Reflects pride of country
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As the United States prepared to dedicate a national World War II monument this Memorial Day, Norris Deem Zabriskie looked back on her service during the conflict as a U.S. Marine.
For her, those days were literally picture-perfect.
After all, her picture was displayed across the nation during the war as part of a national campaign to recruit women to the Marines.
Thousands of billboards dotted every U.S. state, posters hung in truck stops, store windows and post offices.
The campaign message was simple: "Free a Marine for combat," recalled Sister Zabriskie. "Stand in for a hero."
By the end of the war, 23,145 women had answered that call to serve, to contribute to the overseas conflict by taking over men's duties at home.
And Sister Zabriskie is happy to have been part of the cause.
"We were proud of the fact that we had a hand in a bit of history that changed the whole war," she said. "That was kind of a nice feeling."
Raised in St. Louis, Mo., Sister Zabriskie said she was a born patriot. After high school she finished a year of teacher's training before determining that she wanted to do more. Following the example of her brother, who was a U.S. paratrooper, Norris wanted to put another star in the family's window.
"I can give my all," she determined. She enlisted in the Marine Corps on Nov. 14, 1944.
After boot camp, she was stationed at Marine headquarters in Washington D.C. She had been there only a couple of months when fate changed her life; while walking to the candy machine she met a photographer. He asked if she had ever done any modeling and told her he wanted to submit a photograph to celebrate the first anniversary of women Marines.
Having done modeling before enlisting, Norris readily accepted, "happy to be back in front of the camera again."
She thought nothing of the photo session, until months later when she got a call to report to the commandant's office. "Your picture reflects the pride you have in wearing the Marine Corps uniform and the pride you have in being an American patriot," he told her.
"I was certainly happy to be a part of that, although I certainly didn't get any perks from it," she said.
Except, she added, maybe a husband.
After moving to Washington, D.C., Norris went looking for a Presbyterian Church, as she had attended back home. Instead, she met a young woman who invited her to attend the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints until she could locate her own services. Norris was immediately impressed and knew, by the power of the Holy Ghost, that Joseph Smith was a prophet.
However, with most young men fighting the war, there were no missionaries to teach Norris the discussions. Instead, a "couple of elderly men" from the area met with her weekly and answered her questions.
She was baptized, began attending Church and met many friends.
Woody Deem was a Latter-day Saint from Washington, D.C. After his release from the military, he crossed the country from California to reclaim his job. During the trek east, he saw Norris' picture on a billboard across the Golden Gate Bridge and at almost every other place he stopped.
Ultimately, mutual friends invited him to attend a fireside where Norris was speaking; he accepted for one reason. He wanted to meet the "type of woman that would join the Marine Corps."
The couple married Feb. 11, 1947, in the Salt Lake Temple.
Over the years, they adopted eight children and moved from Washington, D.C., to Ventura, Calif., to Provo, Utah. At the end of Brother Deem's career in law, they retired to St. George, Utah. After he died, she married Harry Zabriskie, who has also since died.
Today, she fills her days with 29 grandchildren. "I enjoy them," she said. "I try to be a good example to them."
She also likes to remember her time before marriage, when she helped her country. On Memorial Day weekend, she will receive the American Legion's World War II Women's Veteran Honoree Award, one of many honors she has garnered since her service so many years ago.
"I am really thankful that the Lord was behind me and pushed me along and took me where He wanted me to be," she said. "I felt good about being a Marine."
E-mail: sarah@desnews.com
