Newport Navalog

A four-platoon pass-in-review, a cake-cutting ceremony, and a reception will highlight the Naval Base WAVES' 20th anniversary celebration here Monday.

The ceremony, sparked by MAJ Harry D. French, Marine Barracks Commanding Officer, will be staged on the Marine Field beginning at 1600 Monday.

It will include a welcoming address by LCDR Margaret Strong, a narrative history of the WAVES by LT Irma Brooks, 10 WAVES modeling various modifications of the uniform; a cake-cutting ceremony by RADM J. S. Dorsey, Naval Base Commander; a pass-in-review with CDR Elizabeth Harrison taking the review; and a reception in the Marine Gym.

In addition to NavBase naval dignitaries, special guests slated to be present at the ceremony include CAPT W. E. Amsden (ret.), former WWII Commanding Officer of Recruit Training School, Hunter College, New York.

(See WAVES 20th Anniversary Page 6)
Base WAVES To Mark Their 20th Birthday

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Two platoons of Marines, one led by SSGT James Gagne, the other by GYSGT Carl Stancil, and two platoons of WAVES will pass in review before CDR Harrison.

The first platoon of WAVES, led by YNC Edith Schjeldahl, will be made up of NavSta personnel.

The second WAVE platoon, formed by WAVES from various NavBase commands, will be led by SKC Bernice Goodrich.

Guidon bearers for the WAVE platoons will be DN Karen Marlow and SN Susan Whitney.

Marine CAPT Joseph Gemske will be in command of all troops.

On CAPT Gemske's staff will be LT Marjorie Mogge and LT Sue Young, and Marine 1st LTS Richard Johnson and Michael Hudack.

One WAVE, PN3 Linda Haley, will serve as a member of the Marine Color Guard.

Models Named to model the various WAVE uniforms are: ENS Betsy Wylie, PN3 Jeanne Ceurvorst, SN Carole Arnold, SN Dianne Crozier, PN3 Jackie Galloway, YN3 Peggy Vinson, SK3 June Johnson, DN Helen Hood, and OCSAs Janice Crawford and Carole Koenigsberg.

Tradition has dictated the selection of the birthday cake escorts.

YN1 Helen Harney, the eldest WAVE on active duty; SA Janice Carr, the youngest WAVE on active duty; YN1 Alice Hayes, the WAVE with the greatest number of years of active duty; and OCSA Marsha Rogers, the youngest in length of active service, will do the escort honors.

Milestone

Two decades ago women were first accepted in the Navy for voluntary emergency service.

This year, the first woman to become eligible for transfer to the Fleet Reserve has marked another milestone in the history of the WAVES.

Although the first major step, integrating women into the Navy, was not taken until July 1942, military life was not entirely strange to women.

Women had served in the Navy as members of the Navy Nurse Corps since 1908, and as Yeomanettes during WWI.

Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels inaugurated the Naval Research program for Yeoman F (Yeomanette) in March 1917, and 11,000 women answered the call.

Yeomanettes served in the Navy as clerks, translators, draftsmen, fingerprinters, camouflage designers and recruiting agents.

By July 1919 all Yeomanettes were released from active duty.

WWII Service

However, that was not the end of the WAVES.

During WWII, the shortage of officers and men to man the fleets of warships again made it necessary to call upon women to fill the shore billets.

On 30 July a bill establishing the Women's Reserve was signed by President Roosevelt.

The first year of training women in the Navy saw an enrollment of more than three times the size expected when the WAVES were authorized.

Regular Navy

On 12 June 1948, Public Law 625, making women a permanent part of the Regular Navy, was signed by the President and became a law.

At the same time the Regular Navy opened to women, the Reserves established a program for WAVES.

At the outbreak of the Korean conflict, the Navy recalled many WAVE Reservists to active duty.

In July 1950, there were 3,239 WAVES on active duty; a year later the number had nearly doubled.

In 1951, the WAVE Recruit Training Center was transferred from Great Lakes to Bainbridge, Md.

During the 11th year of the WAVES, a program was established to give outstanding enlisted women the opportunity to receive commissions in the Regular Navy.

In 1954 the first class, under the new officer candidate training program for women, reported to WOS here.

On Monday the 133 enlisted and 25 women officers attached to the Naval Base and component commands will be celebrating their 20th anniversary.