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An up close and personal interview with U.S. Navy Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
AK3 Cinde McClurg U.S. Navy (1975-1979)
PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY?
 I grew up with an aunt who was in the Navy and always loved the uniform. She was actually the main reason I made it through boot camp. She told everyone in the family that I would not make it through! That kept me fired up to survive those nine weeks.
WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
Following boot camp, I was sent to Naval Surface Weapons Center, Solomons, MD. I was assigned as a Seaman Apprentice on the YSD-72. I also worked as assistant to the civilian secretary in the office.
Following my tour of duty there, I was transferred to Roosevelt Roads, PR. I started out assigned to Recs/Messes. I requested a swap to Surface Operations and got it! I was assigned to the YFU-100 as a Seaman. I eventually took the E4 exam and made AK3. I was then sent to work Sur Ops Supply and then the Bosuns Locker. That was where I ended my Navy career. I was seriously considering re-enlisting and would have had orders to NAS Moffett Field, if I had. Instead, I chose to get out of the Navy. I spent six months living in Norfolk, VA and then finally returned home to California.
IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN COMBAT, PEACEKEEPING OR HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TO YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY.
 At the time I enlisted, women were not involved in combat situations. We were allowed to work on small craft, but not ships. I was able to learn to run five different boats, but was NOT able to go up for the rate I really wanted. Boatswain's Mate! That was a major disappointment to me.
Looking back, I understand the reasoning behind the closure of the rate to females at that time, but it still hurt.
OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH ONE WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
Actually, I have fond memories of both of my duty stations. My first one, Naval Surface Weapons Center, Solomons, Maryland, WAS my favorite though!
As the first military female on the base, I was a bit of a novelty. I was targeted for pranks that were designed to break me, I'm sure. The first couple of weeks were lonely, then word came that the other female was due to arrive December 6,1975. That shipmate would become my "sister" for life. I think anybody involved with TWS would know her, SA Diane Short!! We have been best friends from day one! That base taught me a lot about myself. I had never been very assertive until then.
My least favorite moment was the day that one of the 1st Class PO's came up to the office where I worked, barking orders at me to call the Rescue Squad. There had been an accident on an old ship that we had moored at the pier. I knew exactly WHO had been hurt and I was trying to get down to help. He ordered me to stay put and make the call. I was so angry, I kicked a 1" X 4" board and broke it. I got to ride to the hospital with my roommate, yep, SA Diane Short! The weird thing was that I was in shock and she was in the back of the ambulance, cracking jokes!
FROM YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE, INCLUDING COMBAT, DESCRIBE THE PERSONAL MEMORIES WHICH HAVE IMPACTED YOU MOST?
The morning of the Bicentennial, I was the one to raise the American flag. I had stood duty the night before and spent the entire evening watching all of the celebrations on the TV. Being that we were only a couple hours from Baltimore and even closer to Washington, DC, it was totally surreal to me. The moment I held morning colors on America's 200th birthday was the most emotional moment of my life. I stood there, flag in hand, realizing that I was a part of history. I was representing my country and generations of people who had fought and died for her.
OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, QUALIFICATION BADGES OR DEVICES YOU RECEIVED, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE ONE(S) MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
 The greatest achievement of my Navy career was the day that I put on my E4 chevron. I had gone through so many correspondence courses to find a rating that I was eligible for that I had nearly given up hope! When I became Aviation Storekeeper 3rd Class, I finally had accomplished what I had been working for all that time! It was worth all the struggles I had to endure.
I never received any medals or ribbons. I would have thought that I should have at least received an Honorable Discharge award, but never did get one.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
My roommate in Solomons was none other than SA Diane Short! She has been my best friend for the past 39 years...actually, she is my family! She is my sister for life! Through TWS, I have  reconnected with several shipmates from that particular base. Diane's husband Bill Short was our next door neighbor back then! Funny how life works sometimes!
