#VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Eva Romero Jacques

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Eva Romero Jacques. Eva served during World War II, from 1943 to 1945.

Eva was a staff sergeant with the Far East Air Service Command and assigned to the Pacific Theater. In an interview for the Veterans History Project, she shared her experiences during World War II.

Eva decided to enlist in the military after listening to her priest. She recalled, “I went to Mass one Sunday and the priest asked the mothers to please don’t interfere if your daughters are willing to go into the military, to please don’t keep them from going, because it’s everybody’s war.”

Despite not meeting the height requirement, Eva was accepted into the Army Air Forces. They waived the requirement on account of her ability to speak Spanish and English and completing three years of college. She was sent to Fort Oglethorpe for basic training.

In 1944, Eva was deployed to New Guinea and worked for the base commander translating mail. At nighttime, she remembered hearing snipers while trying to sleep in her tent.

Reflecting on her service, Eva said, “I think my life wouldn’t have been complete if I hadn’t been in the military.”

Thank you for your service, Eva!

Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? You’re in luck! VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.

Veterans History Project

This #VeteranOfTheDay profile was created with interviews submitted to the Veterans History Project. The project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war Veterans so that future generations may hear directly from Veterans and better understand the realities of war. Find out more at http://www.loc.gov/vets/.

Graphic By Lilian Vo: Lilian Vo is an undergraduate senior at George Mason University studying Global Affairs and Intelligence Analysis.