Veteran Dorothy E. Holloway

Dorothy and Cecil Holloway were a married couple before World War II began. Cecil was quite a pilot and had joined the Navy. His talent for airplanes was put to use quickly. He became an instructor pilot and he and his wife Dorothy moved about the United States so he could use his skills for the country's benefit.

Cecil's health became an issue early on. To best get him the medical attention that was needed, he was sent to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. In addition to being a major command for training pilots, the base also had a very good hospital that could treat him.

The command structure at this facility was made up mainly sailors who previously held civilian positions. When the country went to war, many of the local civilians were heavily recruited to manage and man the base so that trained Navy men could go on to the Pacific theater of war.

When Aviation Machinists Mate 3/C Holloway and his wife Dorothy arrived at the Headquarters of NAS Jacksonville, Cecil began the in-processing tasks. While doing so, a Navy lieutenant began talking with Dorothy. He wanted to know about her background and education. Dorothy told him she was a school teacher. The personnel man said "sorry, we don't need teachers." "Do you have a college degree?" he asked. She answered she had majored in mathematics ... THAT was something they could use!

Instantly, Dorothy Holloway had a job at the Headquarters building at NAS Jacksonville! She was led to the Commander's Office, introduced to Commander Holly, then taken to an office where she would work.

The Navy admin people told AMM 3C Holloway and his wife that there was no place on base that they could live. BUT... they did know of a place that had indicated they would have a room available for Navy people. The Holloways went there to find an older couple that lived near the base. In their home was a nice bedroom with a private bathroom. For not much money, this was a workable solution to their housing needs.

In that the Holloways had a car, Cecil drove to work. Dorothy walked a few blocks to a bus stop. When the bus came by, it was crowded. She said that as the doors opened, she just stepped in and grabbed the overhead strap and made a little space for herself.

The bus had an established route. Dorothy was dropped off near her work office. In civilian clothing, she reported in and had the task of file management. Should a personnel person or an officer came to her desk and asked for the file on "Seaman Smith", for example, she could produce that data.

The paper file folders that she maintained were color-coded. Beige or khaki color was for the lower ranking enlisted people. Green was for Navy Chiefs and higher. Junior officers were probably orange while field-grade officers were in the blue files. To find "Seaman Smith, she would go to the khaki files and find this individual's file and hand it to the inquirer.

There was a bit of strife among the officers. The Commander had managed a business before the war. He was brought in and put in charge. The number two Officer-in-Charge was a Lieutenant named Pilkington. He too was a "ninety-day wonder" who took his work seriously.