Jacqueline Marion Edmunds 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?: October 2012 oral history transcript and scanned photographs.
Full biography: Jacqueline Marion Edmunds (b. 1951) served in the United States Navy from 1979-2000. Jacqueline Marion Edmunds (b. 1951), of Greensboro, North Carolina, enlisted in the United States Navy in 1979. She was assigned to personnel command. During her Navy career, Edmunds was stationed at The Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington D.C. from 1980-1985; The Naval Manpower Engineering Detachment in Washington D.C. from 1985-1987; the Bethesda Naval Hospital from 1987-1991; the United StatesS Yellowstone in Norfolk, Virginia from 1991-1994; the Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT) in Norfolk, Virginia from 1994-1998; and on the guided missile cruiser Vella Gulf (CG-72) at the Naval Amphibious Base in Little Creek, Virginia from 1998-2000. Edmunds retired as a Chief Petty Officer in 2000 and moved to Greensboro.
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

: Group photograph of Jacqueline Edmunds and the Command Softball Team; The Command Softball Team for the USS Yellowstone (AD-41) is seen here in a group photograph. Jacqueline Edmunds is standing in the back right.

: Oral history interview with Jacqueline Marion Edmunds; Documents the life of Jacqueline Marion Edmunds from her early life growing up in Greensboro, North Carolina during the 1950s and 1960s, her decision to join the United States Navy in 1979, basic training in Orlando, Florida, and "A" School (technical training for naval recruits) in Meridian, Mississippi. She discusses her military service in Washington D.C. and Maryland, as well as her service aboard the USS Yellowstone and USS Vella Gulf. Edmunds discusses growing up in Greensboro, North Carolina with her brother and twin sister, her love of Girl Scouts and sports, and her difficulties with studying and school. After graduating high school in 1970 Edmunds attended The University of North Carolina at Greensboro for a short time and eventually joined the navy in 1979. She attended basic training in Orlando, Florida and A-School in Meridian, Mississippi before being assigned to the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington, D.C. She discusses the daily work requirements of shore duty in Washington D.C. and the difficulty of still having to deal with Vietnam War demonstrators in 1979. Edmunds also discusses being stationed in Bethesda, Maryland and working in the base personnel office, as well as at the Navy Manpower Engineering Center Detachment from 1985 to 1987. Other shore duty assignments include Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet and work at the Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek. " Personal topics include the earning the warfare pin and other medals during her twenty year service, as well as being designated "Sailor of the Year" at every command she was assigned. Edmunds reveals the problems with pregnancy onboard ship and the difficulties in reassigning newly pregnant seamen. She discusses the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" controversy, the anti-gay responses to homosexuals in the military in the late 1970s and early 1980s and her personal fears and anxieties about serving as a gay woman in the military during this period.

: Photograph of Jacqueline Edmunds; This photograph shows Jacqueline Edmunds receiving a plaque for her promotion to chief petty officer for her work in the U.S. Navy. She and the other service members are seen wearing their service khaki uniforms.

: Photograph of Jacqueline Edmunds; This photograph shows Jacqueline Edmunds and crewmates in their Service Khaki uniforms.

: Photograph of Jacqueline Edmunds aboard the USS Yellostonw (AD-41); This photograph shows Jacqueline Edmunds playing a game of ping pong aboard the USS Yellowstone in 1992.

: Photograph of Jacqueline Edmunds aboard the USS Yellowstone (AD-41); Jacqueline Edmunds is seen here getting her first haircut aboard the USS Yellowstone in 1992.

: Photograph of Jacqueline Edmunds aboard the USS Yellowstone (AD-41); Jacqueline Edmunds is seen here on the right having fun with a crewmate aboard the USS Yellowstone in 1992.

: Photograph of Jacqueline Edmunds on the USS Yellowstone (AD-41); Jacqueline Edmunds is seen here in her office aboard the USS Yellowstone in 1992.

: Photograph of Jacqueline Edmunds receiving a badge aboard the USS Yellowstone (AD-41); The photograph shows Jacqueline Edmunds receiving the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist Badge from Master Sergeant Keith Ritchie aboard the USS Yellowstone in 1992.

: Photograph of Jacqueline Edmunds work area; This photograph shows some shipmates in the work area of Jacqueline Edmunds aboard the USS Yellowstone in 1992.

: Photograph of Jaqcueline Edmunds and crew members; This photograph shows Jacqueline Edmunds and crew members wearing their Summer White Service uniforms, getting ready to cut a cake that congratulates them on their promotions to Chief Petty Officers.

: Photograph of a banner made for Jacqueline Edmunds homecoming; A banner made for the homecoming of Jacqueline Edmunds is seen in this photograph. The Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist badge is seen drawn on the banner, as well as Jacqueline Edmunds' nickname, Ackie-Roo.

: Photograph of crew members working aboard the USS Yellowstone (AD-41); Crew members are seen here stripping a passageway aboard the USS Yellowstone in 1992.

: Photograph of the USS Yellowstone (AD-41); The USS Yellowstone is seen docked in this photograph in 1992.

: Photograph of the USS Yellowstone (AD-41); The USS Yellowstone is seen docked here in 1992.

: Photograph of the USS Yellowstone (AD-41); The USS Yellowstone is seen decorated with pennants for the July fourth holiday in 1992.

: Photograph of the USS Yellowstone (AD-41) crew in gas masks; Members of the crew of the USS Yellowstone are seen here wearing gas masks in the general area of the ship in 1992.