Boot Camp

            Boot Camp was at the Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls, Iowa for some of the ladies and Hunter College, Bronx, New York for others.

            Hunter College was commissioned a U. S. Navel Training Center on February 8, 1943.    Waves began to arrive nine days later.  Sue Unger Eskey was in the first class to go to Hunter College.

            "It started in November of '42.  When I went into Hunter, it was still in the guinea pig stage."

            Mildred Barry Studick agrees.  "My first thought in thinking back to my Navy days was that the Navy was never quite ready for us!  When we first arrived at Hunter, our first assignment was to get mattresses for our bunks."

            Dorothy Benton Braswell was from a small town in North Carolina.  When she got off the train at Grand Central Station she was told that she had to ride the subway to Hunter College.

            "I thought the subway would probably eat me up!  I was a nervous wreck."

            Frances Roberts Whitner recalls her trip to boot camp.  "I enlisted in November 1942, and was called to active duty in December.  From Rock Hill, South Carolina to Cedar Falls, Iowa, the train picked up carloads of girls along the way, singing:

            "Put on your new blue bonnet, with the U. S. Navy on it,

            And your brand new coat of Navy blue.

            You are starting on your route, to become a Navy boot.

            Cedar Falls, how do you do!"

            Frances arrived in Cedar Falls at three in the morning.  "We were put off in the dark in a very deep snow so far from the station that we couldn't even see a light until we walked for awhile.  We found it only to be told that no buses or taxis were running.  Someone called the Iowa State Teacher's College where we were to be billeted and station wagons were sent to transport us."

            Once they arrived at the school they were issued linens, towels, blankets, a pillow and a mattress.  They had to transport these items, as well as their luggage back and forth up three flights of stairs.

            "We unpacked, showered, made our bunks, fell into them and before we could fall asleep there was a terrible clanging bell, followed by footsteps running down the hall.  The door flew open and a voice yelled 'Hit the deck!'"

             It was the 'Maid of the Deck'.  This continued for the next six weeks.

            The Waves uniforms were designed by the famous Parisian couturier, Mainbocher, to correspond to the male officer's uniforms, but instead of black and gold stripes, the Waves were outfitted in navy-blue serge.  They were issued a raincoat, which belted like a trench coat; a dress coat, which was double-breasted with brass buttons; a white-topped hat with matching muffler and gloves; a dark blue shirt for winter work; another shirt of reserve-blue broadcloth, and a white shirt with a black satin neckerchief for dress.  A regulation Waves uniform had a trim, short service-dress-blue jacket and a gored skirt. 

            "We had designer clothes." says Evelyn Einfeldt.  "The Wacs had to wear green underwear!  We could wear the underclothing that we liked.  The Wacs, everything was regulation.  But we could go out and buy tailor made suits that were nice." 

            Fitters from local department stores measured the Waves for their new uniforms.  The women were given a clothes allowance of $200.

            "The only uniforms they gave us were blues." says Ruth Koch.  "Seersuckers and the whites came out later on.  They had seersucker dresses with a jacket.  Of course, you wanted to look your best, so where did your money go?  For your clothes.  We had to make a good impression."

            At boot camp marching platoons were formed. This was a problem for Elaine MacIntyre.

            "At Hunter College the training took place near a pond, or some source of water, and it was really cold with the wind blowing across the water and us in skirts.  I have a problem distinguishing between right and left, so I would find myself marching alone on an order of 'right flank' or 'left flank'.  If I have time to think it out, I'm O.K., but such is not the case in marching, so our platoon never did stand a chance to get a medal in this area."

            Ann Tisdale Bradbury never worked harder in her life.  "I was there six weeks and developed gangrene from neglected blisters with all the marching."

            "The thing I remember most," says Evelyn Einfeldt, "is when we did a parade, you paraded and if somebody fell overboard you left them laying in the road and walked on; just left them."

            Boot camp wasn't all work, though.  Sue Eskey remembers a time when they were entertained one night by a 'Big Band'.

            "It was Jimmy Dorsey, I believe, or whoever Frank Sinatra sang with at the time.  We were warned that 'Ladies in uniform are dignified and do not swoon'.  There wasn't a shriek in the hall that night.  We probably were the most unresponsive audience he had ever had."

            Elaine MacIntyre carries an especially sad memory of her time in boot camp.

            "I can't remember how long this training took place, but somewhere in the middle of it, I called home and my mother told me my Uncle was dying.  He had been quite sick when I joined up, and I was hoping to get through camp and be available when he died, but the Supreme Being didn't see it that way.  I decided during that phone call to go see him then and there.  My parents tried to dissuade me but I was adamant and plans were made.  Now, we are a small family and I adored my uncle (my only one).  I am a little hazy as to the details, but as I recall we had free time from noon Saturday through Sunday, but not to leave the base.  However, I hired a taxi, got to Penn station, took the train, my father met me, drove to my uncle's house and I said my personal good-bye to him - my Uncle Charlie.  I loved that man.  Returned to camp the same way and was never found out.  When formal notification of his death reached me through the Chaplain's office, I was told I couldn't go to his funeral, only immediate family were given leave to attend and an uncle was not included under the Navy statutes.  I argued, but to no avail.  I understand some families have many relatives, but we did not.  However, the navy can't take the time to look into family relations, so the rule was established and the Chaplain was powerless to help me.  That really hurt, but at least I had my chance to say 'farewell' and I've never regretted my disobedience."

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