NAVY WIVES

[Music] this was our first reunion after Fred and I were married Fred ship had been transferred to San Diego I'm speaking of Fred young US Navy I'm an young Fred's wife our first reunion yes and our marriage was so new that the name yung was still awkward and strange to me this was during the Korean action the Navy had warned us that there was a housing shortage but rather than be separated from Fred I'd take the train to San Diego and arrived the same time he shipped in our first port of call was the Navy housing office a member of the housing staff told us of the various housing projects as we've been warned may be controlled housing was unavailable and would be for several months until a unit was available we'd have to stay in a private home my education as a Navy wife had begun if I was to learn the ability to adapt quickly to a sudden new situation was to be an important part of my life we settled on a rooming house close to the bay it was no palette but it looked clean and neat budget-conscious I wondered about the rental it was good to learn from Fred that his basic allowance for quarters would help pay the expense the landlady was sympathetic and pleasant it suddenly struck me that this was the real beginning of Navy life for me we were in a Navy town Fred and I were together and alone but it was alive I was looking forward to like most young wives I was interested in my husband's work that he was part of something as big and complex as the Navy only served to increase my interest so with Fred's help I learned a great deal about the Navy about the different types of ship [Music] and about the rank and insignia of Navy personnel [Music] while we walk Fred also told me something about the native history I've always taken a quiet patriotic pride in my country and it made me even prouder to learn something about Navy ships and personnel these ships and their crews are realized fail to all parts of the world our Navy as nothing else could told the nations of the world of the power and greatness of my country the USA a month or two later I was lucky enough to go on a day cruise arranged for the wives and older children of its personnel and we were also able to see our husbands at work giving us a clearer idea of the specialized duties and how they were an important part of the ships of our Navy the Navy that gives our country and sea power [Music] a couple of months later the housing office notified me there was an apartment available in a Navy housing project called public quarters number two [Music] this was another first for me my first contact with Navy sociability I already knew from Fred about Navy humor father manager was opening the door a Navy wife came up to him to register some minor complaint then she asked if I was moving in when I said probably she said I'd like it there welcome me aboard and offered to help me in any way she could this was my first meeting with Carol freed a chief petty officers wife Carol was to become my best friend a lifelong friendship somehow typical of the Navy I looked over the apartment and found in to track their than Pleasant and decided to take it I was happy with the new apartment the only trouble was that three days before we were to move in spread ship sailed his destination was secret but there was little doubt in my mind that fred was heading for korea like fred i didn't have the slightest doubt that aggression in that area had to be stopped this didn't keep me from worrying about Fred what was happening to him and his ship at this moment later I read how UN forces had completely blockaded the Korean coast denying the Communists use of the fiends coastal bombardment and air strikes from our carriers as well as helicopter rescues of downed pilots all help to stop the communist aggression my thoughts were interrupted by someone at the door at this lonely point Carol and two other Navy wives dropped in to welcome me to the quarters cheerful friendly people I quickly warmed up to them [Music] it was a relief to know that Carol and the others were just as worried as I about their husbands in combat but they had sensible and comforting reassurances [Music] they knew for instance that the US Navy has the utmost concern for the sailor as an individual this doesn't mean that Navy men are pampered but it does mean that they're given the best equipment and training which results in the safety and well-being of the individual sailor we discovered that our husbands were on board the same ship in fact that Carol's husband was Fred CP oh this got my friendship with Carol off to a good start during the weeks that followed I did many of the things Carol and the others had suggested writing cheerful letters to Fred was one of them they turned out to be morale boosters for me as well as Fred I began printing up the apartment figuring that the more I made it mine and Fred's the better Fred would like it worthwhile reading knitting and sewing took much of my time with growing interest I noticed the quiet sure away Carroll handled herself and those around her calm easygoing and good shirred Carroll also was energetic and sharp witted qualities that enable her to handle almost any problem her qualities reflected in her children who are bright friendly well-mannered and helpful in another way they were reflected in Carol's husband Paul by just knowing Carol was in command of any problems at home made his morale high and his tea going Judy's easier during this time I discovered with Carol's and the otherwise made various Navy fringe benefits the commissary for example the Navy Exchange and the station movie for my spiritual needs and guidance I regularly attended the station's interdenominational Chapel I was finding the pattern of Navy life through my friends I now knew of another important aspect of the knee that it was composed of warm friendly people always willing to give someone else a helping hand sooner than I dared hope Fred ship returned needless to say I was there to meet him and then fred was with me Korean Conflict over there was a good chance fred would be home for a while his air group had completed its carrier tour and was now based ashore at North Island with this good chance in mind we bought a car in it we took advantage of some of the de creational facilities swimming at the beach and tennis on a Saturday or Sunday we sometimes visited a navy Krum but much of our leisure time was devoted to Fred study which would set him in line for promotion to Petty Officer second class he'd begun to study on board his ship and was now boning hard for the soon-to-come examination I knew he wanted the promotion so I not only encouraged him to study but also helped him in whatever way I could [Music] Fred's got his promotion [Music] and I was very very proud of him one morning a couple of