Recently, I got the shock of my life when a new member added me as his shipmate, I knew him as EN1 Tommy Thompson and Diane and I had been searching for him for decades! He and I talk nearly every day on Facebook and it's like all those years never happened. We were the "Three Musketeers" in those days. An E6 and two E2s. Not something that you saw every day, that was for sure!
CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Being the first female on the base at Solomons, I have a lot of them. Most cannot be told on a public website! My favorite story actually occurred on my first day at work in Solomons. Since I was the new kid, Senior Chief asked if I wanted to go out on the boat that afternoon. They were going out on a dive job and thought it would be good for me to get a feel for what it was like. Of course, I jumped at the chance!
 While we were underway, one of the divers asked me to go down to the galley and get his diving gloves. What they failed to tell me was that one of the Chiefs had just gone below to get out of his wetsuit. The poor guy was not in on their plan. I bounced down the ladder and walked in on a stark naked Chief! The poor man was so embarrassed. All I wanted to do was get back on that deck and kick that BM1's butt! When I hit the deck, the XO, the BMCS and the BM1 were all busting up laughing. I didn't care that I was an E1, I was mad! I think that they thought I was going to burst into tears...nope, I burst into swear words!! That memory still makes me laugh today!
WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
When I was discharged from the Navy, I spent a few months living in Norfolk, VA. I took a job at the Navy Exchange Gas Station at NAS Norfolk. Meanwhile, I had taken the Civil Service exam and was offered a position at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. I started there right after January 1, 1980. I left there March that same year to return to California.
I was a receptionist for an insurance company for six years, then for a reinsurance company for another year and a half. I then moved to northern California and was hired by Pacific Gas and Electric. I started in the mail room and handled all of the stationery requisitions. Seems I went back to my old Supply job! I then was transferred to Stockton, CA and became a Customer Service Rep. In all, I was with them for total of 23 years. During that time, I was also caring for my mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in 2004. I retired in February 2013 to care for her full time. We moved up to Paradise, CA in March 2013 to be near my niece and her family. Mom's Alzheimer's Disease escalated to the point that she needed 24 hour care. It was WAY more than I could handle alone! She has been in a nursing home since August 2013. Now, I am truly retired! On July 1, 2014, I moved into my new home in Brookings, Oregon. I am less than a half mile from the ocean...as it should be!
The photo is of me at the Calvert County museum in Solomons, MD. Bill & Diane took me back to our old stomping grounds in 2013. We stopped into the muesum, turned the corner and found our old friend Jake that used to stand watch over our quarterdeck outside the duty office. What a trip!
WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I haven't joined any military associations, YET, but have talked to a lot of fellow veterans. I do plan on being more involved now that I have freedom to do so. Of course, I will never leave TWS! I refer people to it all the time!
IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER?
 I think that having had a military background was a big part of all of my work ethic. When friends would try to talk me into calling in sick to take a day off, I told them that I could not do that. I was actually hired for one of my first jobs out of the Navy BECAUSE of my background!
BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
Enjoy yourself! If you are lucky, some of the people you meet will be with you forever! I learned very early on, don't question orders; just do it! I always found it easier to just get the task handled and then ask what the purpose was. I have wished (more than a few times) that I had stayed in the Navy. I actually tried to re-enlist a couple years after I was discharged, but I had torn my ACL in my knee and couldn't pass the physical.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
 I have TWS to thank for a lot of friendships being rekindled. I have paid tribute to my aunt (a retired Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman). I took a vacation in 2013 to visit with Diane and Bill Short and we took a trip back to where it all started, Solomons, Maryland!
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TWS VOICES
TWS Voices are the personal stories of men and women who served in the US Military and convey how serving their Country has made a positive impact on their lives. If you would like to participate in a future edition of Voices, or know someone who might be interested, please contact TWS Voices HERE.
This edition of Navy Voices was supported by:
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For current and former serving Members of the United States Navy, TogetherWeServed is a unique, feature-rich resource enabling Naval personnel to re-connect with lost Shipmates, share memories and tell their Navy story.
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