Like
Cpl Corinne Minnie Gogue-Cook Oral History Part 1
Publication date: 23 November 2021
File metadata
Dublin Core Metadata
title:
Cpl Corinne Minnie Gogue-Cook Oral History Part 1
creator:
Gogue-Cook, Corinne "Minnie" (Kaline) (1927 February 12 -
subject:
Air Force | Air Force Reserve
description:
Part 1 of 2. Born February 12, 1927 in California, Corinne Gogue-Cook (formerly Kaline) grew up on the west side of Los Angeles. Her father was a petty officer in the Navy and her mother was a riveter during World War II, which broke out while she was in junior high. Growing up, she was always interested in the Navy, but she also loved weather and flying, so after seeing her parents and her brother—who served in the Pacific during World War II—all participate in the war effort, she felt it was time to do her part and joined the Air Force in 1948. Corinne and her squadron were the first black women inducted in the Women in the Air Force (WAF) program. After basic training, she attended the weather school that she'd requested, where she was, to her knowledge, one of only two women in the school. She enlisted as a private, and by the time she retired, Corinne had reached the rank of Corporal, and very nearly made Sergeant. After the service, Corinne went to Compton College and then to weather stations in Alaska, working first in Anchorage before heading to Fairbanks. Corinne applied for a transfer and went to Stockton, California to help open a new airport. Corinne received the bronze medal from the Department of Commerce for her work. Her fondest memory of the Air Force is standing in her uniform and singing the Star Spangled Banner. A transcript of this interview is available.
publisher:
Military Women's Memorial Foundation
contributor:
Binker, Mary Jo
date:
2001-03-27
type:
Audio
format:
Cassette
identifier:
349.01; 2001.349
source:
OHP | IMES
language:
English
relation:
034771
coverage:
Korean War (1950-1953) | 1950s
rights:
Unrestricted