1 00:00:20,020 --> 00:00:16,410 [Music] 2 00:00:24,460 --> 00:00:20,030 and I came to work for Marshall in 1960 3 00:00:29,890 --> 00:00:24,470 and as a gs2 clerk typist and I retired 4 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:29,900 in 1999 as a gs-14 assistant director to 5 00:00:34,860 --> 00:00:31,490 a customer and employee relations 6 00:00:39,190 --> 00:00:34,870 director II my story with Marshall is 7 00:00:42,220 --> 00:00:39,200 pretty much a fairy tale in 1960 young 8 00:00:45,940 --> 00:00:42,230 graduate from high school in May at 17 9 00:00:47,290 --> 00:00:45,950 years old September the second I married 10 00:00:50,319 --> 00:00:47,300 the love of my life 11 00:00:54,459 --> 00:00:50,329 September 23rd I was 18 12 00:00:57,779 --> 00:00:54,469 in early October I got a job at Decatur 13 00:01:00,340 --> 00:00:57,789 foundered machine company the one girl 14 00:01:03,910 --> 00:01:00,350 everybody else man so I was treated like 15 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:03,920 a queen learned a lot there but they 16 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:05,810 were the one of the few companies that 17 00:01:12,340 --> 00:01:09,770 would hire before you were 18 so at work 18 00:01:15,070 --> 00:01:12,350 one day I got a call from NASA Marshall 19 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:15,080 personnel office wanting to know if I'd 20 00:01:20,190 --> 00:01:18,050 like to have a job at Marshall and I 21 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:20,200 said well I already have a job thank you 22 00:01:25,330 --> 00:01:22,490 so a couple of weeks later I get another 23 00:01:27,399 --> 00:01:25,340 call NASA Marshall would you like to 24 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:27,409 have a job at Marshall and I said well I 25 00:01:32,289 --> 00:01:29,930 have a job well I got really curious 26 00:01:33,490 --> 00:01:32,299 talked to my husband and I said well I 27 00:01:35,380 --> 00:01:33,500 probably would have to buy better 28 00:01:38,740 --> 00:01:35,390 clothes and we'd have to have another 29 00:01:42,429 --> 00:01:38,750 car so it's probably not worthwhile 30 00:01:44,469 --> 00:01:42,439 well fortunately my fairy godmother must 31 00:01:47,230 --> 00:01:44,479 have really been looking out for me 32 00:01:50,530 --> 00:01:47,240 so a few days later I got an offer in 33 00:01:55,060 --> 00:01:50,540 the mail offering me just to clerk 34 00:01:57,880 --> 00:01:55,070 typist making 67 dollars a week I don't 35 00:02:01,330 --> 00:01:57,890 remember the hourly rate but 40 hours I 36 00:02:04,660 --> 00:02:01,340 was working for 40 to 50 a week it's a 37 00:02:07,209 --> 00:02:04,670 Decatur foundry so I told my husband I 38 00:02:09,340 --> 00:02:07,219 said you know for that much increase I 39 00:02:12,130 --> 00:02:09,350 could probably buy another dress or two 40 00:02:15,070 --> 00:02:12,140 I wondered how they got my name and then 41 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:15,080 I recalled as part of our business class 42 00:02:20,470 --> 00:02:18,530 in high school the Civil Service Board 43 00:02:23,500 --> 00:02:20,480 send a representative to the high school 44 00:02:25,869 --> 00:02:23,510 and gave the typing test the steno test 45 00:02:27,580 --> 00:02:25,879 and asked us to fill out a form I think 46 00:02:32,500 --> 00:02:27,590 it was called a 57 and 47 00:02:34,509 --> 00:02:32,510 years as a class assignment and that 48 00:02:36,900 --> 00:02:34,519 just kind of you know that was I just 49 00:02:38,770 --> 00:02:36,910 went to class that day and we had a 50 00:02:42,420 --> 00:02:38,780 representative day that gave us a type 51 00:02:47,110 --> 00:02:42,430 of test and steno test and that is that 52 00:02:49,570 --> 00:02:47,120 application it was ended up in NASA's 53 00:02:52,479 --> 00:02:49,580 hands because I had passed the typing 54 00:02:56,530 --> 00:02:52,489 test I did not pass steno test I came 55 00:02:59,740 --> 00:02:56,540 over for a physical was hired and I was 56 00:03:03,250 --> 00:02:59,750 put in a typing pool and farmed out and 57 00:03:05,589 --> 00:03:03,260 in less than six weeks I was picked up a 58 00:03:10,449 --> 00:03:05,599 permanent assignment in the facilities 59 00:03:12,759 --> 00:03:10,459 office in 1965 all I got an offer to 60 00:03:15,940 --> 00:03:12,769 move to dr. van Browns office as 61 00:03:19,350 --> 00:03:15,950 Secretary to his assistant assistant 62 00:03:22,449 --> 00:03:19,360 director Jim Sheppard at that time and 63 00:03:24,069 --> 00:03:22,459 the rest is just still more and more its 64 00:03:26,890 --> 00:03:24,079 fairy tale all the way through it was 65 00:03:30,190 --> 00:03:26,900 such a rewarding experience in high 66 00:03:32,949 --> 00:03:30,200 school we did not have career counselors 67 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:32,959 and my mother and dad were not high 68 00:03:37,780 --> 00:03:35,810 school graduates and there was really no 69 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:37,790 career counseling but my dad had asked 70 00:03:41,670 --> 