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YN3 Ruth Elphine Richardson Oral History
Publication date: 13 August 2024
File metadata
Dublin Core Metadata
title:
YN3 Ruth Elphine Richardson Oral History
creator:
Richardson, Ruth Elphine (Fisher) (1897 October 7 - )
subject:
Navy Yeoman (F)
description:
Ruth Elphine Richardson (formerly Fisher) was born on October 7, 1897 in Callao, Virginia and grew up in Lodge, Virginia. Her parents ran a tomato farm, which she and her two brothers helped package for shipping. She went to school in a two-room schoolhouse through 7th grade. She enlisted in the Navy as a Navy Yeoman (F) in 1918 with her long-time friend Myrtle, and they were stationed together at Navy Yard in Washington, DC. She decided to enlist after the sinking of the Lusitania, and only considered the Navy and not nursing or the Salvation Army. Myrtle worked in Navigation, and Ruth worked in the Bureau of Ships making sure that everyone had seen and signed the mail meant for them. They also marched together in General Pershing’s welcome home parade. After the war ended and they were discharged in 1919, she and Myrtle remained in DC, living with Myrtle’s two sisters who had already been in the city until they could get a place for themselves. She didn’t consider re-joining in World War II because she had gotten married to and had a child with a Navy man she had met while in DC. Navy Yeoman (F) didn’t have a rank structure, so Richardson left the service just as a Yeoman (F), and for her service she was awarded a World War I Victory Medal. A transcript of this interview is available.
publisher:
Military Women's Memorial Foundation
contributor:
Scott, Kate M.
date:
2003-09-05
type:
Moving Image
format:
Hi-8
identifier:
788.01; 2003.788
source:
VHP | CLIR - Recordings at Risk
language:
English
relation:
076305
coverage:
World War I
rights:
Unrestricted