Mary Ellen Brown was born April 10, 1920 in Quincy, KS where she lived and graduated High School in 1938. Mary Ellen attended Emporia Sate Teachers College on a violin scholarship, gaining her teaching certificate. She started her teaching career in Rose Hill in 1940. She moved on to teach in Eureka Public Schools and while there, enlisted in the US Navy (WAVES) in March 1944. Mary ELlen reported to duty July 25, 1944 at Hunter College, New York City for six weeks boot camp. She was assigned to Mail School where all aspects of the postal Service were mastered. Upon graduating from Mail School, those with grades in the upper ten percent had a choice of postal stations. Mary Ellen chose the Fleet Post Office in San Francisco, CA. Her first assignment was working in the Fleet Records Section, requiring me to keep the addresses of all Naval Personnel stationed on ships, the Pacific War Zones and those stationed on the west coast, current. Current address allowed the Service men and women's mail to be dispatched as quickly as possible, Next to family, mail was the next priority. Mary Ellen was assigned the addresses card beginning with the letter "H". Other duties performed were working in the V-Mail section in the Fleet Post Office pitching mail and at the time of discharge she was working in Fleet Records as a supervisor checking accuracy and to verify "Missing in Action" and "Deceased" amil was being handled properly and promptly. On December 2, 1945, Mary Ellen married Tech-Sgt. Michael Sissman who had just been discharged. Mary Ellen was discharged on March 4, 1946. The couple lived in CA until 1951 when her husband health failed, they moved back to Kansas. With the GI Bill Mary Ellen went back to college and acquired her Masters Degree in Teaching. After her husband died, she became active in the Eureka Lioness Club and met John Mock through the Disabled American Veterans and Auxiliary. Four years later they married.