Morris, who once served as an Army nurse in India during World War II, participated a ceremony, where she was asked to break a rope with an ax that christened the ship. "Glendale News-Press News Assistant Ani Amirkhanian sat down with Morris, 82, and asked her a few questions.
Why did the Japanese student you had hosted ask you to christen a ship?
His mother had christened a ship and his wife had christened a ship and his two daughters did the same. And I said to him: "It's your son's turn to christen a ship, and he said, "Oh, no men don't christen ships." He said, "It's now my American mother's turn to christen a ship."
What went through your mind during the ceremony?
It was exciting and moving and it was very timely for me. The American flag went up next to the Japanese flag. We were all waving flags to bid farewell to the ship. The ship's captain bid us farewell from the deck.
What was the ceremony like?
I was given an ax and I was supposed to break the rope. If I broke the rope cleanly and sharply, the boat would have a long successful life. When the rope was cut, confetti came out of a great big ball and then also doves came out and balloons. It was very impressive.
Why did you join the Army?
I was a student nurse in a nursing program in 1943 and nobody got paid very much in those days. We got $20 a month. I had two brothers who were in the service and I thought I should be going. You got $115 a month in the military if you went as a second lieutenant.
What was your experience like as an Army nurse?
We had a lot of Chinese soldiers when we were in Ledo [India]. And we took care of mostly pneumonia and malaria patients. There was no fighting in that area and we worked 12-hour shifts. You were in a man's world with very few women.
Where were you stationed during the war?
I was at a general hospital in Ledo and it was close to the [General Joseph W.] Stilwell Road that went over to Burma and China. 20060111iswcm1ncDAN WATSON News-Press and Leader(LA)Mary Joan Morris once served as a nurse in the Army.
