At the time of our meeting and interview, Ms. Fate was not doing well. She had just been placed on Hospice and wanted to share about her military service. She was found to be very proud of her service to her country. She also related that she was “the only ‘girl’ member of the local Korean War Veterans Association.” The following is what she wanted to share.

Phyllis M. (Barber) Fate was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1922. Phyllis said that she was born in the family home, in Portland. Her parents are Frank & Rebecca Barber. She has a sister, Beverly (Barber) Steele. Her sister also served in the Navy, as a W.A.V.E. Phyllis attended High School at Gresham Union High School, in Oregon. She graduated from Gresham High School in 1948.

After high school she decided to join the United States Navy, in the W. A. V. E program. She said her parents had no problem with her joining. Her parents felt she was an adult and could make her own decisions. Her sister was already signed up and serving in the military too. She said she never served at the same stations as her sister. Her sister served her time in Boston.

Phyllis joined the United States Navy in 1952. She served for almost 7 years. During that time she was stationed at Long Island, New York for Basic Training; and was later sent to California to work aboard the U. S. S. Haven (AG-12). The Haven was a hospital ship. It had served during the Korean War to receive treat and transport casualties from the war. The Haven was later placed in dry dock in California. There it still functioned as a hospital ship for the military.

While Lt. Phyllis Barber was serving she said she wrote often to her mother and aunt. She said that she stayed busy in her free time by sewing with a sewing group she belonged to. She also remembers a time when her and some friends went to see a movie that was in production, while in San Diego, California.

Phyllis received her training as a Registered Nurse at the Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Phyllis attained the Rank of Lieutenant (j.g.). She also met her husband, William Fate, while she was serving. William Fate is a native of Marion, Ohio. William is a veteran of World War Two, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Phyllis said she also served in Washington, Wisconsin, in a receiving station for new recruits. Here she assisted in medical exams of new recruits. She also spent time at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

When Phyllis met her husband, who was in the Marine Corps., she was an officer and he was an NCO. She said since they were not in the same chain-of-command, so the military did not frown upon their relationship. But when she became pregnant, she had to leave service, as the WAVES did not permit them to have dependents.

When her husband, William, retired from the Marine Corps., they relocated to his hometown of Marion, Ohio. William had served for 30 years in the United States Marine Corps. He saw service through World War One, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Phyllis and William were married and raised two sons, William and David, in Marion, Ohio. One son also served as a Marine. When Phyllis came to Marion to set up her home, she worked at the Marion Power Shovel on the Shovel’s weekly newspaper. She then returned to nursing at Marion General Hospital as a medical floor nurse, where she retired. Phyllis calls Marion her home. Here she raised her two sons and worked until retirement. Phyllis is very proud to have served her country and still displays here photos from the days she was a Navy Lieutenant.