Barbara A. Wujciak Collection

Details

Who's responsible?: Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, UNCG University Libraries (Repository)
How much has been digitized?: Most of this collection has been digitized. Some items have not beed digitized due to copyright or other logistical issues.
What's in the full collection?: December 2011 oral history transcript and scanned photographs
Full biography: Barbara Wujciak (b. 1961) attended the United States Naval Academy from 1980-1981. She joined in the United States Air Force Reserves in 2009. Barbara Wujciak (b. 1961) was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, but spent the majority of her adolescence in North Carolina. Wujciak aspired to attend to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, from an early age, and was nominated by Democratic United States representative Lawrence H. Fountain for an appointment to the Academy, but was initially rejected. After attending The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for a year, she was accepted to and began her studies at the Naval Academy in 1980. In 1981, Wujciak was discharged from the Academy on charges of being a lesbian." Subsequently, with the assistance of another service member who had been discharged from the Naval Academy, Wujciak created the United States Naval Academy Out group. She also began serving on the Board of Directors for the Servicemember's Legal Defense Network." Having already received a degree in optometry, Wujciak joined the United States Air Force Reserves in 2009 as an optometrist at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, N.C., and in December 2010 she attended Officer's School.
Topics: Women's History
Military
Branch of service: Navy
Air Force -- Air Force Reserve
Conflict: Post-Vietnam, Panama, Grenada (1975-1989)
Subject headings: United States--History--1945-
United States. Navy--Women
United States. Air Force
Contributing Institution: Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, UNCG University Libraries

: Barbara A. Wujciak in service dress whites; Informal portrait of Barbara A. Wujciak attired in service dress whites without cap.

: Barbara A. Wujciak in service dress whites with Donald and Christine Wujciak, August 1980; Barbara A. Wujciak in service dress whites with Donald and Christine Wujciak, during Parents' Open House at the United States Naval Academy in August of 1980.

: Barbara A. Wujciak in service dress whites with cap; Informal portrait of Barbara A. Wujciak attired in service dress whites with cap.

: Oral history interview with Barbara A. Wujciak; Barabara Wujciak discusses growing up in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Rocky Mount, North Carolina, her strong desire to attend the United States Naval Academy, her initial rejection and eventual acceptance to the Academy in 1980, and her ultimate discharge in 1981 on charges of being a lesbian. Wujciak discusses life at the Academy, the emotional strain that being discharged produced, her profession as an optometrist, and joining the United Stated Air Force at age forty-nine in 2009. Primarily documents Barbara Wujciak's adolescence; her time at the United States Naval Academy; her work with gay and lesbian service members; and her military service with the Air Force Reserves. Wujciak recounts growing up in North Carolina and aspiring to attend the United States Naval Academy from an early age. She discusses her initial rejection and eventual acceptance to the Academy, and her experiences during Plebe Summer, including wanting to do her best, and the encouragement of men towards women in her class. Wujciak describes the reasons behind her dismissal from the Academy, the emotional strain that being discharged produced, her profession after the Academy as an optometrist, and her decision to join the United States Air Force Reserves at age forty-nine in 2009." Personal topics include Wujciak meeting Colonel Margarethe Cammermeyer, who was removed from the military for being a lesbian, joining the Service Academy Gay and Lesbian Association, and her work on the Board of Directors for the Servicemember's Legal Defense Network, which provides legal services to people in relationship to their sexuality and issues with the military. Wujciak discusses her response to the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" as well as her attainment of the Army Achievement Medal.