was as an Administration/Personnel
Records Clerk. She also held positions
including Service Records Audit Chief,
Assistant Personnel Chief, Personnel Clerk,
Student Records Clerk and Discharge Clerk.
In addition, Eason served at a U.S. post
overseas in Okinawa, Japan, mainland Japan,
and Korea, with stateside assignments in
NC, VA and SC.
“The one thing the military does is give
you training, but even before that, it teaches
you how to work as a team. You are trained
to be in a constant state of readiness,”
explains Eason. “As I moved up the ranks of
the Marine Corps life, it became easier for
me to learn different jobs, make friends and
a life for myself. But there were still some
racial or gender issues with peers who, for
some reason, did not want me to succeed.
“One day, our Administrative Chief
Warrant Officer, who rarely said anything
to anyone, stood in front of my desk and
quietly said, ‘Do not base your time in the
military solely on this one duty station. If
you get the chance to serve somewhere else,
take it.’ His point: get out there and see the
world and know there is more to the military
than this unit, at this base, in this state. So
when the time came, I took it and got to see
some pretty amazing places. But I will never
forget his words to me. It made a world of
difference to know someone had seen my
work ethic and validated what I had been
going through. It gave me the confidence to
keep going.”
After nine years of active service in the
Marines, Eason was honorably discharged
as a Sergeant (E-5) in June 1990. She
continued to work in the administration
field in various cities including Charleston,
SC, and Durham, NC, before moving to
Pittsburgh where she currently works with
the Bethel Park Municipality and lives with
her husband, who is also a Marine Corps
veteran, and their daughter, Elsie.
“My military experience was very
beneficial in obtaining different jobs, as it
was always a talking point in job interviews,”
she notes. “But I found myself rarely
speaking about my time as a Marine to
anyone else. One day it dawned on me that
I didn’t feel my role was important because
I had no combat or wartime service, no high
rank upon discharge and no uniform full of
medals and awards. I think it’s like that for
many who served in support units such as
food service, supply or motor transport.”
In 2014, a veteran co-worker from a
former job thought Eason might enjoy
attending the Veterans Breakfast Club
gatherings in Bethel Park, and talking to
other vets. “Hearing their stories about what
their lives were like before, during and after
their service helped me realize how vital my
job of administrative support actually was,”
says Eason. “I made sure people got paid
correctly and on time and that they received
proper credit for additional training. I
also made sure they received the proper
paperwork to get benefits upon discharge
that can keep or prevent a soldier and his
or her family from thriving. It may not be
one of the more glamorous and high-profile
military positions, but there is honor in
ensuring information is handled correctly.”
What Eason did during her years of
service mattered and she has chosen to
honor that, along with other vets, as she has
spoken at her daughter’s schools on Veterans
Day and Memorial Day. “Easing into my role
as a veteran has taken me some time, “ she
adds, “but I’m glad I’ve taken that leap. It’s
so important for all of us to talk about our
experiences, good or bad, and I’m happy to
help facilitate the same with other vets at the
various functions I attend.”
And if Eason’s daughter decides to join
the military someday? “I believe every child
should be required to serve two years in the
military,” she replies. “We have an entire
generation of children who know nothing
about our armed forces outside of a poster
on a billboard and, unfortunately, a veteran
in the news who possibly needs financial,
medical and/or mental health intervention.
I’d be proud of my daughter if she chose to
enlist. And, because her father and I have
served, we could help her navigate some
of the challenges she could potentially face
during her enlistment. That, too, would be a
true honor.” ■
∠ 䄀 䘀甀氀氀 匀攀爀瘀椀挀攀 匀琀愀琀椀漀渀
∠ 䴀椀渀漀爀 ☀ 䴀愀樀漀爀 刀攀瀀愀椀爀猀
∠ 䴀愀椀渀琀攀渀愀渀挀攀
∠ 䤀渀猀瀀攀挀琀椀漀渀猀
匀挀漀琀琀 䈀攀礀渀漀渀
㐀㈀⸀㠀㌀㔀⸀㤀㘀㘀㘀 漀爀 㐀㌀㌀㌀
㔀㐀㐀㠀 䰀椀戀爀愀爀礀 刀搀⸀ 䈀攀琀栀攀氀 倀愀爀欀
䴀漀渀ⴀ䘀爀椀 㘀ⴀ㠀
䌀氀漀猀攀搀 匀愀琀甀爀搀愀礀 愀渀搀 匀甀渀搀愀礀
Dr. Troy is proud
of the philosophy at
Troy Orthodontics.
The doctors are
hands-on and are
involved in placing,
adjusting, and
removing all of their
patients’ braces.
“We treat every
patient as one of our
own. Come, be a part
of our family!”
Bethel Park • 412.831.2188
2414 Lytle Rd., Suite 100
Upper St. Clair • 412.221.0392
1580 McLaughlin Run Rd.
Pinebridge Commons Suite 200
Website is www.drtroysmiles.com
Bethel Park | Fall 2017 | icmags.com 19