Censoring Mail in the WAVES
October 20, 2008 – 6:00 amA friend living in Fairfield, Iowa sent me the material for this entry. It is from the Fairfield Ledger.
“The Navy was a wonderful adventure,” said Mary Backstrom, a Navy WAVE (Women Accepted for Voluntary Service) yeoman during World War II “That war was different. We were attacked. There was so much patriotism then and I HAD to do something.”
Mary went to Hunter College in New York state for boot training, and then on to what is now University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls for yeoman’s training. Since she had had previous secretarial experience, she was there only two months. Mary reports that her first night in Cedar Falls, she had a top bunk right near a big bell. It rang right next to her at 5:45 a.m. and she fell right out of bed onto the floor.
Following her training, she was given the choice of assignments. Having come originally from Seattle and having a boyfriend there, she chose to return to Seattle. She married the boyfriend while stationed there.
She worked in censorship, reading both incoming and outgoing telegrams, and also listening to telephone calls. If she heard anything suspicious, she had to report it to her officer. She never knew what happened to the offender after that.
“One fellow used a code word to try to tell his wife where he would be stationed next. Well, his wife never got that telegram and I bet he got into trouble,” Mary commented. Eventually, the censorship station was closed down and Mary was sent to Oakland, California to serve as a secretary.
Mary became pregnant and was discharged after about two years of service.
“Being in the Navy was one of the best experiences of my life. Everyone was so nice. No one ever wanted to disgrace the uniform,” commented Mary.
For more World War II stories, go to www.peggeorge.com
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