Esther E. Kellis was born on May 1st, 1920, in New York to Benjamin and Rose Kellis, a Jewish family living in the Bronx. She was born second of at least three daughters, alongside her sisters Minnie and Ruth. They were raised in an urban neighborhood between wartime, and Esther attended school through the tenth grade. 

By early adulthood, Esther was working as a salesperson and still living in the Bronx when she chose to enlist in the military. On August 5th, 1943, she joined the U.S. Army through the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) and was classified as an Aviation Cadet at the time of her enlistment. Her service was designated as “WAC MED CP KILMER,” which indicates that she was assigned to Camp Kilmer in New Jersey, where female medics supported troops during World War II. Her branch of service is also listed as the Inactive Reserve, and she held the ranks of Private and Private First Class. Esther was honorably discharged on February 7th, 1945. 

After the war, Esther moved to Los Angeles, California, where she worked in private household service. Esther E. Kellis died on June 14th, 1964, at the age of 44, in Glendale, California. She is buried at Los Angeles National Cemetery, and her headstone includes a Star of David. She will be remembered for her quiet contribution to the vital support that sustained American troops during World War II. 

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. 

ESTHER E KELLIS

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