Posted: 8 FEB 02: Woman in Military During
the Korean War
I joined the WACS in 1951. I had military training in high school during
WWII. I loved serving in the Military. I took basic at Ft. Lee, Va. and
then was transferred to Ft. Dix, N. J. I was the outstanding trainee of my
basic company and felt that I was honored beyond belief. I went to Supply
School in Ft. Dix and then stayed there as an instructor. I never was
harassed because I was a woman. I met a 1st Sgt. while stationed at Dix,
married him later and then was honorably discharged by reason of marriage.
That was 50 years ago. Still married to that same good man. I don't know
anything about today's women in service but back in the 50's it was great.
We had all kinds of women, just as you do in college. After 9/11/01
our pastor told all veterans to feel free to salute during the playing of
the national anthem. It was with great pride that I saluted my country and
my flag.
Posted: 10 Jun 01:
This story shows how far women have gone since the 70s. I
was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas which was home to the 3rd Armored Cavalry
Division. My job was to in-process the soldiers attending Air Defense
AIT. One day a drill sergeant came into our little office, pacing back
and forth while talking to a civil service worker (retired Master Sergeant).
He was really upset because there was a "woman" coming to
school. After he left, I asked Herb what all the fuss was about. He
said they didn't want women to attend this school and it would be taken care
of. I asked how. Herb said she would be sent to see the Captain
where she would be "persuaded" to change her contract to something
more traditional. Well, they never figured on me being the first person
she would meet (also at that time all the women on the base lived together
regardless of assignment.) I quietly let her and all the others after
her in on the little secret. One of those women graduated at the top of
her class.
Posted: 11 May 01: "Semper Fi!"
After a brief marriage I was "lost" until an uncle (former Marine)
asked me why didn't I join the Marines? I didn't know there were Women
Marines. After testing and taking my oath in Okla., City, I went straight
from the ranch to Parris Island, S.C. on my first plane ride in June 1961.
Boot camp was great. My recruiter had told me I could be in the USMC band
(ha!) but women weren't then allowed. Having been a secretary as a civilian
I became an instant 0141.
My first assignment was Hdqtrs. at Parris Island in Depot Adjutant's Office.
I then was assigned upstairs as secretary to CG Ennis until his retirement,
then was assigned to his replacement CG Murray. I married a drill instructor
and in
those days pregnant women were given a COG discharge (Convenience of the
Government). We married on 10 Nov 62 in Beaufort, S.C. Our son was
born in USNH @ Beaufort and is now a Navy Lt. stationed in San Diego!
(He first
served 8 years enlisted). The Marine Corps shaped my life in more ways
than one and I am very proud to have served. I am active in the Women Marine
groups in New Mexico as well as WIMSA. Semper Fi I was
known as Dee Jack
Posted: 1 May 01: "Pre-1970s WAVE"
I graduated from High school in 1950, and after a series of waitress-type
jobs, decided to join the Navy WAVES in 1952. The Korean War
was still going on. I went thru Boot in Co. 52-76 BNRTC, then to Jax
AN(P) school and
started AK school. I had met a Marine there, who was attending AE
school, and one weekend, we got married. Well, that ended my Navy
schooling! Three weeks after we married, he was shipped to Miami, and I was
sent to North Island CA, and then to MCAS Eltoro. Before leaving Jax, I
had taken the test for AIrman. Never got the results. It
wasn't until the 1990s that I learned that Navy policy was, at that time, to
separate married couples, end any schooling for the wife , and never give a
raise in rank to the wife. (if you got a divorce, that was different).
The policy was also that a married woman could get her discharge on
request, and in 1954, I requested mine. Unfortunately, the marriage
ended about a year after my discharge. I considered re-enlisting at the
time, but never made a decision, as the result
of a dream, which had me stationed somewhere dark and terribly gloomy.
Sounds corny, but it left me rather unexcited at the possibility!!! In
retrospect, I wish I had, for I enjoyed my Navy experience otherwise, and
don't regret joining at all. I learned a lot, had a lot of
good fun, and saw more of the US than I would have, if I hadn't joined. I
also learned
not to judge people by their ethnic origins, that it was who the person was,
not WHAT s/he was. I lost whatever prejudices I brought to the Navy, and
never found then again. All in all, a good experience. Fran, Kamaka2@aol.com
Posted: 1 May 01:
I joined the Marine Corps one month after I graduated in 1966. I was
trained at Paris Island, South Carolina. This was my first time away
from home, which was in Philomath, Oregon. I was excited about going
in because I wanted to serve my country and it got me into a world I had
never seen before. I was the first person in my immediate family that
entered the service.
