A New Storytelling Series

She Wore the Navy Blue

Tracing the legacy of my grandmother, who served in the United States Navy during WWII. This series is an oral history where I read directly from her memoirs.

Series Overview

The Legacy of the WAVES

She Wore the Navy Blue is dedicated to the women who served in the U.S. Navy during the 1940s. The Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) were established in 1942 as the women’s branch of the U.S. Naval Reserve during World War II. Created to free men for sea duty, more than 100,000 women served in roles ranging from intelligence and communications to mechanics and administration. Though barred from combat, their work was essential to naval operations and helped pave the way for the permanent integration of women into the U.S. Navy.

The Oral History: She Wore the Navy Blue

Each segment is a different part of my grandmother's memoirs, narrated by me.

Part 1

Answering the call and enlisting in the WAVES

Part 2

Boot camp drills

Part 3

Specialty Training

Part 4

First sights of the Pacific Ocean

Part 5

Reality Check

Part 6

On the Job

Part 7

Life in California

Part 8

Going home

Part 9

Lessons for history nerds

The Journey Continues

The American story is vast and ever-unfolding. We invite you to explore more collections.

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