MILDRED WEBER WARREN
CLASS OF 1941
VOLUNTEERISM
Mildred (Millie) Weber Warren graduated from Covert High School in the class of 1941. She was the daughter of Rudy and Millie Weber, long time residents of Covert. She went to Business College following high school graduation, then worked at the telephone company in South Haven until she married Robert Warren in April 1943. Following her marriage, she was a military wife for many years. During this time she worked for over ten years as a Navy Relief Society volunteer. That organization assists personnel of all ranks in the Naval Service by consulting family members regarding finances and support during long spouse absences due to deployments and combat. It also assists families with special care needs, including the mentally and physically handicapped children of Marines and Sailors. Millie also became well- known as a financial advisor.
Millie also worked over 25 years as an active Red Cross volunteer at several Marine Corps bases. She was one of a small band of Red Cross volunteers who met thousands of Vietnamese refugees upon their initial arrival in the United States at the El Toro, California Marine Corps Air Station. On many occasions, five civilian jumbo jets and large military passenger aircraft arrived simultaneously. Those volunteers then worked around the clock welcoming those terrified souls with smiles, papers, cool drinks and snacks. The refugees were then ushered through the passenger terminal and onto buses and transported to the large refugee tent camp located at the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base. Often, however, there were not enough available buses and on such occasions Millie was put in charge of two barracks full of refugees whose main concern was to become settled and re-united with their families. They immediately knew they had a true friend when they spotted Millie's Red Cross uniform, viewed her warm manner and friendly smile, as well as her many acts of kindness, including escorting them to the Marine mess halls and then demonstrating the use of flush toilets to most of the refugees.
Millie now volunteers at the Parrish (Florida) United Methodist Church Thrift Cottage. Its purpose is to provide funds to help replace the outgrown century-old church with a new one, now under construction. Millie volunteers as a sales person and also takes donated children's clothes home for washing, repair and ironing.
Many of her volunteer activities were during some very stressful times when her husband was absent due to countless deployments including combat in three wars. She continually maintained deep concern for others while, at the same time, had to cope with her own absent spouse concerns and demanding child-raising responsibilities. She is truly a very special and caring person.
Millie and her husband have two grown children, Jeanne and Bill.