I went to school in Camp LeJuene, North Carolina to become a supply
clerk, though, never was one. I was transferred from Camp LeJuene
to El Toro, California. I found this a great place to be and have so
many things to do. Plus I felt I was doing something for my country.
It was hard at times, because I watched the young men going to Vietnam and
even harder, was seeing them when they came back. I heard stories,
long before these young men found out not many wanted to hear them. It
was also hard at that time because I found it was not a good idea to wear my
uniform when traveling because of some of the negative comments of people
who did not like the fact we were in Vietnam.
But regardless of what happened while I was in the service, I found that I
have always and will always be proud that I served my country. We are part
of the unique and groundbreakers for we were held to a much higher standard
than men were at that time!! Please feel free to contact me by my
e-mail
patches7@northlink.com
Posted: 11 Nov 00: "USMC 67-70"
I was ready to leave home but not sure where I should go. Wasn't
prepared for college and definitely not marriage. One night while
sitting eating dinner and after another verbal altercation with my Mom, my
Dad felt the tension between my Mom and I and said under his breath,
"Why don't you go into the Army?" I heard him and it made me
think. I finally got my Mom to drive me down to the Post Office in
Sacramento, CA. I took my tests and passed and was ready to go into
the Air Force until they said they would see me in six months. I was
ready to go then and the recruiters must have seen that because when I was
leaving, a Gunny in his dress blues stopped me in the hall and asked what I
was doing. I told him I was going into the Air Force but had to wait.
He motioned me into his office and before I knew it, I had taken a test,
selected my specialty, and was in the Marine Corps. I was on the
120-day delay program until after a couple of weeks I got a phone call
from a Woman Marine Corporal who called me Private Henry and said I had to
report to San Francisco for testing. I asked what happened to my delay
and she said a woman who was to go was pregnant and that spot needed to be
filled and I was it. Boy, when I think about how gullible I was.
Anyway, I went to Sears with my Mom, we bought my new underwear items on the
list sent by the Marines, got me a new outfit including a beautiful off
white Princess-cut wool coat and I went to the bus station to San Francisco.
What an adventure. Join the Marines and see the world! Haven't
stopped traveling since! Lots
of good memories, lessons learned. I am proud to be a Marine, former
wife of a Marine, Mother of a Marine - forever a Marine. Thankful for
the life-long association. Happy 225th USMC Birthday, Marines!!!!!
Bobbie Jo Henry, (bobbie_henry@hotmail.com) Platoon 13B PISC
Nov67-Nov70
Posted: 23 Oct 00:
Hello, I was in the WAC with basic training in Company C Ft McClellan, AL in
1958. I went to WAC Clerical School in 1959 also. I arrived at night in
basic training. After getting up the next a.m., showering, eating
breakfast, I got back in bed. Lo! and behold! the Sgt or whatever she was
snatched the cover off of me and asked why I was in bed. I told her there
was nothing else to do but just stand around. Needless to say
I was given a mop and a broom. I learned that once you're up, there's no
going back to bed until lights out. We had an outstanding marching company.
I remember Lt Janet Powers, Captain Hopfenspirger (ugh), and many more. I
had a lot of fun, and did a lot of KP. My name is Lillie DeLoatch-Jones. I
can be emailed at:
ldjones@grl10.med.navy.mil
What a wonderful site.
Posted: 20 OCT 00: 1966-1969, Radioman, WashDC
I joined the Navy just like my favorite Uncle. I
had been on my own since my mother died in '65. I finished High School
and enlisted in '66 during the airline strike. Had to take the train
from Nebraska to Chicago then on to Bainbridge, MD. I had never been
out of the state of Nebraska prior to that... "just a farm
girl"...
The next three years where the best and the worst of
times. I learned how to be strong, independent and self reliant.
Boot Camp was fun for me. Went on to the Great Lakes for electronics
school in the dead of winter no less... Chicago became my favorite
town for a long time. Spent every weekend there I could just seeing
the sites. Spent many hours in the museums drinking in the beauty and
knowledge. Went back to Bainbridge for Radioman School. Was one
other Wave and myself. Was stationed in WashDC in the comm ctr at the
Navy Yard. Was in DC when the aftermath of MLK's killing hit.
