My father was a part of the greatest generation. He served in the United States Navy. His father also served in the Navy during both WW1 and WW2 and I am sure that was a great influence on my dad’s decision to enter the United States Naval Academy in June 1938. When my father entered at the age of 17 he already knew he was graduating in 3 ½ years. The training at the Naval Academy had been accelerated from the traditional 4-year timeline. The United States was looking at the realities of the European Theater with the advances of Hitler as well as the growing tensions in the Pacific Theater. They had stepped up the training of their naval officers to be ready – to be ready for the conflict that was coming. My dad served with valor and distinction, although for most of my life, I only could guess at that through the ribbons that took up the left side of his dress uniform stored in our basement closet.
I have so many memories of that closet. My siblings and I often went down there to slide open that door, unzip the opaque plastic wardrobe bag and look that at that uniform, which seemed like a costume from a different era, with its gold stripes and gold threaded stars. Gold buttons with eagles lined each side of his double-breasted jacket and the colors and patterns on each ribbon some with multiple metal stars added to tell of multiple awards.
So 40 years after my dad entered the Academy, I was going through the same process to apply and be nominated to attend the same place that prepared him to fight a war. The application process for women had only been opened the year before though an Act of Congress to change a 120+ year old, all male tradition. I don’t recall my dad saying anything about do or not do. He surely supported me in all the steps I had to take to enter, driving me to nomination interviews and all the appointments necessary to pursue attending the Naval Academy.
After receiving and accepting my appointment, however, I vividly recall my father saying, “Mary, when women got accepted to the Naval Academy I thought it was stupid. But when you got accepted I thought that was neat!”
It sounded simple enough.
“Mary, when women got accepted to the Naval Academy I thought it was stupid. But when you got accepted I thought that was neat!”
It is only in hindsight that I can really appreciate what it likely meant for my father to have changed his perception of women in the Navy. Most specifically women in the Navy receiving their officer’s commission from the United States Naval Academy. What does it take to change your perception? When the out there idea becomes your personal in here reality. His daughter was going to serve in the United States Navy.
When something or someone out there becomes connected to you in here our perceptions change.
My father’s story represents the emotional experience of joy and response of pride in his child that disrupted and overcame any possible resistance to a change in tradition, to changing gender roles, or really to be open that my experience in the Navy could be vastly different than his.
I will always be grateful for how my father supported me in all my endeavors starting first with my service in the Navy. His willingness to consider new perspectives and to be open to growing as a result of loving God and loving others makes him to me the greatest example of the greatest generation.