One might think that this is a book review, but it’s not! My son was born in 1988 and I happened to come across this book in some store and bought it.

However, I didn’t give this to my mother – my son’s grandmother – I actually asked my own grandmother if she would answer some of the questions in it.

In spite of the fact that my grandmother lived for 7 more years, she sadly never filled in a single page. After she passed away in 1995, my mom and aunts were sorting through her belongings and, unbeknownst to me, Mom found the book and took it home.

Then, from 6-8 January 1996, along came the North American Blizzard of 1996. Mom was housebound so she took out this book and completed about 90% of the questions.

Although I was sorry that Grandmother hadn’t answered them, I learned new things about my mom and my son has a great book of Grandma’s memories.

Doris Adams proudly served in the WAVES during World War II. Aunt Barbara said it was the best decision she ever made as she not only contributed to the war effort, but she gained business skills that took her forward when the war ended.

My mom was very proud of her war service, so these are the first two pages I’m sharing from A Grandparents Book.

Were you a member of any clubs?

World War II was declared on Dec. 7, 1941.

What were your most important learning experiences?

As soon as I was old enough in Nov. 1943 I joined the Navy (WAVES). I was sent to Hunter College in the Bronx for basic training and I recall it being very cold when we had to get up at 6 AM and run around the reservoir.

What kind of student were you?

I was the best student in my class and was put in charge of the WAVE contingent when we were sent to OK for yeoman (secretarial) training. I have a very high score for mechanical aptitude and they wanted to send me to link trainer school (flight instruction) but when I told then I couldn’t drive and had difficulty putting a screw in a hole they decided maybe not!

Okla. was even colder than MY so I was very happy in Feb 1944 to be assigned to North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego. Despite the fact that there was a war going on I had a wonderful time in San Diego. I worked first as secretary to the Liaison Officer and later for the Chief Engineer of the Assembly and Repair Div. At first we lived in the Bachelor Officers Qtrs; then were moved into barracks. The last year I was the I lived in a house at 914 Adella St. [sic – Adella Avenue] in Coronado which I rented with several friends. I was discharged as a Y2C in March 1946.

Page 37:

Who were your closest friends and roommates?

In the Navy: Marge Kroll Sigurd Dorothy “Joni” Johnson, Doris Baxter, Dorothy DeFers, Milly Ward, Jean Emrich

What do you remember best:

My trip east after discharge. We were given a travel voucher and my parents were at the lake in Maine so I took the train from San diego to Portland Me. A total of 5 days and 5 nights most of which I spent playing poker with a group of Marines. I also met and became engaged to a sailor during this period. His name was Bob Blackwood and he was from Rodeo, Cal. However, after he was discharge he decided he wanted to manage a bowling alley and I didn’t think that was the life for me so I returned home.

I knew a little bit about Mom’s Navy life. When she came out at Christmas one year, we drove to San Diego to see the “Del” (Hotel del Coronado) and drove over to Adella Avenue. Back then, the house looked as it did when Mom lived there. Today, either the house has been demolished and rebuilt or it has had a major do-over.

I looked up Robert Goldman Blackwood. He was born on 13 July 1923 in Oklahoma and was living in Rodeo, Contra Costa, California. He went on to marry someone else in 1946 and had children. Bob died on 5 January 1992 at the young age of 68 years.

I found a photo of him likely taken in the 1940s:

Mom kept in touch with some of her Navy friends for years, but then lost touch. She said she always regretted that.

Here’s a photo of the WAVES in a fake Tijuana jail – (l to r) Millie Ward, Mom, Jean Emrich, Dorothy “Joni” Johnson and Marge Kroll.

Unfortunately, I’ve had no luck tracing Mom’s friends. Their names are too common – even Marge Kroll.

Here’s a nice photo of them at dinner somewhere in San Diego – maybe the Del!

Based on Mom’s IDs in the upper photo, we have (l to r) Joni Johnson, Marge Kroll, Millie Ward, Mom and Jean Emrich.

It’s possible that both photos were taken on the same outing and this was dinner in Tijuana.

Mom loved her time serving in the United States Navy WAVES during World War II.