The recent arrival of the USS Ronald Reagan to Australia has brought back many memories for Brisbane's Ida McDonell.

The 93-year old — who goes by the name Aunty Peggy — has been welcoming US servicemen to Queensland for more than eight decades.

"In the 1940s we knew the war was coming and it was a dangerous time," she said.

"Many of our boys were in the forces, and then the Americans needed land bases so we welcomed them here in Australia."

The medals Aunty Peggy is given by service people when they visit Brisbane. ( ABC Radio Brisbane: Jessica Hinchliffe )

Dances were held at the Brisbane City Hall for the American men to socialise each week.

Aunty Peggy said the American Army Band played on Thursday nights and the Naval Band played on Sundays.

"They were young men, about 19 years old, in a strange place," she told ABC Radio Brisbane's Steve Austin.

"We would teach them how to ballroom dance and they in turn would teach us the jitterbug.

"We could go in and dance, but we couldn't leave with them. You had to make dates with them later.

"I never went out with any of them though. Iit was nice to be asked but I didn't want to be grounded."

American and Australian soldiers sitting on the fence watching the Albion races in September 1942. ( Supplied: State Library of Queensland )

A special part of history

Aunty Peggy remembered when the USS Griffin first came into the wharf in Brisbane on April 15, 1942.

"We were happy to see the USS Griffin arrive, and the day after I went to the first dance at City Hall," she said.

"I was only 16 years old and the two US boys we met were Al Whitehouse and Johnny Widell. They would come to my parent's place until they left in November."

A black and white photo of the first men Aunty Peggy met in Brisbane Al Whitehouse and Johnny Widell. ( ABC Radio Brisbane: Jessica Hinchliffe )

The dances were not just for the US servicemen, but also for Australian men serving in the war effort.

"It was a great time, but it was also a sad time," Aunty Peggy said.

"You imagine all these beautiful young Australian men enjoying themselves. Many became POWs in Singapore."

Aunty Peg aka Peggy McDonnell loves passing on the war history to the next generation. ( ABC Radio Brisbane: Jessica Hinchliffe )

Often at the dances she would be asked by the officers 'will you wait for me?'

"I would always say to them 'I'll be here when you come back'. But sadly none of them I saw again," Aunty Peggy said.

"In the Battle of Okinawa … it's very likely they were all killed.

"They all disappeared and you never heard from them again. It was sad for the parents who lost their sons both here in Australia and America."

Aunty Peggy keeps photos of the service people she meets on display in her home. ( ABC Radio Brisbane: Jessica Hinchliffe )

Giving match covers as gifts

Each time Americans dock in Brisbane, Aunty Peggy takes along her small match covers with pictures of the US Navy and Pearl Harbour with a photo of the first two US officers she met as gifts to the visiting service people.

"I was given them in 1942, and in 2017 my friend helped me copy them, cut them, and laminate them," she said.

Aunty Peggy had the original match covers she was given in 1942 scanned and laminated and now gives them to others. ( ABC Radio Brisbane: Jessica Hinchliffe )

"I now give copies of the match covers and my handwritten story to those visiting. They're all over the world now."

Today, Aunty Peggy continues to be invited to formal dinners held by the American associations when US officers are visiting Queensland.

Aunty Peggy also gives away books with written notes and photos of her history. ( ABC Radio Brisbane: Jessica Hinchliffe )

Earlier this month she boarded the USS Ronald Reagan in Brisbane where she gave away more of her match covers.

"It's a great lot of fun for me, and it's keeping our history going," she said.

"It shows the role we as Australians played in World War II."