I was distressed to see cigarette butts and other debris around the bluff memorial to Anna Walker Wilson Steere. Litter is always offensive but it seems particularly so in the context of this amazing woman.
Anna "Tony" Walker Wilson was a Lieutenant Colonel and Women's Army Corps (WAC) Staff Director in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. She commanded 6,500 WACs. In the course of her service she received the Legion of Merit, the French Croix de Guerre and Legion of Honor, and the Order of the British Empire.
She arrived in England in April 1943 as WAC Staff Director, and held that post until July 1945 when she was returned to Washington for duty with the Army Ground Forces. She had a B.A. from Pomona, and M.A. from Claremont, and had also done post-graduate work at the University of California. Her mother lived in Studio City, CA.
Chapter XXI of this history of the WAC has more information about Colonel Wilson's work in the European theater.
Colonel Wilson is the woman with prematurely white hair pictured in the center of the photo above, taken on August 1, 1944, when she was 34 years old. In January 1946, a year and a half after the photo was taken, she married Lloyd (or Loyd) Victor Steere, age 47, in Frankfurt, Germany. Mr. Steere, of Claremont, and a veteran of World War I, was at the time of their marriage the deputy director of the Office of Political Affairs in the Office of Military Government of the United States. He had previously been acting director of food and agriculture of the United States Group Control Council, and before that Agricultural Commissioner in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Mr. Steere was an alumnus of Pomona, and also had an MBA from Harvard. He had two adult sons from an earlier marriage.
After their marriage, the couple lived in Berlin, where both were stationed. Later, they lived in Washington D.C. and at some point returned to California. They resided in Pacific Palisades at the time of Lloyd's death at age 86 in 1985. Anna subsequently moved to Santa Monica, and died at age 89 in 1999.
Mrs. Steere's bluff tribute is engraved with an unusual and understated legend -- "In Loving Memory / Anna Walker Steere /Natural and Generous"-- that alludes to her personal qualities rather than her illustrious military career. Obviously there was much more to this woman than just her impressive recorded accomplishments. I'm glad there is a memorial to her at the bluffs.
UPDATE 7/1/12:
We recently received more information about Mrs. Steere from Bill Wilbur of Portal, Arizona, who wrote this nice letter:
Lambie,
A family friend, visiting our ranch, was surprised to hear about Anna Wilson Speere. Not having a lot of information, other than memories, I set about to bolster my memories.
I was greatly pleased to find your article about Anna Steere. My father, William Brewster Wilbur, was a lifelong friend of Anna. The Wilson farm was across the road from the Wilbur farm. Anna, Lloyd and my father visited often. After my father became unable to drive himself I would drive him over to Anna’s for visits. When Anna became blind my father and she would sit out on her spacious patio and my father would describe the vistas of Santa Monica Bay.
One thing your well researched article missed was her excellence in horsemanship. In 1947 Anna participated in a Dressage event in Berlin, Germany and won a beautiful cast bronze trophy depicting Anna on her horse, Csendor. During one of Dad’s visits Anna gave my father the trophy to keep in perpetuity. After my father’s death the trophy languished in a closet to be rediscovered by me and brought to our home here in Arizona. The trophy has a place of honor on our mantle. (My wife and I too have horses and love to ride.)
Just before Anna’s death she spoke of her numerous picture albums and hoped they would find their way to the Historical Museum in Tulare, California. Does anyone know of their whereabouts?
We lost touch with Anna’s estate executor and unfortunately I cannot find her name; do you know?
Again, thanks for the wonderful article. There are people who will love to rediscover the story of a forgotten Tulare native. If you have any other links on Anna, I’d appreciate them.
Sincerely,
Bill Wilbur,
Portal, Arizona
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