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United States Navy
I wrote during my nursing school days my experience, or lack of it with the US Army. As I look back on my life, when one door is closed another opens. That is so true and how lucky I feel now about it. As I wrote about my nursing student days I had hoped to have joined the US Army. Only because they had a program that would pay for my schooling and give me E5 pay as I recall. But, alas I was quoted out and felt so bad about that. The Army did send me a letter telling me that it had nothing to do with my qualifications; it was that they had gotten their numbers. I felt better but disappointed on losing the financial support.
This is a photo of my father on the left, half cut off, my mother, Mary, Uncle Delmar who was married to my father’s sister, Evelyn……then someone who may have been on the hospital board and then my grandmother, Ida.
So, it was 1968 and the Viet Nam war was in the news. Also there was the draft. I had signed up for the draft as all 18 year old males had to do. Since I was in school I wasn’t called. In fact I really never heard anything about my number, called or not. I assume that I had been automatically deferred as my selection board knew I was in nursing school. I was coming close to graduation and figured I would be called sooner or later. I felt if the Army was not going to take me, I would be damn to let them take me once I was out of school. So, I went to the US Navy.
The military branches came to the school as I recall enlisting any of us to join. I went with the Navy and started speaking with the recruiter, LCDR Catherine Wilhelmey. She was and is a very energetic, open and enticing young woman in her 30’s. I knew I had to go into one of the services and really did not know much about any of them. Of course I knew the differences of land, sea and air but that was about it.
I agreed to join but had to jump the hoops of getting a physical.
My years of being a member of the Navy family is something I continue to remember in thanks. One has to have been through it to know.
I was told that the Navy would pay my way and house me to come to Minneapolis for a physical at the Federal Building in Minneapolis. I went sometime shortly after graduation in June I think. I really have no memory of the exact date. Guess I would have to look at the record. I went by bus and stayed at a large old hotel on Hennepin Ave. in Minneapolis called the Andrews. The rooms were large, high ceilings and I learned later was on its way out. It was taking those on welfare by the county that had no place to live. But, it really wasn’t something I noticed at the time.
Andrews Hotel, Minneapolis.
Federal Building in Minneapolis.
I went to the Old Federal Building which is on 212 3rd Ave. So., on the corner across the street from the Old Milwaukee RR Station. I went to the Navy Recruiter’s office and ‘Kay’ was there. I had to fill out some papers and she escorted me up to the next floor and handed me off to the medical team. So, there I was going through what each and every recruit does. Walk here, go there, stand in line, bend over, cough etc etc. I even had a psychiatrist do the usual general psyche exam. I got the full tamale. I was up there like hours. I forget the exact amount, whether it was close to noon or afterwards.
Anyway when done I returned to Kay’s office and she was surprised it took so long. I did not know different and told her what I went through. She started smiling and said…….oh no. Something to the effect that it was her mistake in not making it explicit that I was an officer. Here, I had gone through the enlisted procedure for bringing folks into the Navy. I really did not know what the difference would be or why. But, whatever, that was my first experience of the military.
She told me upfront what to expect, how I would be treated, the hoops to jump, what not to do...
Kay and I have been friends throughout the years. She told me upfront what to expect, how I would be treated, the hoops to jump, what not to do and that I would meet others that would be ‘dicks.’ I listened and not really knowing what I would expect. I went back to Faulkton to work at the Faulkton Memorial Hospital as a ‘graduate nurse.’ I had taken the nursing exam but had to wait for the results. State law allowed us to work until results were back as graduate nurses. Building now razed in late 1990’s So, I lived at my parent’s home going to work every day like everyone else.
I had no car thanks to my little escapade wrecking Dad’s. I would ride to work with Dad or walk from the house. To think now at my age I would complain, but in reality it was only like 8 blocks from the house. Absolutely no big deal. Oh those days.
I had to wait on being accepted physically and then have the swearing in ceremony. So, I worked and gave my money to my father to pay for the car repair. That summer my whole salary went to pay for the car repair. Both my parents said to me that they felt bad that I had to pay but they just could not do it. i fully understood and really did not expect them to. I told them that it was my fault, I was driving, I had been drinking and it was my obligation to pay. I was just happy they let me stay at the house without having to pay rent and food. It really was not all that long of a time in that it was from the middle of June to the end of July.
Kay called me and wanted to do my swearing in at the hospital. She would come to Faulkton and we would make it an event. The Navy likes doing such things to advertise their existence, as if we didn’t know. But it was a publicity event. So, the day of it they had the mayor of Faulkton, Walt Thares, photographer, the administration folks of the hospital and the staff in the lobby where I gave my oath to Kay, all dressed up in her Service Dress Whites. One of my family members took my Super 8 movie camera and filmed it all. The Faulkton Record, the local paper was there writing the story. I actually made it to the front page. LOL, Not much going on in a small town. My grandmother was there and on the front page was a photo of her and me kissing in congratulations.