Was shot at - they missed... That time was the hardest for me to
understand. 19 yr. old in our nations capitol and people were killing
each other and destroying everything around them. I would never ever
trade those three years for "anything"... They made me the strong
woman I am today. With a high school education and three years in the
Navy I joined a firm in Dallas and worked my way up to the top. I
still don't believe in the term "glass ceiling" - if you work hard
and smart, you can have anything you want. The Navy taught me that.
I was never discriminated against because I was female. I was always
judged on my merits and my performance and it paid off. Back then they
didn't have "don't ask - don't tell" and I served my country with
pride and hard work and kept my sexuality to myself. I will retire
from my company in 2 years with the same level of pride and from the same
hard work ethic I learned in the Navy.
Posted: 15 Jun 00: "Yeoman Second Class,
U.S. Navy"
I was a Yeoman, but not by choice. In 1967, when opportunities for
women were much more limited, Yeoman was a common rating for us to be
ushered into. I wanted to be an air traffic controller. Things
went well though and I look back with fondest memories. I worked in an
aircraft hanger at NAS Quonset Point, RI. I was the only female
assigned during the early 70's to the Antisubmarine Warfare Force, Pacific
in Pearl Harbor, where I was sent to be the admiral's driver. Back then,
females were not allowed to drive boats, including the
admiral's. I could drive his vehicle, but not his boat. The
admiral's aide made much fuss over the situation and I was eventually
swapped for a male seaman. I then went to Family Services at Pearl
Harbor -- a much more appropriate place for a female back then. There
was Project Transition in the 70's; a program to ready us for a desired
occupation after discharge. I planned to attend art school, so spent
the last six months in graphics at the Supply Center at Pearl Harbor.
Loved every minute. But, I never made it to art school--I reenlisted
in 1972 and went to BUPERS and worked in the PEP/MAAGS/Missions/DC area
detailing office. I interviewed for the position of Yeoman to CNO (Zumwalt)
during that time. Was told privately by one of the Chiefs in the know
that my height was considered a problem; too many brass would be intimidated
by me towering over them. But, still, life was good and I really
enjoyed my job and my boss (whom I still interact with regularly through
email). I was then a member of the precommissioning crew for EPMAC,
New Orleans in 1975. Worked for the XO and supervised the temporary
typing pool while the command got underway. After that, I followed my
husband around for his Navy career until he retired in 1991. The life
was challenging, but worth every minute. It was a big influence on who
I am today. Things have improved dramatically for women -- my daughter
is now in the Air Force, and she got to be an air traffic controller!
Posted: 15 Jun 00: "Hispanic Women in the
Military During WWII"
It has been almost 55 years since I served In the Armed Forces and as yet
have not seen any documentary on the women that served during the war.
Many Puerto Rican women left home and country to serve America out of
patriotism and joined the ranks to do their best in this country behalf.
It was not an ordinary decision as Women in the military were not common at
this time specially in the Spanish culture. Many suffered
discrimination and a complete change of not only being transplanted to
foreign fields but to their own cultural backgrounds. If was done with love
and complete commitment to the War effort and I am sure there are no regrets
among those that still survive for we were completely dedicated . Is
there anyone that ever thought of writing about these women and their
contributions? I would love to see pictures and items written in their
behalf, but so far I haven't found anything that remotely addresses this
subject. Is there anyone there that
served during the years 1944 to 46, stationed at camp Kilmer or Camp
Shanks, Fort Dix NJ or in New York at the Collingwood Hotel I will
love to hear from you and exchange old memories of the war years. At that
time My name was Esther Mercado Delucca. You can reply to my E mail address,
PennyLarsen@webtv.net.
Hope to hear from my old comrades if there is still some of us around.
Thanks.
Posted: 7 Apr 00: Basic in WACS, 1959
followed my directions and was told we did very will. Before they left they
asked what I would have done if she hadn't stopped I said step out of the way
and trip them, they liked my answer. I had a good time while in the service
and learned a few things about the south and segregation. Remember to pack
light for Basic as there is no wearing of civilian clothes which I wasn't told
but it did come in handy when I was sent to Medical Corpsman school and was
able to wear civilian clothes.