A NAVY WIFE

Howard O. Troop AT1
September 1963

The Navy wife, like her civilian counterpart, must keep house, wash clothes, and shop for groceries.
Like any other wife, a Navy wife takes an active part in the local and civic activities of her
community, such as church, scouting and PTA. But that's about where the similarity ends. The Navy
wife is a rare and unique breed of woman. She has many good opportunities that other wives do not
have. She also has responsibilities and hardships heaped upon her that other wives couldn't cope
with. It seems as if ship or squadron departures suddenly trigger the gremlins into action that
disrupt normally well-run households. The household appliances or the family car always seems to
wait until the Navy man leaves on a deployment to break down. And the children suddenly develop
problems that just didn't exist when "DAD" was home.

Yes, the Navy wife is unique in that she is a housewife, mother, father, and family manager all
in one. She also plays an important and needed role in her husband's career in the Navy, whether it
be short term or lifetime career. Her attitude toward and her understanding of her husband's part in
the Navy can be a liability or an asset to him. How does the Navy wife do it? Simply, she understands
her role as a Navy wife, her inherent responsibility to other Navy wives and that she is indeed a part
of the Navy. She feels the pride of belonging to the Navy team and recognizes that she, too, is a
representative of the Navy and the United States just as her husband is. There is no other woman in
the world like the Navy wife. She is indeed unique! She is indeed rare! Navy wives, we salute you.
For without you, this great Navy of ours would not be what it is today.

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