned her commission on December 6, 1945.
During Streeter"s tenure, the Women"s Reserve grew to a size of 831 officers and 17,714 enlisted.
In 1946, she was awarded the Legion of Merit. The accompanying citation states in part:
"Exercising judgment, initiative and ability, Colonel Streeter rendered distinctive service in directing the planning and organization of the Women"s Reserve of the Marine Corps and skillfully integrating women into the basic structure of the Corps, carefully selected, trained and properly assigned them as replacements for men in shore establishments."
Streeter died of congestive heart failure on September 30, 1990 in Morristown, New Jersey. 1990. She is buried in Peterborough, New Hampshire.
Past member New Jersey Tercentenary Celebration Commission. Delegate New Jersey Constnl. Convention, 1947; Republican presidential elector New Jersey, 1948.
Member Defense Advisory Council for Women to the Service, 1951-1952. Foreman Federal Grand Jury, Newark, New Jersey, 1953-1954. Member National Society Colonial Dames American (national president 1948-1952).
Married Thomas Winthrop Streeter, June 23, 1917. Children: Frank Sherwin, Henry Schofield, Thomas Winthrop, Lillian Carpenter.