Ages 20 to 30.
Dost thou love life? Then do not squander Time, for that’s the stuff life is made of..
Benjamin Franklin.
Senior year begins with a ceremony called striping. A black velvet stripe was put across the top of our nurse’s cap, which indicated we were seniors. We still had a great deal to learn and a few heartaches to deal with. At this point we had lost nearly half of the number of girls that started. They had either quit, or were bounced for one reason or another. The school was extremely hard on our class, as the class ahead of us had 5 students fail the State Board Examination. That was not about to happen again. Indeed one head nurse even commented in her years working there, she had never seen any class be so disciplined as our class. She said they are downright hard on this entire class.
My Pediatric affiliation was scheduled during my Sr. year. That just about did me in. We were sent to Children’s Hospital for that period of learning and it was during the time when polio swept the Middle West. (1952-1953) Many young children in Iron lungs, chest respirators or what ever else was needed to support respirations This was such a heartbreaking experience. I went home and informed my Mother and Father I wanted to quit.. I didn’t think I could bear watching another child die. Again, my father came to my rescue. He encouraged me to stick it out and said when finished he thinks it will have turned out to be my favorite part of training. Now it was my turn to think he had lost his brains somewhere along the line. Well, he convinced me and he was right. What a thrill to see these critically ill youngsters taken out of the iron lung or some other type breathing apparatus and progress to riding a tricycle. As it happened one of my little patients had the same last name. One day he asked a nurse for Miss Andersen. His mother was a volunteer and went to see what he needed. I informed her that it was Miss Andersen he was asking for. Mom found me and told me the story, that it seems my son has a crush on you. I think he was about 7 years old.
Moving right along I completed my training in early October 1953 followed by writing my state examination boards to qualify me for the title of RN.
I quickly visited a recruiting office to get started with the process of being accepted into the Navy Nurse Corps. Following a lengthy waiting period of nearly a year, I received orders for orientation and permanent duty station following orientation as a direct Presidential appointment to the rank of Ensign NC USNR. One of my classmates and I headed for New York in September of 1954 for 6 weeks of orientation and learning how to become a Naval Officer. One of our instructors was a Marine Corps drill instructor. I was glad I was already skilled at knowing how to march as well as being a fairly good swimmer. I do however occasionally ask dumb questions. I asked a Commander Nurse instructor if a war broke out, would I still be able to get out of the Navy at the end of 2 years. Hum-m-m. She looked at me and said “Miss Andersen, if there was a war, would you want to get out”.
Lesson learned. Think before you ask a stupid question.
Completing orientation I experienced my first flight from. NY to Norfolk, Va., my first duty station. I had been told it was a terrible place to be stationed, however as the men out numbered the women 35 to 1, I could find absolutely nothing wrong with that situation. While there, I was assigned to so much night duty one of the corpsmen asked me if I was on night duty again or still. The detail officer informed me they had to assign nurses to night duty that could be trusted. My answer to that was “So, you have to be a bad nurse to get good duty hours”. She said, Miss Andersen, you wouldn’t do something like that would you? I told her I might consider it, but she was right. You should take what is dealt out to you and recognize the reason. In this case the reason was I could be trusted to make good judgment calls in difficult situations. I loved the Navy and within a year was asking to be transferred to Regular Navy. That didn’t fly, as I was told when they looked at me, they heard wedding bells. Well said I, glad you can hear them as I certainly haven’t heard any wedding bells. Promoted to Ltjg. 19 November 1955.
In June of 1956 I received PCS orders to Sasebo, Japan. I eagerly looked forward to a new adventure. One year in Sasebo, followed by a year in Yokosuka, Japan. While at Yokosuka I managed to fracture my 5th metatarsal dancing stocking footed doing the Mexican Hat Dance in a Japanese nightclub. My Chief Nurse informed me I should get dressed in the uniform of the day and go to sick call. Sure thing Cdr. Lindner, as I hopped around on one leg.
As I was considering my situation Cdr. Gordon Brown MC came to my rescue. Apparently my date Lt. Bill Friel, had informed the ships doctor regarding my situation. I did manage to get in uniform (ward whites) and Gordon carried me to the Orthopedic Department. I was blessed with a walking cast. But of course, duty requirements must march on. Mostly I worked in the New Born nursery. I had fallen in love with one of the premature babies. Her name was Mary Frances Bussy. The pediatrician waited until I had the day off to discharge her to home. Sniff, sniff. Occasionally also in Labor and Delivery. Promoted to Lt. (03) on 1 March 1958.
In August of 1958 I headed for duty at Naval Hospital Oakland, CA but first went on leave to be the soloist for my brothers wedding.
While stationed at Naval Hospital Oakland, one task given to me was military escort duty back to Nebraska in the middle of January. On my return trip by rail, I met Rene Blum the Director of Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Certainly an exciting experience including free tickets (great seats) to Swan Lake and Gaite Parisienne. A very exciting experience.
Duties included Medical wards, Chest ward and a short period of time on the NP wards.
It didn’t take long for me to figure out working in psychiatry was not my choice of nursing, not to mention Med-Surg Supervisors were shaking their heads and making the remark to me “What a waste of talent”. Besides the NP supervisor thought my attitude was non-therapeutic. I displayed anger when an acutely psychotic patient grabbed me and tried to kiss me. I thought my attitude was totally appropriate. Oh well, I had previously asked to return to the Medical wards and was asked “Miss Andersen, can’t you adjust?”
Perhaps I wasn’t able to adjust, as I didn’t think being attacked by a patient on the locked ward was exactly an appropriate thing to have to contend with under any circumstances.
In July 1960 I was transferred to USMC Base, Camp Pendleton.
I loved my duties at Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton. Charge nurse on a busy General Medical Ward with a terrific Medical Officer Lt. Carl Leigh, who thought so much of my capabilities, he requested I assist him to establish a Medical Intensive Care Unit.. I had an outstanding Sr. Corpsmen, which made my task less hectic. The ward capacity was 16 and we were generally full.
While I was stationed at Camp Pendleton, I met a Marine that would later become my husband.
As this takes me up to age 30, time out until Chapter 1V.
“The bamboo for prosperity,” a Japanese friend explained to me, “the pine for long life, the plum for courage---"
“Why the plum for courage?” I asked, picturing courage as a great oak.
“Yes, yes,” answered my Japanese friend. “The plum for courage, because the plum puts forth blossoms while the snow is still on the ground.”
Anne Morrow Lindbergh
A welcoming home for our Troops.
