Brigadier General Margaret A. Brewer (July 1, 1930 – January 2, 2013) was the first woman in the United States Marine Corps to reach

general officer A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED O ...

rank.

Early years

Brewer was born in

Durand, Michigan Durand is a city in Shiawassee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,446 at the 2010 census. Nicknamed "Railroad City, USA", it is best known for its large train station which was a major hub for the Grand Trunk Western and ...

, on July 1, 1930, to Maurice and Anne Brewer. Her parents divorced early in her life. Her ancestors on her fathers' side were early settlers of Michigan and are buried near Bishop Airport in Flint, Michigan. Brewer received her primary education in Michigan, attending Ryno School in Clayton Township, Genesee County in 1936. She later graduated from the Catholic High School in

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore was ...

, prior to entering the University of Michigan at

Ann Arbor Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna (name), Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah (given name), Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie (given name), ...

. She received a bachelor's degree in geography in 1952, and was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority.

Marine Corps career

Brewer was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps 1952. Her first assignment was at the

Marine Corps Air Station El Toro Marine Corps Air Station El Toro was a United States Marine Corps Air Station located next to the community of El Toro, near Irvine, California. Before it was decommissioned in 1999, it was the home of Marine Corps Aviation on the West Coast ...

, California, where she served as a communications watch officer until June 1953. She was then transferred to Brooklyn, New York, for a two-year tour as Inspector-Instructor of a Women Marine Reserve unit. From September 1955 until June 1958, then Captain Brewer served successively as Commanding Officer of the Women Marine companies at

Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1705, it had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Be ...

, and

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune () is a United States Armed Forces, United States military training facility in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Its of beaches make the base a major area for Amphibious warfare, amphibious assault training, and its ...

, North Carolina. During the 18 months following, she was a platoon commander for woman officer candidates at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, during summer training sessions, and for the balance of the time, a woman

officer selection officer A Marine Corps Officer Selection Officer (OSO) leads a team of Marines and civilian employees in the recruitment of college students and graduates for a Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. Responsibilities An OSO is r ...

with headquarters in

Lexington, Kentucky Lexington is a city in Kentucky, United States that is the county seat of Fayette County, Kentucky, Fayette County. By population, it is the List of cities in Kentucky, second-largest city in Kentucky and List of United States cities by popul ...

. Transferred to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, in November 1959, for duty with the Commissioned Officers Mess (Open), Brewer was promoted to major in September 1961 and in April 1963 returned to Quantico to serve as executive officer and later as commanding officer of the Woman Officer School. By 1966, she was the Public Affairs Officer for the 6th Marine Corps District, Atlanta, Georgia as lieutenant colonel. Brewer served as Deputy Director of Women Marines, at Headquarters Marine Corps, from March 1968 to March 1971. She was promoted to colonel in 1970. Reporting to Quantico, she assumed duty as Special Assistant to the Director, Marine Corps Education Center. She became Chief of the Support Department, Marine Corps Education Center in June 1972, serving in this capacity until she was selected as the seventh Director of Women Marines on February 1, 1973 until 1977. BGen Margaret A

On July 1, 1977, then Colonel Brewer assumed duty as Deputy Director of the Division of Information, Headquarters Marine Corps, when the Director of Women Marines' office was disbanded because of the strides made in integrating women into an expanded role in the Corps. For meritorious service as the Director of Women Marines, she was presented the

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...

by the

Commandant of the Marine Corps The commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) is normally the highest-ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Joint Chiefs of Staff: composition; functions. The CMC reports directly to the secr ...

on June 30, 1977. While serving as the Deputy Director of the Division of Information, Headquarters Marine Corps, Brewer was nominated to the post of Director of the Division of Information, which required a general rank. At the time, the Marine Corps did not allow women to hold the a general rank, President Carter made a special nomination to the grade of brigadier general that was approved by both house of Congress. She was appointed to that grade and assumed duty as Director of Information on May 11, 1978, at which time she became the first female general officer in the United States Marine Corps. After Brewer reorganized the division, the Division of Information was redesignated as the Division of Public Affairs, and Brigadier General Brewer's title was changed to Director of Public Affairs. Brewer retired in 1980.

Later years and death

After retiring Brewer served on the boards of the

Catholic Charities The Catholic Church operates numerous charitable organizations. Catholic spiritual teaching includes spreading the Gospel, while Catholic social teaching emphasises support for the sick, the poor and the afflicted through the corporal and spir ...

of Arlington County, the

Marine Corps Heritage Foundation The National Museum of the Marine Corps is the historical museum of the United States Marine Corps. Located in Triangle, Virginia near MCB Quantico, the museum opened on November 10, 2006, and is now one of the top tourist attractions in the st ...

and the Catholic High School of Baltimore, where she was also the chair. She attended church at the Saint Thomas More Cathedral. She also worked towards the creation of the National Museum of the Marine Corps and the Women in Military Service for American Memorial. Brewer died at Greenspring, a retirement home in Springfield, Virginia on January 2, 2013, of Alzheimer's disease. She had no surviving immediate family. She was interred at

Columbia Gardens Cemetery The Columbia Gardens Cemetery is a cemetery located in the Ashton Heights Historic District of Arlington, Virginia Cemetery The Columbia Gardens Cemetery is located at the southern boundary of the Ashton Heights Historic District and is one o ...

Awards

Notes

References