I remember that I was wearing my nursing school clothes. Those rags were as thin as Kleenex. But, I wasn’t going to buy new since I was soon going into the Navy and didn’t want to waste money. Wouldn’t you know, only about an hour or so before the ceremony I ripped the back of my trousers. Dang!! Luckily my top jacket hung low enough to cover it, but I was very self-conscious of it and just knew everyone would see. But, no one said a word. I had photos taken with the mayor, my grandmother, the administrator and the head nurses. Then we went to the hospital cafeteria to sign my papers.
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What was funny was that I really had no idea still what my position in the Navy was. I did not know the difference between officers and enlisted. Sometime on signing papers I saw that I was an Ensign which I didn’t know what it was. I was told and I remember thinking ‘oh, I thought I would be enlisted.’ That is how naive I was. Even then I did not realize the status that I had joined. Ah, the naivety of youth.
As it turned out, I was a ‘direct commission officer.’ Civilians who have special skills that are critical to sustaining military operations, supporting troops, health and scientific study may receive what are called "direct commissions." These officers usually occupy leadership positions in the following areas: law, science, medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, nurse corps, intelligence, supply-logistics-transportation, engineering, public affairs, chaplain corps, oceanography, merchant marine affairs, and others. So, I came into the US Navy privileged to be like a junior member of the ‘royal family,’ so to speak. I really didn’t know what that all meant.
I was to report to Newport, Rhode Island in late July for Officer’s Indoctrination. It would be a one month course of being in the Navy. I was flown from Aberdeen, SD by way of Mpls., New York City and from there to Providence. The short flight to Providence was during the late afternoon and it was the first time I saw so many trees. I couldn’t believe it. It felt as if I was flying over the Amazon compared to the plains of South Dakota. We flew low and I could see homes peeking through the trees or cars along a road. From Providence I had to take a bus to the Newport Navy Base. Then I got a taxi who once on the base did not know where to go. It was dark and directions were shallow, but I finally made it to the main building of the school. I was in! Dorothy, you are not in Kansas anymore.
As I write this it has been 47 years! I remember being there, and I remember the comraderies’, the friends made, the classes and the military craziness of getting us in an officer’s mode. We had classes’ everyday on protocol, officer behavior, uniforms, responsibilities, ranks, and being in formation. For me formation was a breeze having been in the high school marching band. I could keep in line, keep time, stay straight in a line etc. The others, well, there were some strange folks.
I was lucky in one respect. I did not have to stand all night fire watch. What a silly deal that was. There were a selected few chosen to stay up all night to make sure the dormitory building did not catch fire. Never mind the regular guards, the fire & smoke detectors etc. Then there was the room and uniform inspection. Some of the folks actually slept on the floor as not to wrinkle their sheets for morning inspections. Bounce a quarter off the sheets was no joke.
I had three roommates. One was a pharmacists and I forget what the other guy was. No doubt he also was an MSC officer. I was nurse corps and they were medical service corps officers. My designator number was 2905 which is nurse corps reserves. A regular navy nurse corps would have been 2900. How I was brought in as a reserve rather than regular had more to do with quotas I guess. It became an administrative thing that I later learned meant retirement issues and getting into Navy schools. I think most enlisted went in as regular and many officers were reserve. Probably also had to do with monies, wouldn’t you know.
I remember the pharmacist was big into pornography. He actually brought a box of his collections into our room. I couldn’t believe it. What an addiction. He brought them out and showed us guys so proud of it also. Here I was, just turned 21 and being exposed to pornography like that.
I was underage in nursing school if you remember. We all went to the uniform shop and got our ‘sea bag’ of uniforms. We needed Service dress blues, Kakai’s, and Service dress whites, shoes, hats and our Navy sword. The tailors were there to make them fit correctly. Then we had our photograph taken for our service record. I was told if I did not pass my nursing boards I would be busted to an enlisted guy and boy that would be a drop from an officer. I really did not know what it all meant, but knew it wouldn’t be good compared to what I had.
Luckily I found out I had passed my boards and I was in….. as a Navy Ensign. I would have to see my school photograph taken of us because I don’t remember exact numbers. But most of us were nurses, thus they were women. As I recall there were only like 6 or 9 males in my class. All nurses, pharmacists, or physical therapists. We had our inspections of uniforms, rooms and formations.
Biographical Details
Submitted From: Mitchell, SD
Primary Location During Vietnam: NH Pensacola, Florida, United States 
Story Subject: Military Service
Veteran Organization: American Legion, Navy Nurse Corp Assoc.
Unit: Navy Nurse Corps
Specialty: 2905-0942
Navy Corpsman’s insignia.
Navy shoulder boards.
Navy Nurse Corps insignia oak leaf.
Story Themes: 1970, Basic Training, Blue Angels, Car, Direct Commission Officer, Ensign, Florida, John Eschenbaum, Medical Personnel, Mitchell, Naval Hospital Pensacola, Navy, Navy Nurse Corps, New Orleans, NH Pensacola, Pensacola, Read, South Dakota
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