Family remembers New Mexican who became first-ever Latina woman to serve in U.S. Marine Corps
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – As thousands of travelers hit the road to enjoy Memorial Day weekend plans, one family took the holiday as a chance to highlight one of their loved ones who served in the United States military.
“My mother was very special,” said Imelda Abeita, the oldest daughter of Maria Lourdes Maes.
“She worked up to the very end, always giving,” said Bernadette Bachtel, another daughter of Maria Lourdes Maes.
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Maria Lourdes Maes was the first ever Latina woman to serve in the United States Marine Corps – born and raised in New Mexico.
“She did everything to perfection,” added Lourdes’ granddaughter, Monica Abeita.
Lourdes grew up in Ranchos De Taos in the northern part of the state and was the oldest of 11 children. When World War II erupted, she felt a duty to serve her country.
“She was very patriotic, and when WW2 started, she wanted to do her part, and she was just a very, very proud Marine,” explained Bachtel.
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While in the Corps, Lourdes spent most of her time in Quantico, Virginia, doing clerical work for the Marines. During her time in service, Lourdes caught the attention of an Army soldier – Master Sergeant Jose Abigail Maes. They would exchange letters during his time in Europe and eventually got married when he returned to the United States. The couple would later have five children.
“She came from a very small town,” said Imelda Abeita. “Did a lot of adventurous things for the years that she was young.”
After leaving the Marine Corps, Lourdes joined the United States Forest Service and would often drive around the state with her husband. Her granddaughter, Monica Abeita, said she spent much of her younger years with her grandparents.
“We would drive all over the state, I’d be in the backseat with my grandparents for hours,” Monica Abeita explained.
Years later, two of Lourdes’ sons went on to join the United States Coast Guard. Her family says she was a great baker, would stay up late to sew her children’s clothes for school and had a strong love for her country. She died in her hometown at the age of 75 after having a stroke.
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“I think she really died too early,” added Monica Abeita. “She still had so much ahead of her.”
Lourdes was buried at the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C.
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