Heather L. Gonzalez Oral History

Details

Who's responsible?: Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, UNCG University Libraries (Repository)
How much has been digitized?: This collection has been digitized in its entirety.
Where can I find more information?: https://uncg.as.atlas-sys.com/repositories/2/resources/1057
What's in the full collection?: 12 August 2013 oral history transcript.
Full biography: Heather Gonzalez (b. 1971) served in the United States Navy from 1992 to 1995. Heather Gonzalez was born in Panama City, Florida, in 1971, and spent a portion of her childhood with her family in Royal Air Force Upper Heyford, England when her father was stationed there with the United States Air Force. Later the family returned to the United States and the Washington D.C. area, where Gonzalez graduated from high school in 1990. Gonzalez attended Prince George Community College for a year and a half before deciding to join the United States Navy in 1992, initially signing up for four years of duty. After graduating from boot camp, Gonzalez's first duty station was Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida, as part of Sea Control Squadron 27, or VS-27, where she worked on the line shack learning to take care of planes. During her time in the navy, Gonzalez deployed on the United StatesS Dwight D. Eisenhower and the United StatesS Washington, where she worked on the flight deck as a plane captain. When VS-27 was decommissioned in 1994, Gonzalez chose to transfer to Patrol Squadron 30, or VP-30, at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. After just over a year there, Gonzalez was released from the navy in 1995 for failure to control weight, receiving an honorable discharge and eligibility for the Reserves.
Topics: Women's History
Military
Branch of service: Navy
Conflict: Gulf War (1990-2000)
Subject headings: United States--History--1945-
United States. Navy--Women
Contributing Institution: Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, UNCG University Libraries

: Oral history interview with Heather Gonzalez; Primarily documents the adolescence of Heather Gonzalez; and her time served in the United States Navy. Gonzalez recounts living at various air force stations throughout her childhood, her active involvement from the age of sixteen with the American Legion and military veterans, and her decision to join the U.S. Navy. She discusses the physical and mental difficulties of boot camp, her first duty station at Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida, her deployments on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and the USS Washington, and her final duty station at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. Gonzalez recalls her reasons for wanting to leave the military, including feeling pushed around by fellow soldiers and experiencing sexist and derogatory comments. She discusses her opinion that she was unfairly pushed out of the air force, and her decision to not fight her discharge because she wasn't happy serving in the military anymore.

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Women Veterans Historical Project

Heather L. Gonzalez Oral History

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