Daughter of an Air Corps veteran of World War I, Janet Reardon was born in Huntington, West Virginia. She was attending a boarding school in Florida when she decided to enlist. Returning to Huntington, Janet joined the WACS (Women's Army Corps). Later she served at Fort Banks in Boston as a physical therapist in a 500-bed hospital. Promoted to second lieutenant, Janet was sent to McClosky General Hospital in Temple, Texas. There she worked with soldiers sent home from Europe to recuperate. She then volunteered for duty at Army/Navy General Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas. She was discharged as a first lieutenant in May of 1948. Janet married Henry Meyer, raised a family, and worked at hospitals in Shreveport.