CTO SeaDogs
CTO2 Yuvonne C. "Wolfie" Wolfe, USN (circa 1958)
CTO2/CTA1 Yuvonne C. Wolfe joined the U.S. Navy on 03 May 1954. She was advanced from CTSN (striker) to CTO3 in June, 1955. She was later advanced to CTO2, converted to CTA2, and was advanced to CTA1 prior to March, 1960. She served on active duty for nearly 10 years and was discharged in March, 1964 at COMNAVSECGRU, NAVSECSTA, Washington DC. Yuvonne then entered government service as a GS-7 in April, 1964. She retired from government service on 03 June, 1988 as a GS-12. At her retirement, she was the Head of the Plans, Policy and Procedures Department, at DCMS (Director, Communications Security Material System), Washington DC. Her total Federal service was 32 years and 4 months. She currently resides in Meriden, Kansas. Her E-Mail address is ycw@umacs.net. If you E-Mail her, don't expect a quick response ........ she travels a lot. (Article Posted: 25 Dec 03.)
Her Story ..........
Yuvonne Corinne Wolfe
Communications Technician First Class, United States Navy
I was born in Callender, Iowa on 20 May 1933, But my life really began on a fateful day in late April, 1954. I had been working in the credit department of a large Topeka, KS furniture and appliance store since shortly after I graduated from Hiawatha (KS) High School in May, 1951. This particular day, my supervisor and I had a disagreement about how to deal with shortages in a cash drawer, mine in particular, to which anyone and everyone in the office had access. He angrily told me I was fired. Equally angry, I told him he couldn't fire me, that I had just quit! I stormed out of the office and left the store. I had made a life-altering decision that was going to launch me into a new and exciting life and career. Of course, I didn't know it then.
I walked about two blocks down the street and into the United States Post Office. Unhesitatingly, I went straight to the United States Navy Recruiting Office. "Sign me up!" I demanded. The recruiter was happy enough to do so, but informed me I would need the written permission of at least one parent since I wasn't 21. On the way home that evening, I told Dad about my sudden unemployment and of my decision to join the Navy. I told him that either he or Mom would have to sign for me. After discussing it with Mom, he reluctantly agreed to sign. A day or two later Dad signed, I signed, and I was on my way. There was no looking back now.
My next stop was Kansas City, MO. The Topeka recruiter put me on a Greyhound bus for the trip to Kansas City. Someone from the Kansas City recruiting office met me at the bus terminal and checked me into a room in a downtown hotel. I hardly slept a wink that night. I was both scared and excited. The next morning, the recruiting office sent someone to escort me to their offices where I was interviewed to be sure I was in my right mind. I signed more papers, was given a physical and pronounced fit for duty, was given my Navy serial number and then sworn in by a woman naval officer. It was 3 May 1954.
After my swearing in, I was given a sealed envelope containing my orders, a train ticket, and then taken to Union Station and put on a train bound for the U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command, Bainbridge, Maryland. I soon found a comrade. I recognized a young man who had just re-enlisted at Kansas City and who was on that train and also bound for Bainbridge. I quickly made friends with him and we "hung out" during our trip.
Arriving in Bainbridge, I was met by someone from the Recruit Training Command. I was soon at the training command and was stripped of my civilian clothing, fitted for "granny" shoes, given several pair of long, cotton hose, supplied with a variety of uniforms and given a bad haircut. Suddenly, there I was, transformed, standing tall and proud in a brand new, navy blue uniform with shiny gold-colored buttons, and wearing cotton stockings and granny shoes! I was in the Navy and never felt prouder of myself than I did at that moment!