months later [Music] Thanks [Applause] [Music] hey what's the matter nothing [Music] laughter something wrong what is it don't feel well I guess can I get you an aspirin or something I don't think an Aston will help very much don't worry honey I'll be all right now look there's something wrong what is it I think I've got morning sickness I'm going to have a baby baby you gotta tell somebody Carol no it's too soon to tell anyone [Music] [Music] during the next few months my routine changed considerably there was a registering at the Navy hospital and frequent routine visits there I noticed that many people showed me extra courtesy and of course Carol and the other wise were cheerfully concerned about me Fred naturally was especially attentive and helpful fred also had rien listed we talked it over and he decided to sign up for another four years there was Fred's pride in the Navy and in his job there was the uncertainty of civilian life and there was the coming baby [Music] then suddenly the blow fell there was no secret this time as to where Fred was going to little America to help set up a base camp which would later be used by a group of scientists an expedition that was to be known as Operation deep freeze it was more than likely that Fred would be down there when our baby was born and that was a little frightening I thought it easier if I kept myself busy useful and cheerful but Fred was thousands of miles away was unfortunate but I was proud of the special work he was doing the least I could do to keep him from worrying was to show him I could take care of things at home just before the baby was born I received a late late telephone call a call that was unofficial Navy get very typical Navy [Applause] hello this is young mrs. Van Daan Jack Tupper here mrs. young I'm a ham radio operator and I have a message for you from operation deep freeze at the South Pole I am mrs. young go ahead okay here you take it look um well tell her Fred what's know if anything happened yet what kind of a question is that look a stir it it has to do with a baby a baby this is young Fred wants to know if anything has happened tell him not yet but any day now she said not yet but any day now look them you tell her I love her and I I wish I was with her he loves you and he wishes he were with you tell him I love him too she loves you too you know that she loves me too for a long time after tommy was born it seemed I did nothing but change wash and hang out to dry a never-ending stream of diapers actually a lot else happened a highlight was the baby's christening attended by Carol and her husband and several other friends Carol became godmother to Tommy and to our great pleasure and pride Fred's division officer became Godfather another wonderful thing that happened was it spread by hard study some a bit while he was at the South Pole it became a petty officer for his class one thing however hadn't changed the car but it was still running and it would have to serve us a little longer for with Fred's increased pay we decided to buy our own home there was a feeling of security in the idea of having our own house it was practical to first read were transferred to another station we could always rent it to another Navy family [Music] we looked at several places but we especially liked the house in a pleasant nearby suburb so we bought the house using Fred's re-enlistment bonus we had saved for the down payment and financing it through in-service FHA for a long time carol has been talking about the Navy rise Club to which she belongs and it urged me to attend a meeting one day I got curious and went along before the formal meeting I met and talked with many of the individual members I was greatly impressed by the backgrounds and interests of these women they were leaders not only in Navy life but in the community as well mrs. McCroskey was the president of the local PTA mrs. Maysville at a Girl Scout Troop mrs. Wright had organized and taught at the nursery school mrs. Benton worked with a group of emotionally disturbed children I joined the club and have never regretted it partly influenced by the wives club I broaden my horizons with Tomi I went on many of the club's organized outings to the local zoo for example to the beach and on excursions to nearby points of interest I also interested myself in club charity activities the wives prepared they ate for instance for distribution to new mothers at the hospital at the same time officers wives collected clothes for Navy relief shops and for orphanages in Korea and elsewhere and served it Navy Relief Society thrift shop needless to say the year that followed brought with them their problems and joys some of them peculiar to the Navy fred was transferred and first time we lived at Alameda renting our houses we planned Tara and her husband also moved that have returned recently to San Diego where they bought a house close by ours soon we returned in our friendship picked up just where it left off but somehow friendships never need renewing in the Navy they're always there worn undemanding of our problems there was a time for instance when Tommy was 5 years old maybe you better but try not to worry all right will you call the hospital at 5:00 Tommy like any normal boy of his age was either screaming with laughter or mortal pain never it seems anything in between the big Naval Hospital where Tommy was born gave me a feeling of confidence knowing that in a few minutes he'd be in the hands of competent doctors and nurses yes the knowing too that after Tommy was fixed up we wouldn't have a big medical bill to worry about [Music] a doctor his team taught me several times before and they got along well together he said Tommy would be alright he'd need a couple of stitches and a tetanus shot and they've taken an x-ray to be certain there was no fracture did I want to wait outside while all this was going on once perhaps I might have been squeamish about staying but not now it's not after years of being a Navy wife Tommy needed me needed my comfort I'd stay with Tommy well they got him ready I thought about those years Tommy stood up to the medical treatment like the good little sailor he was and by evening he was playing baseball in the backyard with his friends as though nothing had happened despite my outside activities the bulk of my time I devoted to my family and to my home for like most Navy rides I firmly believe that family is the cornerstone the foundation of the Navy way of life of the American Way of life if it is strong it reflects in the well-being and morale of Fred and the other men of the Navy in whatever corner of the world they are whether on exercise maneuvers or on policing action to stop communist aggression their job is made easier by the knowledge that back home is a strong self-reliant family unit