Veterans History Project

The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war.

Soon after graduating high school, Paula Stevens (Paula) was interested in doing something different, something exciting, and something like being away. She was in Lawrence, MA. She had an aunt that she respected and looked up to. The aunt liked the Navy and Paula thought she would like it as well. She passed the physical examination and took the required written tests and was ready to go!

Right away, she was sent to the US Navy Training Center at Bainbridge, MD. The base is close to Port Deposit, MD on the bluffs of the Susquehanna River. This was the location of boot camp for her.

She didn’t care much for standing on the hot asphalt field for an hour at a time. There was the event of survival training. Her group was instructed to climb up an 18 ft ladder to a platform. The recruits carried an extra set of dungaree trousers with them. At the platform, they were to tie knots in the cuffs of the dungarees. Next, on the order to jump, they were to place the trousers over the back of their heads and whip them forward so the trousers could inflate with available air. The idea was to create life preservers so one could stay afloat in water. This piece of training was to replicate what a sailor should do when jumping from the side of a ship that was sinking. Well…women weren’t allowed on ships then so the training fell into the “huh?” category.

The clothing issued to Paula all fit. Normally, the standard uniforms and shoes do not fit and extra time is required to get things right. She was lucky. Boots were not part of the allotment, but “granny shoes” and running shoes were issued. Their leader/trainer was a Navy Chief.

Paula went on to advanced training where she became a relay communication specialist. She went to Norfolk Navy Base. Here she learned to work with “ticket-tape” as she would handle the incoming messages and transfer them to the proper recipient.

One matter arose from the housing (barracks) she was assigned to. The barracks were next to a jet engine shop. The workers in the shop would do the required mechanical tuning on the engines and rev them up to check performance levels. During the daylight hours, the engines roared. Paula worked the midnight shift. It took some time to get used to the noise…to say the least.

Paula admitted that she was not ready for active duty in the military. There were unresolved issues at home. In retrospect, she felt she should not have gone into the Navy when she did. A Navy Doctor evaluating her wrote that she was no longer of use to the US Navy and approved a medical discharge.

On being released from the US Navy, Paula moved around the country some and when she got into her mid-thirties, decided she wanted to go back to the military. Not exactly a whim? She went to the Army reserve and asked to join a medical clearing company. They accepted her as a new member. Her training took her to Ft Campbell, KY where she liked the service. The time line is about 1973. She continued to serve but had applied for a waiver from her medical discharge from the Navy. The waiver was returned in her favor and allowed her to go back on active duty. She was now getting close to 35 years of age. 35 years old is the cut-off date for going on active duty. The Army was the only branch that would take 35-year-old recruits. She checked with the recruiters who said the only job available was that of cook. Even though she had difficulty boiling an egg, she took the assignment.

Paula was sent to Fort McClellan, Alabama. She was in training with kids who were 18 and 19 years old. They called her “Granny” or “Aunt Polly”. Paula smoked cigarettes then, and was not in the peak of fitness. It was a challenge.

The most difficult piece was the physical fitness one. Paula could meet the requirements of all the events except the mile run. She talked to a Chaplain who was in the testing area. The Chaplain suggested that she work out a deal with the Lord…if the Lord would lift her feet, she would put them down. When it came time for the run event, she knew she was in trouble. She used the tip from the Chaplain and met the requirement!

Her next assignment was for Fort Lee, VA. This was where Cook School took place. She did learn how to boil an egg etc. During this training, she had time to purchase a smaller motorcycle that she used to get to nearby Fort Eustis, VA so she could see her basic training friends. After graduating from Cook School, she was sent to Fort Eustis, VA.

Paula got an opportunity to change her military occupation specialty (MOS) from food service to transportation. Fort Eustis houses the transportation school for the US Army. She studied most on ocean cargo documentation.

During the early years of her service, a personal entanglement occurred resulting in an unplanned pregnancy. By the time she finished transportation school, she was a single parent of a son. She was assigned to work at Burtonwood Army Depot (near Liverpool) in England and was able to bring along a live-in nanny to care for the youngster.

Burtonwood was probably the largest military base in Europe during WWII. It was responsible for supporting the 8th Air Force, then the 9th, 12th and 15th Air Forces.

Her work involved going to the docks to inspect cargo coming off the inbound ships; making sure the items listed at the destination were the same ones listed at embarkment. There was dunnage to take care of as well as privately owned vehicles that were shipped from the States for owners serving in England and Scotland. There were caskets containing those wishing to have their bodies interred there.

Paula took leave to return to the US for a vacation. The transportation was a C-130 cargo plane. She and her son got themselves quite an adventure over the Atlantic in such a plane!

Paula developed asthma problems after almost three years in England. The Army returned her to the United States and Fort Eustis, VA. At her new assignment she became an instructor in the school. The medical problems persisted and in time she was medically discharged.

Following the service, Paula went on to complete a college education and career. She is a very consistent volunteer at the VA Medical Center in Cheyenne, WY.

SP5 Paula Stevens, good job! Thank you for your service!