Mrs. V. was part of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Services) in WWII.
The official name was the U.S. Naval Women's Reserve, but the nickname of the WAVES stuck.
She was 25 years old at the time and, due to her previous education and training as a school teacher, was put in charge of running the women's living quarters while stationed at the Naval Training School in Georgia.
She served for 2 and 1/2 years.
She's now 96 years old and crippled with arthritis but is still very quick witted.
Once she got rolling, it was one funny or sarcastic comment after another.
I was cracking up and she had a satisfied smirk on her face.
The presence of women in the military was very controversial in the 1940's and many, even though they were performing vital duties at home so as to free up men to fight overseas, were subjected to ridicule and crude remarks.
I suspect her wit and sarcasm served her well back then and that many men left an encounter with her with the short end of the stick.
I would love for my daughter to spend some time with her.
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