Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Edith Rene Porter-Stewart Collection

Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- Service History Note: The veteran served as a chaplain at Marine Air Stations in North Carolina and South Carolina. She also began and operated an airport ministry at Cherry Point, North Carolina meeting personnel on aircraft incoming and outbound during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield.
- War or Conflict: Iraq War, 2003-2011
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: USS Mount Hood (AE 29); USNS Mercy (T AH 19); 2nd MAW (Marine Aircraft Wing)
- Location of Service: San Diego, California; Newport, Rhode Island; Cherry Point, North Carolina; South Carolina; Persian Gulf
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
Edith Rene Porter-Stewart began her third career as the first female chaplain to serve the Second Marine Aircraft Wing. Ever the pioneer, she went on to found and host on-base television shows, on-ship newspapers, and an airport ministry to bless departing and incoming soldiers. Included in her collection is a selection of the poetry that she wrote while on tour.
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PlayAll male chaplains deployed to Desert Storm, but not females; establishing a program for Key Wives without a budget; developing an on-base TV program on topics like suicide; extended counseling of a Marine accused of infanticide; developing an “airport ministry” to serve arriving and departing soldiers. 00:06:12.0 - 00:09:40.0
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PlayService on USS Mt. Hood; gender tensions arising less because of gender than experience; running a newspaper and starting a TV show on board; informing sailors about deaths in the family; best time to counsel troops late at night. 00:09:51.0 - 00:12:57.0
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PlayThe blackballing of eight Evangelical chaplains by Catholic senior chaplain; facing some gender discrimination at chaplain school, especially regarding uniforms; ultimately, support from colleagues outweighed any discrimination. 00:13:41.0 - 00:16:52.0
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PlayHosting Martin Luther King III on base during Desert Storm; “million-dollar check” mementos from service members grateful for her work. 00:19:48.0 - 00:22:32.0
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PlayCloses by reading her favorite self-written poem. 00:29:55.0 - 00:30:45.0
About this Item
Title
- Edith Rene Porter-Stewart Collection
Names
- McCoy, Michael
- Porter-Stewart, Edith Rene
- Military Chaplains Project 213
State of Birth
- MO
Home State
- SD
Headings
- - Porter-Stewart, Edith Rene
- - Iraq War, 2003-2011 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Navy.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Female
Race
- American Indian and Alaskan Native
Status
- Veteran
Service History
-
Iraq War, 2003-2011
- Service History Note: The veteran served as a chaplain at Marine Air Stations in North Carolina and South Carolina. She also began and operated an airport ministry at Cherry Point, North Carolina meeting personnel on aircraft incoming and outbound during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield.
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: USS Mount Hood (AE 29); USNS Mercy (T AH 19); 2nd MAW (Marine Aircraft Wing)
- Location of Service: San Diego, California; Newport, Rhode Island; Cherry Point, North Carolina; South Carolina; Persian Gulf
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Dates of Service: 1989-2006
- Entrance into Service: Commissioned
- Military Status: Veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Biographical information [2 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 2005 - 2013)
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 09/10/2013)
- Photograph: Digital print [2 items] -- Photograph (collected 1992 - 2005)
- Video: MiniDV [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 09/10/2013)
- Manuscript: Printed matter [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 1992)
- Manuscript: Creative works [2 items] -- Handwritten document (collected 1989 - 2006)
- Manuscript: Clippings [4 items] -- Typewritten document (collected unknown)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/93902
Cite as
- Edith Rene Porter-Stewart Collection (AFC/2001/001/93902), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Cherry Point, North Carolina
- Newport, Rhode Island
- Persian Gulf
- San Diego, California
- South Carolina