After Pearl Harbor, Garnet Brickey took action.

"I wanted to do something for my country," the 87-year-old Grovetown resident said. "I wanted to help in any way I could."

At age 21, she enlisted in the Women Army Auxiliary Corps, which was later named the Women's Army Corps. She left her home in Ohio for basic training at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.

"It wasn't quite as rough as the men's training. We didn't have to climb ropes or crawl on the ground or anything like that, but our training was still really intense," she said. "We had to learn a lot in those six weeks. They didn't take it easy with us."

After basic training, she went to administrative school in Texas and was eventually stationed at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa.

There, she helped transport soldiers back and forth between the train depot and the post.

"I drove everything from a Jeep to trucks that could hold up to 18 men," she said. "We sometimes had to get up at all times of night to pick the men up at the barracks and take them to the railhead at the depot or to pick up men arriving. I didn't mind, though."

During a few trips, some men made it known that they didn't think women should be in the military, she said.

"You had some who would make comments, but as time went on and more women enlisted, that changed," she said. "We eventually gained a lot of respect from everyone."

When World War II ended, so did Mrs. Brickey's stint in the Army.

"I told myself when I enlisted that I was just going in for the war to do my part," she said. "So, when it was over, I went home. I had done what I had set out to do."

Over the years, she has continued to support the military, despite disagreeing with some of the roles women have in the military today.

"I think it's great that we have women who are still a part of the military, but I don't think they should be exposed to danger," she said. "Knowing that makes me nervous for them because many of them are young. I would prefer if they weren't on the battlefields."

But she respects their courage, she said.

"It takes strength," she said. "That's why we have to support them and thank them for putting themselves in danger to defend us."

Now, Mrs. Brickey wants to provide support in another way -- through a club for female veterans in the Augusta area.

"When I was staying in Florida some years ago, we had a club there," she said. "We would meet about once a month to go out to dinner with each other, give support and share our stories. It was a lot of fun to get together."

Mrs. Brickey is seeking other female veterans in the Augusta area to get the club started. She plans to begin official club meetings around the beginning of the year.

Those interested in joining may call her at (706) 210-7331 or call Jean Smith at (706) 863-5494.

"All women who were in the service are welcome to join the club, and I hope that they will all join," Mrs. Brickey said. "This club is going to be a chance for all of us to bond and share our experiences. I'm excited about it."

Reach Nikasha Dicks at (706) 823-3336 or nikasha.dicks@augustachronicle.com.