Carol Smith

2023 VETERANS DAY EDITION | U.S. NAVY

PHOTOS BY VAST MEDIA

At what age did you join the military and how long did you serve?

"I joined at age 31 and served for 22 years."

What do you remember about the day you enlisted?

"It was a beautiful day in Hawaii. My husband enlisted me into the Navy aboard the USS Arizona. My son, who was a cub scout, and I raised a flag on the Arizona. I still have that special flag in a flag box in my office."

How did you tell your friends and family that you were joining the military? Are there any conversations that stood out from that time?

"Serving our great country is something many in my family did. I am proud to say that we have over 130 years of service in my family!"

What led you to join the military? How did you choose your branch of service?

"I joined the Navy on a nursing scholarship. I considered the Army, but the scholarship was less and my husband, Dennis, was already serving in the Navy. It was the natural choice for me."

How did you imagine military life before joining? Did your perceptions change after serving?

"I grew up in a military family, my father was in the Air Force, so I was used to moving and the military life. Although it is different when you're the one in uniform, growing up as a military child helped to prepare me for military life."

Were you ever deployed/did you ever serve overseas? If yes, what are some things you remember most about your deployment?

"I deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to serve as the Division Officer for the medical staff at the detention center. Our team worked hard to ensure safe, quality healthcare. While it was stressful, I took advantage of my downtime and spent it at the beach."

Is there anything that you wish civilians understood better about military service?

"The demands on the service member and their family are considerably more challenging than most realize. Deployments aside, there are often long hours without additional compensation. When duty calls, we show up!"

What does Veterans Day mean to you?

"Veterans Day is my favorite holiday. I am very proud of my service. It is a day to celebrate ALL who have served."