Dorothy Veronica Adams was born on February 18, 1921, in New York to John William Costello and Catherine Veronica Costello. She grew up alongside her sister, Genevieve Costello, and spent her childhood in New Jersey before later living in New York. By 1940, Dorothy had completed four years of high school and was working as a typist, a position that reflected the growing number of women entering clerical and administrative professions during the early twentieth century. 

At the age of 22, Dorothy enlisted in the United States Army on July 19, 1943, during World War II. She served as a Private and remained in the Army until her honorable discharge on January 18, 1945. Dorothy was among the many women who answered the call to military service during the war, contributing to the nation's wartime efforts at a time when women's roles within the armed forces were expanding significantly. Their service helped demonstrate women's ability to perform vital military duties and paved the way for future generations of women in uniform. 

Following her military service, Dorothy married Cyril L. McClory and became the mother of a daughter, Katherine A. McClory. By 1950, she was living in New York and keeping house while raising her family. She later lived in California and eventually Texas. Dorothy's family had a strong tradition of military service. Her father, John William Costello, served in the United States Army during World War I and was awarded both the Purple Heart and the French Croix de Guerre for his bravery and service. 

Dorothy Veronica Adams passed away in Texas on July 6, 1993, at the age of 72. Her life reflects the contributions of women who served during World War II and balanced military service with family and community life in the decades that followed. 

This biography was researched and written by students as part of the Digital Veterans Legacy Project at Loyola Marymount University, funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Cemetery Administration. 

DOROTHY VERONICA ADAMS

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