Ruth Schmelzer Potier was celebrated at the Door County Historical Museum(DCHM) last Saturday as the first woman from Door County to enlist in the US Navy as a Wave and was part of the 2nd Regiment nationwide. Ruth enlisted January 2nd,1943 and her deployment would be for the duration of the war. The Potier family donated their military uniforms and memorabilia to the museum and will go on display for the first time. Ruth married Leonard Potier , a Pearl Harbor survivor, on January 5th,1945 while home on leave.
Uniforms were required at all times for Waves in public.Leonard passed away in 2000 and Ruth, now 97, is proud of their service to our country. She is very honored to have their uniforms and memorabilia on display at the DCHM at the corner of 4th and Michigan Street in Sturgeon Bay.
