Jane G. Morey Oral HIstory
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Oral history interview with Jane Morey
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Primarily documents Jane G. Morey's early life and her service in the Coast Guard SPARs from 1943 to 1945. Morey discusses her love of reading; early aspirations to be an antiquarian; knowledge of the war in Europe during high school; and reactions to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. " Morey chiefly describes her SPARs training and experiences in New York City. She talks about the influence of recruiting ads; encouragement from her mother to join the service; being rejected by the Marines; boot camp training exercises, including drills and the captain's review; reactions to women in the Coast Guard; the slogan "Free a Man to Fight" living at the Biltmore Hotel during training; setting the organization standard in basic training; group living; SPARs specializations, including cooks and bakers, storekeepers, and yeomen; and standing watch on a troop train. Topics related to New York include the nickname for assignment in New York City; inspections of damaged ships; living in a Manhattan hotel in New York City; fight matches between sailors; her opinion of President Franklin Roosevelt and her shock at his death. " Morey also focuses on her social life, including plays, movies, dances, and dates and meeting her future husband; short courtships during World War II; her friendship with the male lieutenant colonel that she worked for; and her military wedding. Other topics include her husband's experiences as a navy diver in the Philippines during the war; her disappointment at having to leave the SPARs; patriotism; and advantages of her military service, including discipline and increased independence; the difficulties of being a military wife; taking care of her children while her husband was away; and her opinion of women in combat.
