Alene Duerk was born on March 29, 1920, in Defiance, Ohio.
On March 29, 1920, Alene Bertha Duerk was born in Defiance, Ohio. Growing up in a time when opportunities for women were limited, Duerk embarked on a path that led her beyond traditional stereotypes. Her early years in Ohio laid the foundation for a career that would pave the way for women in the United States Navy, breaking glass ceilings and setting benchmarks for future generations.