92-year-old Beaverton resident credits WAC service for lifelong drive for fairness

Irene Londraville, 92, attributes her lifelong commitment to fairness and assertiveness to her two years of service in the U.S. Women’s Army Corps. The Beaverton resident enlisted in 1954 at the age of 20, a decision she made after spending two years in a convent following her high school graduation. Rather than pursue marriage at that age, she chose to follow a family tradition of military service.

Londraville moved from Massachusetts to Oregon in 1948 as an eighth grader. Her family settled in Hammond, where she recalls playing near Fort Stevens. The site, which features a Civil War-era battery and World War II facilities, helped foster her interest in the military. Her father had served in World War I, and three of her brothers later enlisted, creating a household environment where service was a familiar path.

She completed basic training at Fort Gordon in Georgia, where she discovered a natural talent for marksmanship. She credited her childhood habit of throwing stones with developing the steady hand required for shooting. After basic training, she was stationed at Fort Meade in Maryland. There, she operated one of the base’s many teletype machines, a role that placed her at a logistical hub for the military.

Londraville’s duties involved sending and receiving messages as the Korean War concluded. These communications typically originated from field units and were destined for Washington, D.C. The messages included rerouted soldiers, expedition plans, outcomes of operations, and supply movements for deployed troops. She described the work as fragmented, noting that the information often arrived in pieces because of the sensitive nature of the data.

The environment at Fort Meade reinforced the values she held dear. She observed that no one in her cadre received preferential treatment. She stated that the unit operated without special people or unspecial people, a dynamic she recognized from the start of her service. This lack of hierarchy in daily interactions solidified her belief in equal treatment for all individuals.

Londraville described her motivation for enlisting not as a romantic love of country, but as a desire to ensure the nation remained good for the present and the future. She wanted every person in the country to have a fair chance. Her time in the military taught her how to make decisions, a skill she has applied in various aspects of her life since 1956.

She noted that while enlisted personnel receive orders, each individual retains the agency to determine how the work is completed. This balance of directive and autonomy helped her understand her own character and goals. She believes the service reveals hidden traits in a person, showing what they are made of without altering their fundamental nature.

Londraville’s experiences in the WAC influenced her interactions in marriage and as a parent. She stated that she could hold her own in her marriage and support her children when they faced difficulties at school. She observed that some people roll over without thinking, a reaction she avoided due to the confidence she gained during her service.

She advocates for a two-year period of service for all people after high school. She argues that this time helps young adults identify who they are and what they wish to pursue. Her service record lists her rank as Private First Class, with years of service from 1954 to 1956. She remains proud of her contribution to the military and her ability to maintain peace through her work.