Colleen Hay-Forde:
CLASS OF 1966
W.T. Woodson High SchoolClass of 1966
Fairfax, VA
Colleen's Story
After graduating from ¿The W.T. Woodson High School¿ in 1966 I worked for 2 years at ¿Top Value Stamps¿ in Annandale, Alexandria, & Fairfax while going to school at night.
I had always dreamed of joining the Navy when I graduated from high school and made the commitment in February 1968.
Boot Camp at Bainbridge, Maryland was interesting and challenging. Wasn¿t used to sharing space with 80 other women, or standing Mid-Watches and going to classes all day after getting relieved from duty. I learned to sleep in class with my eyes open and following the instructor as she walked up and down the rows of desks.
After Recruit Training I spent another 8 weeks at Bainbridge, Maryland going to Personnelman Class ¿A¿ School. After graduating from ¿A¿ School I was transferred to NATTC Millington, Tennessee.
When I arrived I was assigned ¿Compartment Cleaning Duty¿ until my relief arrived. When I asked how long that would be ¿.. no one answered. After about 6 months another ¿WAVE¿ arrived and I got to work in the Personnel Office checking in students that were going to Aviation Schools.
I really loved Memphis because there were so many things to do. When I first arrived Martin Luther King had just been assassinated. The entire Base was on stand-by. If you went on Liberty into Memphis you had to be in Full Dress Uniform of the Day. You were restricted to small sections of the downtown area and had to return to base before sunset.
After Memphis...Expand for more
I was transferred back to Bainbridge, Maryland as a Naval History Instructor. I also taught Naval Jobs and Training, First Aid, Defensive Driving, and was a Life Guard.
When Bainbridge closed I was transferred to Orlando, Florida to help setup the new Women¿s Training Center ¿ Right in the heart of Male Recruit Training. What a kick that was.
I eventually changed my Rating from Personnelman to Draftsman and was transferred to the Naval Training Center where I could learn about printing, and rendering graphics. I really enjoyed that opportunity. I worked with some really great people.
I left Orlando for Naval Security Station, Washington, D.C. I worked in a vault on one of the under levels of a previously all girls school. Lots of tunnels that flooded whenever it rained. I worked putting together graphic presentations for the Security Station and the Pentagon.
I left the Security Station for Navy Recruiting in 1976. I wanted to go to Seattle, WA but was transferred to San Francisco instead. The Castro Valley was absolutely beautiful after a wind storm. You could actually only see the surrounding hills after a wind storm blew all of the pollution out of the valley. I stayed in a barracks at Moffet Field ¿ Home of the Dirigible¿s. The hangers were so high that clouds actually formed inside the hangers and it would rain.
After 6 months in San Francisco I was able to transfer to Seattle, Wa and was based in Tacoma where I currently live.
Register for Free to view all details!
Yearbooks
Register for Free to view all yearbooks!
Reunions
Register for Free to view all events!
Photos
