I’ve been thinking about Mom quite a bit this week, as Saturday would have been her 82nd birthday. Since her birthday falls so shortly after the Fourth of July, I always think about her brief, but beloved Navy career during this time of year.
Mom was raised on a farm, and knew the hard work and dedication it took to not only feed a family, but raise livestock and crops to help feed a community. Upon finishing high school, she declined to go to college and instead entered the workforce, working jobs that were typical for women in the day, such as nursing aide and receptionist.
In her late twenties, she decided she wanted something more, so she joined the Navy. Her service was during a brief period of relative peace in the world, and she was assigned to naval stations in the U.S. versus being sent abroad. She always spoke fondly of her time in the Navy, even with its challenges.
She could’ve had made a career out of military service, but opted out after honorably serving for three years. She returned to civilian life, working office jobs and eventually settled in as a proofreader, her excellent attention to detail no doubt enforced by her military service.
A few years later, she met my dad, got married, gave birth to me and the rest is history.
![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00069]](https://memoriesproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/reluctant-caregiver-cover.jpg)
The Memories Project 
That’s interesting that your mom went into the navy a little later. She sounds rare for a woman of her time, not relying on marriage or anyone but herself. Even though the world was relatively at peace at the time, do you think women would’ve seen combat in the navy in your mom’s time?
Hope you had a nice 4th, and have a good weekend.
Yes, joining at that age was definitely not the norm then. I do believe the rising tensions in Vietnam influenced her decision to leave. Hope you are having a good holiday weekend!