The League of Wives Memorial, unveiled in 2024 at Star Park on the historic Coronado Island in sunny San Diego, California, stands as a powerful tribute to the wives of Vietnam War POWs (prisoners of war) and MIAs (missing in action) who transformed their grief into action. The bronze statue depicts Sybil Stockdale, wife of Navy Commander James Stockdale and founder of the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia, alongside other military spouses who fought tirelessly for their imprisoned husbands.
During the Vietnam War, these women challenged government policy, which initially advised them to remain quiet about their husbands’ captivity. Based on Coronado Island near Naval Air Station North Island, where many of their husbands had been stationed, they organized letter-writing campaigns, met with diplomats, and pressured both U.S. and North Vietnamese officials to improve POW treatment and secure releases. Their persistent whistleblowing efforts shed light on the mistreatment of POWs which would later serve as support during war crime trials bringing justice to the mistreated servicemembers following the conclusion of World War II.
The memorial, created by sculptor Gary Casteel, captures the determination of these women who broke both social conventions and military protocol of their time. Their efforts ultimately contributed to the safe return of many POWs and established new procedures for military family support. The statue serves as a reminder of the crucial role military spouses play and the power of organized advocacy in times of crisis.
If you are ever visiting San Diego, I highly recommend stopping in at Star Park, located just a block from the Pacific Ocean and view the first military spouses statue honoring the meaningful work changing the post-war world for good.
Meet Katie
Katie is a former Air Force brat turned Navy spouse living in Jacksonville, FL. Having met her husband on a dating app (Hinge is great!) while he was in Naval Pilot Training in Pensacola, they have moved around Florida and made Navy life their own. Between workups, underways, and deployments, they have had quite the Navy ride in their first couple years of marriage, but still choose to see the good and growth from it all. From rich friendship forged by months apart, Katie has seen the beauty of community and is reminded of one’s inner strength. In the daytime (and evenings), Katie works as a Realtor, assisting military families navigating PCS season to find affordable and safe housing, both to and from NAS Jacksonville and NS Mayport. In her spare time, she enjoys working out, hot yoga, and traveling.
