Karen Rasmussen and friends in Boot Camp in Bainbridge, Maryland
December 1964 - February 12, 1965
December 1964 - February 12, 1965
Time for Karen Rasmussen to go from high heels and nice everyday shoes to boot camp shoes.
On the first day, Karen had been assigned an upper bunk. That meant that she had to make her bunk quickly so the person on the lower bunk could make hers. But, Karen had to sit on the lower bunk to be sure all the stripes were straight on the underside of the upper bunk. Then the girl below her would have time to do her bunk.
But on the first day of inspection, as the lights in the barracks were suddenly turned on, someone blew a loud whistle and yelled for everyone to line up. But when Karen was suddenly woken by the whistle and the lights, she jumped and landed on top of the nearby lockers. So of course Karen was missing from the line-up. Luckily, the superiors were kind enough to give her a bottom bunk. However, Karen was assigned duty cleaning the head (toilets, showers, etc.) as punishment. She was lucky not to get kicked out of boot camp on day one.
Below: Karen Rasmussen and Sandy Boyd. They have stayed friends long after getting out of the military. Karen was a bridesmaid at Sandy's wedding and they visit each other as often as possible.
Below: Mary Praz
Below: Karen found herself with a Big Sister (someone in a troop ahead of her). Rosemarie was from upper Florida. Karen has tried to find her years later, but never did.
Below: As time passed Karen became a Big Sister to both Tiny Farkas and Dale Decreval and but Karen never saw her again in the years that followed.
Below: Dale Decreval
Below: Angie Nugent, Karen
Rasmussen,
Stimler, and Rita Mailman
There was one day when everyone got shore leave from base and a military bus took them to Washington D.C., for the day. (If Karen finds those photos, she will post them here.) It has been many years from then until Karen made this website.
Below: BOOT CAMP GRADUATION TIME
Below: All of the Bainbridge graduation group
Below: During Boot Camp, Karen also attended and graduated from Yeoman School.
Below: Then everyone got leave time. Karen flew back to California and spent a short time with family before leaving for her new duty station in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
