This article was originally published in the Butler Eagle on Nov. 11, 2021.

In May 1942, the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, or WAAC, was formed as a means of support for servicemen entering World War II.

In January 1943, 21-year-old Esther “Marie” Miller, of Butler, enlisted.

As she neared her 100th birthday, Miller reflects on her life as a resident of Butler and her service to her country.

According to Miller, who lived on Virginia Avenue her entire life until recently, she couldn’t wait to enter the WAAC. One of her brothers left for service in the Army at 16 years old and was stationed at Pearl Harbor, where he survived the bombing attack by the Japanese Navy Air Service in 1941.

“I was disgusted with civilian life,” Miller said.

The oldest of six children, Miller said life before the service was full of hard work. By age 12, she was on the job babysitting, ironing and even taking care of an elderly woman for $6 an hour.

“I applied to become a WAAC in November of 1942 when I turned 21, and started in January of 1943,” Miller said.

Miller was stationed at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., from January 1943 to May of the same year. According to her, they worked like horses.

“We did anything and everything. We had no say-so,” Miller said. “We started out cleaning and preparing different camps for male recruits to come in. Our superiors would say tell us, ‘You can’t complain, you enlisted.’”

Miller said she would mail money home to her family in Butler, as well as some cigarettes for her father, which were rationed during wartime for civilians.

Her unit was eventually transferred to Wenton, Texas, when WAAC was accepted as part of the Army and renamed the Women's Army Corps (WAC). Next, they traveled to Ayre, Mass., where different units were established. From there, Miller and her unit were stationed in Orlando, Fla., where they would remain until the end of the war.

Miller said part of their jobs in the early days of WAC was to train recruits, and this did not go over well with servicemen.

“Men hated you,” Miller said. “When women came in, men had to be assigned overseas.”

In Orlando, Miller was assigned to work on the aircraft table at the Air Corps Training Center. According to her, the table was nearly the size of the room it occupied, with women along all sides holding long sticks. They would use the sticks to plot all planes or anything in the air.

“You had to be accurate,” Miller said. “A group of men would sit above you and look down at the table as you worked.”

Miller served a total of three years and six months in WAC, earning the rank of sergeant. She came away with various medals and recognitions, including an award for good conduct.

“It was really work,” Miller said of service life. “I did the best I could and got a lot.”

Miller said she enjoyed traveling after the war, seeing most of England, Greece, Jerusalem, Italy and other destinations.

Upon returning home to Virginia Avenue, she met her husband, Bud, who was home on furlough at the Butler Veterans Hospital. They were married in 1945 and had six children: Sheila, Karen, Tom, Gary, Pat and Randy.

Miller said returning to civilian life was challenging, as there weren’t many jobs available. When her husband died at age 48, Miller single-handedly supported her six teenagers by scrubbing floors at a bank and making doilies, which she sold.

Miller also raised money by selling quilts she sewed by hand. She said she would quilt until her index finger bled from being poked with the needle, but it didn’t stop her. According to Miller’s son, Randy, her pieces have won various awards at the Butler Farm Show.

While she sold some of her quilts, Miller said she gave most of them away as gifts to family and friends.

“I’m a giver and a doer,” Miller said. “I feel better when I give, no matter where I go.”

Miller, who turned 100 years old on Thanksgiving Day (2021), said she feels pleased about reaching this milestone birthday.

“It’s happy, hilarious and (means) not having to worry about a thing,” Miller said.

On the weekend following her birthday, Miller’s family and friends gathered at the American Legion Post 117 to share memories in celebration of her.

Miller shared that the secret to living this long is threefold.

“A hard day’s work, a sense of humor and a cold draft beer,” Miller said.