Item Data
- Viewing Log: Opening slates: Women Were Everywhere.
Still shots of women on a tank.
Serving Their Country.
Still shots of women in various military uniforms.
With Pride and Distinction.
4-star General Colin Powell with woman receiving an award
.... They endured all odds for decades
Women served as Russian translators,
logistics coordinators,
chemical weapons specialists,
...women's voices heard.
Finally.
About time.
Scully Productions present
Shots of interview subjects in uniform interspersed with military posters (see list of participants).
1:43 Grace Field, US Navy, joined 1953. She was in the Navy 10 plus years "and afterwards I was sorry I didn't stay...." but I was just kind of a nervous wreck by then and the pressures of knowing that I was a lesbian were just too much, I was afraid to say good morning for fear I had broken national security somehow . . . ."
5:15 Barbara Rausch United States Navy "Oh what an adventure." She went in 1952 and was in for 9 years. "I got out mostly because of being a lesbian and I got caught in a witch hunt and I passed three lie detector tests."
7:17 Bobby Williamson Air Force 1950-1953 during the Korea War. 13:53 Mary Foley Army Nurse Corp 1960-1982 (22 1/2 years) community health nurse, trained nurses. Stationed in Italy, Livorno. "You certainly never mentioned anything about being a lesbian." "I could have been kicked out a couple times, get in trouble you know." As a nurse, wasn't so bad because that was accepted. Retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.
15:50 Lillian M. Jennings, US Navy 1951-1991
20:22 Norma Dando, US Air Force and Navy.
24:22 Nancy Olds, United States Marines, 1963-1966.
27:19 Patricia M. Nigelli, Women's Army Corps (WACS) Joined June 1955. Heidelberg, Germany 1956-1958, Patton Barracks. Cryptographer with the Signal Corp. Played softball and basketball for the Women's Army Corps.
32:12 Marie Maccarone US Army.
34:15 Teddy Hamlett US Army. US Army Corps Band Joined at 18. Served 1961-1981.
40:40 Connie Fried US Coast Guard Auxiliary. Also has US Coast Guard Captain's License.
43:12 Charlotte Barnes US Air Force, Army and Navy.
After 1 year of college, joined the Air Force. (1960) "to see the world." Only saw Texas. Worked for the Air Police. Married someone in the Army. "I had not come out, did not know I was gay." They divorced, 1970, and she joined the army as Platoon Sergeant 1978 WAC integrated into the army. Never involved in a witch hunt.
49:38 Florence Irene Hurlburt US Air Force 1970-1997. 23 active duty years + 4 1/2 years in reserve.
54:37 Ginny Fiero, United States Marine Corp. Joined in 1968 the day she turned 18 to get GI bill when she got out. "I was discreet, in the closet...." But two women gave her name...." Got honorable discharge under the grounds of unreasonable duress. Code 214 that says I cannot join any other service.
"So I was bitter about the service for a long time. I did use the GI bill....."
01:01:43 Terry Hayes US Army 1977-1979 She was sent to Presidio, San Francico. "I was thinking you're sending a lesbian to San Francisco. How good does this get. I was stoked over that. I was so happy.
"Although I was a lesbian in San Francisco, there was no way you could be out in the military at all. You really had to be careful. ...." "Kind of felt like 'new meat.'" Got a picture of a fake boyfriend at home.
01:07: 59 Freda Routt US Air Force, 1975-1979
Grew up in military family. Father career Navy. "It ended up being a good experience. I really learned how to stick with something."
01:10:42 Julia Sparks US Navy 1987-1991.
Joined a little older, thought if she didn't do it then, she'd never do it "and also it was an infatuation with John F. Kennedy." Hull technician. The younger men were used to women but the older ..." Thought the gay men had a harder time than the lesbians akthough witch hunts were still in progress.
01:16:08 Paula Byrnes Air Force, 1980-2000.
Trained new recruits. "You have some seriously damaged 18 year olds.... They come into the military to basically run away from home...You are truly changing the trajectory of that person's life because they're not going home to the abuser."
01:19:13 Cathy Carlton US Air Force.
01:22:38 Nora Bardi, US Army 1981-1989 Funded college by joining ROTC. Had a partner who was exited for being gay. "It's just wonderful that things are so much different now."