thedrifter
07-07-07, 07:16 AM
Polly's Poeple: Patriotism, giving back comes naturally to Marine
Local
Polly Powers Stramm | July 7, 2007 |
An American flag was flying outside of Winn Karnosky's southside home earlier this week, but somehow I think her show of patriotism is a daily occurrence, not just a July Fourth tradition.
In 1943, Winn became one of the first 1,000 or so women to become a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. In fact, when she went home on leave from boot camp that year she was asked to put on her uniform and be on the cover of a magazine published by the Western Cartridge Co. in her hometown of East Alton, Ill.
The excitement didn't stop there.
The following year, during the first anniversary observance of the formation of the women Marines, Winn was one of four Marines who escorted then-first lady Eleanor Roosevelt to her seat.
Tall women, like Winn, always were color guards, she explained. "We all were only 22 or 23 and were scared to death."
Later that decade, Winn's brother introduced her to her future husband, a career Army officer named Ben Karnosky with whom she traveled the world and experienced more than her share of unforgettable moments.
A few years after they were married, the Karnoskys were assigned to Italy where Winn unfortunately had a frightening experience with Communist demonstrators.
"They tried to tip my car over," she recalled. "I was alone and really scared."
The Karnoskys also were stationed in Spain when Francisco Franco was in power. While living in Salzburg, Austria, Winn met golf professional Ken Venturi and played a few rounds with him. She also had an audience with the pope and saw a couple of Michelangelo's masterpieces up close and personal.
Winn and Ben moved to Savannah in 1968 when Ben was named post commander at Hunter Army Airfield. They fell in love with the city and decided to make this their permanent assignment. After Ben's retirement from the Army, he worked for more than 15 years in the Chatham County Tax Assessor's office.
In 1970, Winn had a radical mastectomy but pressed on with her characteristic upbeat attitude. For many years, she volunteered with the American Cancer Society's Reach To Recovery Program.
Before she became a Marine all those years ago, Winn toyed with the idea of becoming a nurse. Money for college during the Depression, however, was difficult to come by.
Now a widow without children, Winn is financially comfortable and has decided to do something to ensure a deserving person could become a nurse if he or she wanted to do. For that reason, she has established a nursing scholarship at Armstrong Atlantic State University.
No doubt, scholarship recipients will be fascinated to hear Winn's story and the journey that brought her to Savannah.
Contact Polly at 912-352-8670, e-mail pollparrot54@bellsouth.net or write to her c/o 5 Majestic Oaks Circle, Savannah, GA 31406.
Ellie
Local
Polly Powers Stramm | July 7, 2007 |
An American flag was flying outside of Winn Karnosky's southside home earlier this week, but somehow I think her show of patriotism is a daily occurrence, not just a July Fourth tradition.
In 1943, Winn became one of the first 1,000 or so women to become a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. In fact, when she went home on leave from boot camp that year she was asked to put on her uniform and be on the cover of a magazine published by the Western Cartridge Co. in her hometown of East Alton, Ill.
The excitement didn't stop there.
The following year, during the first anniversary observance of the formation of the women Marines, Winn was one of four Marines who escorted then-first lady Eleanor Roosevelt to her seat.
Tall women, like Winn, always were color guards, she explained. "We all were only 22 or 23 and were scared to death."
Later that decade, Winn's brother introduced her to her future husband, a career Army officer named Ben Karnosky with whom she traveled the world and experienced more than her share of unforgettable moments.
A few years after they were married, the Karnoskys were assigned to Italy where Winn unfortunately had a frightening experience with Communist demonstrators.
"They tried to tip my car over," she recalled. "I was alone and really scared."
The Karnoskys also were stationed in Spain when Francisco Franco was in power. While living in Salzburg, Austria, Winn met golf professional Ken Venturi and played a few rounds with him. She also had an audience with the pope and saw a couple of Michelangelo's masterpieces up close and personal.
Winn and Ben moved to Savannah in 1968 when Ben was named post commander at Hunter Army Airfield. They fell in love with the city and decided to make this their permanent assignment. After Ben's retirement from the Army, he worked for more than 15 years in the Chatham County Tax Assessor's office.
In 1970, Winn had a radical mastectomy but pressed on with her characteristic upbeat attitude. For many years, she volunteered with the American Cancer Society's Reach To Recovery Program.
Before she became a Marine all those years ago, Winn toyed with the idea of becoming a nurse. Money for college during the Depression, however, was difficult to come by.
Now a widow without children, Winn is financially comfortable and has decided to do something to ensure a deserving person could become a nurse if he or she wanted to do. For that reason, she has established a nursing scholarship at Armstrong Atlantic State University.
No doubt, scholarship recipients will be fascinated to hear Winn's story and the journey that brought her to Savannah.
Contact Polly at 912-352-8670, e-mail pollparrot54@bellsouth.net or write to her c/o 5 Majestic Oaks Circle, Savannah, GA 31406.
Ellie