PORTLAND, Oregon (KPTV) — A 101-year-old war veteran says she never thought she would see a woman on the ballot for President, and says the country has come a long way since she enlisted. After Pearl Harbor, Jean did something that wasn’t popular with her girlfriends – she joined the Army to be a nurse.
“I felt it was the thing to do.”
Hours before Election Day, Jean Wonjowski and her daughter Wanda reminisce over stories of strength.
“And we zigzagged all the way to avoid submarines, and we were in a convoy, of course. Some of my best friends, they weren’t going to risk their lives,” Jean recalled.
Back then, things were different for women.
“At that time I thought it was not very possible. Outside of teaching and nursing, there wasn’t much else women were doing professionally.”
Now at 101, Jean has seen a lot of change in the United States but the milestone she may witness on Tuesday, if Hillary Clinton becomes President, will be meaningful too.
“I’m in favor of it. I respect her. I feel she’s capable and she’s equal to the job.”
No matter the outcome, Jean feels blessed to see how far women have come in the United States and to have witness a woman get this far in the race for President.
“Well I just feel that women can do the same things their counterparts are.”
