At 103, this WWII veteran in Covington still wants to recruit troops

COVINGTON, La. (WGNO) — It was an easy choice for Martha Sonnier in 1942. She enlisted.

“I chose the Marines because my father used to be a Marine,” Sonnier told WGNO News from her Covington family’s home. “That’s a perfect example that you could do something for your country.”

Sonnier served for three years. Much of her time was spent traveling the United States to recruit men to fight in the war, while she and other enlisted women handled as many responsibilities as possible at home.

“Somebody had to fight a war. Somebody had to take care of us,” she said. “You want to replace him, let him go fight. We’ll take their place.”

While most of the war was fought in Europe, Asia and the oceans separating them from the United States, there were cases of U-boat attacks off the American coastline. So, Sonnier also remembers training to spot and identify enemy aircraft, just in case fighting escalated here.

“We learned all types of airplanes. If an airplane flew over, we had to know what airplane it was,” she said.

Sonnier also remembers when Japan surrendered, ending the war.

“We were in a cafeteria, and I remember someone came running in, ‘War’s over! War’s over!’ And everyone starts screaming and yelling.”

One of the most vivid images in her mind was seeing American troops return safely. Sonnier was in San Francisco and can still describe watching the ships with troops.

“One of the pictures that I have in my mind about coming back — they’d been in the islands, remember? — and they came back in a big ship. They were leaning and so glad to be back and yelling and everything,” she said.

Sonnier keeps a photo album of her service that includes a mix of photographs of moments she remembers well and others that aren’t as clear.

“I wish I’d had a notebook going all the time, something going to those things that I’ve forgotten now, I’d be able to pick them up,” she said.

After the war ended, Sonnier moved to Louisiana and married. She has two children, three grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Even though her service as a recruiter ended 80 years ago, she still has a message for young people who are searching for their missions in life.

“Did you ever think about going in the military? It’s a wonderful life. You really ought to.”

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