Mary “Mae” Warner, 100, a resident of The Mansion at Rosemont, reflects on her service during and after World War II, writes Richard Ilgenfritz for Main Line Times & Suburban.
Inspired by patriotism following the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, Warner longed to join the military but had to wait until turning 20 in 1944.
Choosing the Coast Guard’s SPARS (Semper Paratus—Always Ready), Warner trained in Palm Beach, Florida, and Manhattan Beach, New York, before being stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, as a Yeoman. She fondly recalls Charleston and key moments, such as the liberation of Paris and a parade honoring President Franklin D. Roosevelt after his death in 1945.
Warner remained in Charleston until her discharge in 1946. She then joined the War Department, where she worked on the war crimes trials in Tokyo, Japan, as secretary to a Canadian judge. Witnessing the trials’ conclusion, she considered her time there a profound experience.
In Japan, she met her husband, Nevin Warner, and the couple eventually settled in Bryn Mawr in 1964 after years of moving. Dedicated to community service, Warner contributed to organizations like Main Line Meals on Wheels.
Read more about Mae Warner and her service during World War II in Main Line Times & Suburban.
