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2. June 17 1981
The TV program is called "Sunday Times," produced and directed by Bob Roush and Beverly Heydon. It is a community service program produced for Sunday viewing on Channel 4 at around 10am.

The program Shirley Bell and myself were on was viewed May 17th. It was a program in connection to Armed Forces week and the topics discussed were: Is a draft necessary, how does the military feel about the draft, should women be sent up to the front lines? If not in favor of the draft - what suggestions do we have to improve the military by getting enlistments otherthan the draft?

The program had Beverly interviewing men and women who are in the service at this present time. A draft counselor and a Vietnam Veteran. Then had us on as representatives of women veterans from WWII and the Korean Conflict. Also features was the Navy Band.

We were asked to bring pictures from our past military life and they flashed these on the screen and had us explain what we were doing and what the picture was all about.

I was in during the Korean Conflict and I told of flying with MATS and that the reason I joined was at the age of 18 i felt that I wanted to do something to help my country. Beverly said, "That sounds very patriotic," and I replied "yes, and I hope it still stands today." Both Shirley and I aggree that we do not believe in a draft. You will not get the best of men and most will go underground rather than fight for their Country. In order to get qualified educated men and women you need to offer better pay and bring benefits along with improved retirement for the military. An open enlistment period of two years for both men and women with the same combat training, schooling etc., for all personnel.

At the time I was in the service they had no rate for a women flying. So I was required to stay a seaman for the time I flew as a flight orderly. When I passed the education requirements and made PN3 (Personnelman Third Class) I could no longer fly. So what this mean't was that I made a higher pay raise after four years in the Navy and because of it I could no longer do the job that I had been doing because women were not in this field. So I told Beverly that this was the biggest improvement I have seen in our present Navy that I feel is a plus. It takes about six months to a year to improve your pay and rate now, for a women.

Shirley Bell was one of the first women to enlist on December 7, 1942. She was an Aviation Metalsmith 3/C and she told of how she and the other women who joined wanted to be involved during that critical period of our history. She told of how she was against Vietnam and worked with the nam underground, as she said, Call it patriotism - but there are people who care about their country (men and women) who want to remain proud Americans forever! The only want this can be done is to support a strong military. No one wants to fight - but if it needs to be done - you must be ready.

We talked before and after the program - so the above is a combination of all the conservation, including the interview.

Thank you again.

Gloria Johnson