Evening star., 1941-06-15

A few months ago, the est-looking lot
of young refugees which Uncle Sam has
ever welcomed focked down the gang
planks of several liners arriving in
California ports from Shanghai and
Manila AS they waved to friends we'd
ding rings flashed in the sunlight For
these young women were Navy wives
brought home by their Government.
Today Navy wives have become new
and potent auxiliary to the Seagolng
forces. With Navy personnel of 100000
in the making they will soon number
100000 or more-a tremendous total, by
all previous standards, and one that
would formerly have seemed most alarm
ing.
In 1921 only one sailor in dozen
vas married. Today at least one in
three has wife. And, if, the truth were
known, probably more like nalf of all
the enlisted men in the Navy would be
found to be married. For all enlisted
men don't confide in Uncle Sam. because
he still doesn't officially favor matrimony
for his $50 ,000-odd sailors who earn less
than S10O month. Just the same, they
20 right on marrying.
And as naval centers grow rapidly into
populous communities the trend becomes
more and more evident. Wives are
focking into San Diego, with its esti-
mated Navy personnel OF 10000. In
droves they are coming to Norfolk, the
Canal Zone and Pearl Harbor.
No sit-by-the fire is the sailors wife
of today; she's determined little woman
who follows her husband wherever he
goes if it's humanly possible.
In several ways her man. who once
reputedly had a sweetheart in every
port. makes a unique sort OF husband.
He has an almost purltanlcal convlctlon
that woman's place is in the home, espe-
cially after dark. He wants his wife
to keep their wedding certificate con-
spicuously on the wall. where every one
can see it. Moreover, he expects her to-
surround herself with the strange me-
mentos which he sends from outlandlsh
ports of call.
Extra-Nea
But he makes a frst-claSs husband,
cav the 150-odd chaplains OF the Navy
end all the "Y' secretaries who know
him. They remind you that man must
be mentally and morally above the aver
age to get into the service, and recon-
nended bv five sponsors. With four
white uniforms and two blue ones to
keep spotless. sailors are the cleanest
men on earth Cramped quarters on
shipboard make them neat. Ships dis
cipline gives them better manners than
most civilians And any panhandler
will tell YOU that the sailors are generous.
No wonder nice girls like to marry them!
Marrying men first became notlceaole
IN the Navy during the depression. Ihen
recruiting officers were able to pick and
choose as never before. High school
graduates, even college boys, were eager
to take a berth where they'd learn
good trade that would enable them to
settle down when their terms of en-
listment were over. In 10 years the
I. @. of the average sailor jumped from
IS to l0S, and the proportion OF high
school graduates rose from ID to AZ per
cent.
Statistics prove that the itch to marry
plus a good education make better
Navy. Between 1921 and 1899 bad
conduct discharges fell from 1000 to
965 annually; dishonorable discharges
from 5000 to 106; desertions from H.
900 to 33S. In 1899, 1880 enlisted men
won good conduct medals. No wonder
they make good husbands!
About eight years ago, the special needs
of Navy mems wives were first studied
by Miss Eleanor Wilson, a young worker
at the Army and Navy Y. M, c. A. in San
Diego. Getting acquainted with hus-
bands OF these girls 1re discovered their