Hi Melinda. I too, joined the Navy (age 18) the day after the Pearl Harbor attack along with 5 of my friends who worked at Sears at the time. I wanted to be a Navy Pilot but didn't have the required 2 yrs of college. I was told that if I joined the Regular Navy (USN 6 yrs) I might have a chance to be an enlisted pilot. I joined USN. We were sworn in in Macon GA on Dec 15 and then off to Boot Camp at NOB Norfolk. During the 3 1/2 weeks of Boot Camp I applied for all the aviation trade schools, but at the end I was assigned to the Naval Armed Guard. Three days aboard the USS Paducah and 10 days at Little Creek, VA for gunnery training and then to the Brooklyn Armed Guard Center for assignment.

Just 6 weeks (Jan 26) after taking the oath I found myself boarding the SS Eldena loading war material for Murmansk. We were part of Convoy PQ13 and our ship was position #13 in the convoy. I wont go into all the hardships, attacks and losses on that voyage, which were many. That is another story.

When we returned to the US May 30th and assigned back at the Armed Guard Center, I tried again for Aviation trade school and was successful in becomming an aircraft mechanic and later as a turret gunner in a TBF Torpedo Bomber. In July 1943 I was accepted into flight training where I earned my wings and commission as a Naval Aviator . After release from active duty I stayed active in the Naval Reserve and attained the rank of LCDR. Aviation has been my lifes career and age 86 I still fly power planes and gliders. The Navy was very good to me and I am thankful for all the experiances I had.