From left to right:
Mike Ormond, Phyllis Schneider, Lester Schneider, Susan Kolb
Introduction
Phyllis Schneider was originally from Oneonta, New York. Phyllis joined the WAVES in June of 1945 and stayed in the WAVES until August of 1947. After leaving the service Phyllis was a college librarian. She later went to Germany as an Army Librarian. In Germany she met her future husband who was stationed in Germany during the Korean war. Phyllis was a librarian at the Marshfield Public Library for 23 years. Phyllis and Lester live in Stratford Wisconsin.
Interview
Susan: What was the length of your service during W.W.II?
Phyllis: "I joined the WAVES in June of 1945 and I was in until August of 1947."
Mike: What role did you play when you took part in W.W.II?
Phyllis: "I was a WAVE and I was a pharmacist mate at the and in Long Beach naval hospital in California."
Susan: While in the service where were you stationed?
Phyllis: "I was at Boot camp at Hunter college in New York City, and that was about 3 weeks, and then in the Japanese War...which was on August 14, 1945 was over. I was just getting ready to leave for some place in Florida, but they canceled everything except general duty Hospital Corps. So I was sent to Great Lakes at Chicogo. And after I graduated I was a pharmacist, second class, and I was sent to Long Beach California, to the Calendal Hospital where I worked at the hospital center. I was transferred to the dispensary in the city."
Susan: What was your home like where you were stationed in California...what was your home like, your living quarters?
Phyllis: "At the hospital we had bunk beds in a large room. After I worked at the dispensary we had our rooms in private homes."
Susan: Like you said before, you had many people per room...?
Phyllis: "As I said if you are lucky to find a place to live, usually several girls to a room. At the hospital over 100 girls were in one room."
Susan: During your training was the condition sanitary or was it all dirty?
Phyllis: "In training, we were in the Navy and we did everything clean, clean from top to bottom. It was important because we worked in the hospital..."
Susan: Were you able to eat the same foods that you ate before you went into the service?
Phyllis: "Well unfortunately the men ate everything. The mess hall was used to serving large amounts of food to the men, and unfortunately for us, we gained a lot of weight. So we had to train them to give us smaller portions of food."
Mike: While serving in the war, what did you do for entertainment?
Phyllis: "Well, in Long Beach... we only lived seven blocks away from the ocean, when we were free we were at the beach. We went to Hollywood,Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, and other places of interest..."
Susan: Did you have much free time?
Phyllis: "When we weren't working, on watch, a special duty we were free tp do as we wished."
Mike: What was the length of service during WWII?
Phyllis: "When the women joined the WAVES , they joined for the duration and six months, but since I got in as the war ended I could've gotten out in six months, but I stayed in for two years because I liked it."
Susan: Did you communicate with your family and friends during the time you were away?
Phyllis: "Well, I hope so."
Susan: Did you get to often?
Phyllis: "I wrote a lot of letters to my family and friends."
Mike: How did the situations you were involved in impact your life?
Phyllis: "Well if I hadn't joined the WAVES, I wouldn't have gone to Syracuse University., to become a librarian, and if I didn't become a librarian, I wouldn't have gone to Germany, and if I didn't go to Germany I wouldn't have met my husband, and if I hadn't met my husband, I wouldn't be here in Wisconsin. Does that answer that? Yes, I was a librarian here in Marshfield for twenty-three years..."
Susan: You said earlier you got large portions of food, was there any rationing?
Phyllis: "Well of course, I don't think they rationed the service people. Yes, during WWII there was a lot of rationing of sugar, and gass, and butter.....I don't really recall all the major problems."
Susan: Out of all the places you traveled, what was your most memorable?
Phyllis: "Well, I went to California and I loved California...with the WAVES we went to San Diego. I just loved it."
Susan: Did you get to see the Golden Gate Bridge?
Phyllis: "Yes...I loved San Francisco."
Susan: How did being in WWII affect your family?
Phyllis: "Well since I wasn't married it really didn't affect anyone., also my parents missed me."
Mike: Were you paid for services In WWII?
Phyllis: "It's very minimum. I think it was like some $50 or $60 a month. It was very minimum. But you see, you got your food and housing free. You did have to pay for your clothes. Except in the beginning when you were given an allowance."
Susan: Did you have any uniforms?
Phyllis: "They gave us uniforms and allowance in the beginning. We had to keep on cleaning our uniforms."
Susan: Did you make many friends when you were down there?
Phyllis: "Oh yes dozens."
Susan: Where there any that you kept in contact with?
Phyllis: "Yes, I was very good friends with 1st Lt. of the nurse corps. I kept in contact with some friends."
Susan: What was your rank?
Phyllis: "I was a Pharmacist mate second class."
Mike: How old were you during the war?
Phyllis: "I think I was 22 when I got in and about 24 when I got out."
Susan: Were most of the people there around your age?
Phyllis: "Since I was a teacher, most of the ladies were younger."
Susan: What was the end of the war like?
Phyllis: "Well, I'll tell you. We were in apartment houses in New York City....We were way up on the 4th floor and we were not to make any contact with civilians. And when the war ended, we didn't know what was going on because we only had one radio. Everyone in the building wanted to know. So some of us leaned out the window to ask the passerbys what was going on and after this no one could leave because they were grounded and others could go to New York City and we had to stay. Anyway, I did get to leave New York City later that week. It was very interesting."
Susan: Do you have any memorabilia from WWII that is very important to you?
Phyllis: "Yes, my uniform, my graduation class photo."
Susan: You said you traveled to Germany, was that after you were out?
Phyllis: "Yes, after that I had my libarary degree, I went to Germany in 1951 to 1954."
Susan: So is that where you met your husband?
Phyllis: "Yes, he had orders to Korea, but the day before sailing, his orders were changed to Germany. I met him while we were stationed in Kaiserslantern."
Susan: If you weren't in the war, would you have become a librarian?
Phyllis: "Yes, I think I probably would have."
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