This very scared and naive girl arrived at Lackland AFB, San Antonion, Texas, on November 3, 1958 for basic training. After a few days it started to be fun...loved the whole atmosphere of it.....the classes, the exercises, being 'chow hound' and even going through the tear gas chamber. I stayed at Lackland for Pesonnel School the next six months and the rest of my tour was at McChord AFB in Tacoma, Washington with the 25th Air Division (ADC) maintaining the Officers Records.

I loved the Tacoma of  "then"...beautiful country and alot to do. Several of my barrack sisters and many of the men of the 25th AD hung out together and became "family." We went to movies, dancing, swimming and lots of 'impromtu' picnics taking whatever we had in our rooms. It was the time of the 'Cold War' and Sputnik and we had a lot of in the middle of the night surprise drills - not a pretty picture when the siren went off and you were in bed with wet hair in rollers and they had to be removed! I had my share of KP, Officers Duty for the Squadron, guard duty over female prisoners (shaking the whole time), lots of parades, inspections and charity work with the kids in the Childrens Home. I also babysat alot for the families of people I worked with.

I squeezed alot into those three years and there were lots of tears on that Greyhound Bus heading to little Washington, PA. I have no medals or ribbons to show just a few certificates for volunteer work & academics, and a zillion wonderful memories; 
I was very proud to wear the uniform of the United States Air Force and still get chills when I hear the Air Force "Off We Go......." Today I am a charter member of Women Who Served in the Military and I still hear from a few of the old Air Force family.

In 1964 I married a graduate of the University of Dayton (Ohio) and we had 35 years together, moving quite abit. We had two daughters who have grown into beautiful women and my best friends. There are two little grandchildren in Colorado that I adore and have lots of fun with. And today, I am back in Washington, PA; single, working for First Presbyterian Church, and getting to know my relatives and hometown again.....and of course, meeting the people who I have only known by name before. I've had a great life, and it isn't over yet!