BIOgraphy

Penny Lee Deere was born in early spring 1956 in Cobleskill, New York. She joined the Women’s Army Corps during her senior year high school in 1975 under the delayed entry program. From day one, she committed to serving as a career military leader before retiring. Two of her four siblings also went into the military, and her father had served stateside in the Army during the Korean War. She is a trailblazer.  

Upon entry into the Women’s Army Corps, Penny Lee’s initial duty was administrative as a postal clerk. In 1978, the WAC was disbanded and women were integrated into the Army and her career field changed to military intelligence. Between 1975 and 1995, Penny Lee’s service included stateside assignments at Fort Belvoir, Virginia; Fort Monmouth, New Jersey; Fort Gordon, Georgia; and Fort Huachuca, Arizona. She also spent 12 of her 20 years in Europe at Germany bases in Pirmasens, Zweibrcken, Ansbach, and Stuttgart. Toward the end of her career, she deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Storm as an intelligence analyst.

Penny Lee participates in studies /research investigating the cause of various health problems for people who served in the Gulf War where approximately 1/3 Gulf War veterans are impacted. She is also a massage therapist (nationally certified), where she is able to help herself and other veterans deal with their trauma and improve the connection between their bodies and minds. She shares with others of many alternative therapies available as alternate choices to western medicine.

Penny Lee was a sole parent during of her military career, raising her 2 children, Kyle Martin Joyce born Ft Belvior, VA (1979-1999) and Megan LeAnne Wallace (1984, Fort Huachuca Arizona).  Penny Lee lives in Albany, New Work with her husband, Don Deere, who is a Coast Guard Vietnam era veteran. She is also the proud Grandmother of six. 

When Penny Lee retired from the Army, she remained active in the military community and became a veteran leader. Described as a “Veteran leader who will help anybody “who’s willing to help themselves, Penny Lee inspires and empowers others. As one of the founders of Support Our Troops Committee/Art4vets, Zaloga Post American Legion #1950 Albany NY, she has organized and led multiple socially engaging events and activities that has drawn national recognition. At age 65, Penny Lee Deere has completed a bachelor of science degree community human services with a concentration on alternative therapies. 

Penny Lee’s creative artworks, writings, and photography have been exhibited in national galleries and part of programs both nationally and internationally. Her Penyleemaiden’s enlightenment series is published in addition to works in veterans voices’ magazine and other anthologies.