I graduated from boot camp in July and was assigned to another training command. My orders read "For duty under instruction," at the Communications Technican School, Naval Security Group Activity, Imperial Beach, CA. I was destined to become a CTO (Operations Branch). The Operations Branch involved work in cryptography, communications security, teletype operation, and use of the International Morse Code. I would be working with highly classified information and required an equally high security clearance. To qualify for the security clearance, my background was thoroughly checked by the FBI to ensure I would be worthy of being given access to this sensitive information. Nothing derogatory turned up in the investigation (I knew it wouldn't...I didn't know how to get into trouble then) and I was granted a Top Secret security clearance.
I arrived at the Imperial Beach CT school in August 1954 and completed my training in March 1955. I was transferred to my first duty station. My orders read: Transfer to Naval Security Group Command, Washington, D.C. for duty with National Security Agency, Arlington Hall Station, Arlington, VA. When I arrived in Washington, I was in awe of my surroundings! Arlington, VA is directly across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. My barracks sat on a big hill looking down on the Pentagon! Every time we rode a city bus to D.C. we passed through the Pentagon! Arlington National Cemetery was next door to the barracks! I could see many of the federal buildings and the dome of the capital building in D.C.! I admit I was awed and impressed when I saw the Pacific Ocean for the first time, but the sight of these buildings took the cake. I had seen pictures of them in my history books, but suddenly, here I was, gazing on them in person! I can still see the views in my mind's eye.
When I reported for duty at Arlington Hall Station I was a seaman striker, meaning I was to continue my training on-the-job, then I would be tested and, if I had learned well, I would become a Communications Technician 3rd class, Operations Branch. I passed this test with flying colors. I sewed on my CTO3 "crow" with great enthusiasm! I was looking forward to the increase in pay!
Arlington Hall Station was an Army post. I was assigned to work in the National Security Agency's Telecommunications Department (T/COMM). T/COMM was a huge place, encompassing one entire wing of a temporary wooden building built as an Army barracks during WWII. All of its many windows had been nailed shut and all the glass in them had been painted over. Security was obviously paramount. The floors were bare wood with dust so deeply engrained that one could never entirely sweep them clean. Believe me, many had tried! The place was wall-to-wall, noisy cryptographic equipment and chattering teletypes, tape reperforators and other communications equipment, much of which I had never seen. I was soon to be on very intimate terms with all of it. One had to shout to be heard over the roar of the equipment. To this day, I am unable to hear certain pitches of sound due to the abuse my hearing suffered from nearly three years of working with all that equipment.
In the fall of 1957, The National Security Agency moved its operations from Arlington Hall Station to a new building at Ft. Meade, Maryland. All female U.S. Navy personnel were transferred to the Naval Security Station, Washington, D.C. I was assigned to the Communications Department for the few months remaining on my enlistment, which was up in May 1958. The economy in 1958 was poor and jobs were scarce, so I decided to reenlist early and for six years in March 1958. I was immediately transferred to the Naval Security Group Activity, Wahiawa, HI, for a two-year tour. I was among the privileged few to participate in Hawaii's glorious statehood celebration in 1959.
In March, 1960 I was transferred back to the Naval Security Group Command, Washington, D.C. I had switched my specialty from Operations to Administrative and had been promoted to CTA1. (Translated: Communications Technician, Administrative, First Class or E-6.) I took my discharge in March, 1964 and returned to the same office three weeks later as a civilian, GS-7, doing the same work I had been doing before I was discharged. My intention to become a "lifer" had been sabotaged when the Navy determined it no longer needed or wanted women in the CT ratings. I wanted to continue doing the work I had come to enjoy. Taking my discharge and accepting civilian employment with the Naval Security Group was the only way I could continue my career.
With the exception of about two years between September 1966 and June 1968 when I decided I should give the "true civilian world" a try (bad decision!), I continued with my career in the world of cryptography and communications security. I retired as a civilian, GS-12, on 3 June 1988. If I had it all to do over again, I wouldn't change one thing!
Yuvonne
Source: http://www.morelock.org/yuvonne4.htm (WebSite Manager's Note: This WebPage is no longer active, as of 31 Dec 03).
Yuvonne C. Wolfe