00:03:40,010 me one day in the cotton patch says well 71 00:03:44,349 --> 00:03:41,680 what do you want to be when you grow up 72 00:03:47,110 --> 00:03:44,359 and I thought be you know you just get a 73 00:03:50,949 --> 00:03:47,120 job and go to work and I really didn't 74 00:03:52,330 --> 00:03:50,959 have a goal but I said well daddy I 75 00:03:55,530 --> 00:03:52,340 really would just like to work in an 76 00:03:58,089 --> 00:03:55,540 air-conditioned building so and that 77 00:03:59,500 --> 00:03:58,099 fulfilled my lofty goal to get to work 78 00:04:02,470 --> 00:03:59,510 at Marshall in an air-conditioned 79 00:04:07,089 --> 00:04:02,480 building but it was it was just fabulous 80 00:04:08,949 --> 00:04:07,099 and working in dr. from brands office we 81 00:04:11,319 --> 00:04:08,959 were separated by a wall but the door 82 00:04:14,379 --> 00:04:11,329 between us was just a cased opening and 83 00:04:17,379 --> 00:04:14,389 I between me and his secretary Bonnie 84 00:04:19,509 --> 00:04:17,389 Holmes so I could see going and coming 85 00:04:23,830 --> 00:04:19,519 into his office and Bonnie was such a 86 00:04:25,870 --> 00:04:23,840 wonderful mentor it was just fabulous 87 00:04:29,170 --> 00:04:25,880 you know a lot of people say well I was 88 00:04:33,700 --> 00:04:29,180 just a secretary but to be a secretary I 89 00:04:36,339 --> 00:04:33,710 was a secretary from 1960 to about 1970 90 00:04:38,209 --> 00:04:36,349 right after dr. Manley left I went into 91 00:04:44,659 --> 00:04:38,219 the administrative field 92 00:04:47,299 --> 00:04:44,669 but it was just fabulous oh we were busy 93 00:04:49,999 --> 00:04:47,309 all the time I mean you never went home 94 00:04:53,389 --> 00:04:50,009 with your desk cleaned off it was just 95 00:04:56,469 --> 00:04:53,399 so much to do and I think our biggest 96 00:05:00,139 --> 00:04:56,479 challenge in those days was 97 00:05:02,899 --> 00:05:00,149 communication because all of all of our 98 00:05:07,489 --> 00:05:02,909 bosses were at a level where they were 99 00:05:10,189 --> 00:05:07,499 in meetings eight to nine hours a day 100 00:05:12,439 --> 00:05:10,199 and most of our days were nine to ten 101 00:05:16,369 --> 00:05:12,449 you know if it was very easy to work a 102 00:05:18,709 --> 00:05:16,379 10 hour day but what they depended on us 103 00:05:21,290 --> 00:05:18,719 to do was more than just we had to have 104 00:05:24,469 --> 00:05:21,300 the basic clerical skills of course but 105 00:05:27,290 --> 00:05:24,479 what they dependent on us so much would 106 00:05:30,529 --> 00:05:27,300 be facilitating you know get this done 107 00:05:33,739 --> 00:05:30,539 this has got to be done and you learn 108 00:05:37,129 --> 00:05:33,749 right away what your boss is delegating 109 00:05:39,799 --> 00:05:37,139 to you to do on your own and no I mean I 110 00:05:42,159 --> 00:05:39,809 would say sometimes my job is whatever 111 00:05:44,239 --> 00:05:42,169 needs to be done it's my job to do it 112 00:05:46,219 --> 00:05:44,249 because they would they were that 113 00:05:49,459 --> 00:05:46,229 trusting they were busy you know trying 114 00:05:52,759 --> 00:05:49,469 to get to the moon and that's all we had 115 00:05:55,459 --> 00:05:52,769 to do what we could to help them so free 116 00:06:00,139 --> 00:05:55,469 up their time any way we could and they 117 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:00,149 trusted us so much too I mean you might 118 00:06:05,149 --> 00:06:02,610 get a telephone call from a site and 119 00:06:07,519 --> 00:06:05,159 pass this on to Jim Shepherd so he can 120 00:06:09,290 --> 00:06:07,529 tell doctor from brown well you know 121 00:06:11,089 --> 00:06:09,300 what I would do how to go ahead we used 122 00:06:14,029 --> 00:06:11,099 a little what we called the red routing 123 00:06:16,069 --> 00:06:14,039 slips and that was an interoffice memo 124 00:06:21,379 --> 00:06:16,079 so I would just go ahead and type it up 125 00:06:23,449 --> 00:06:21,389 you know dr. Brown Jim Joe Blow call 126 00:06:25,909 --> 00:06:23,459 today to give us the report on the test 127 00:06:28,759 --> 00:06:25,919 firing at Mississippi test facility and 128 00:06:30,230 --> 00:06:28,769 then I put safety Shepherd and so it was 129 00:06:32,089 --> 00:06:30,240 ready to go in when he got there you 130 00:06:34,189 --> 00:06:32,099 know he didn't have to but it was ready 131 00:06:36,199 --> 00:06:34,199 to go they docked from Brown was such a 132 00:06:38,299 --> 00:06:36,209 good communicator and he had dumped the 133 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:38,309 weekly notes he also had a daily journal 134 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:40,289 we had access to that it might in case 135 00:06:45,109 --> 00:06:43,289 this my boss the assistant he was really 136 00:06:47,239 --> 00:06:45,119 his responsibility really was to shatter 137 00:06:49,159 --> 00:06:47,249 the center director he attended meetings 138 00:06:50,809 --> 00:06:49,169 with him and his job was to make sure 139 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:50,819 that the center director was offloaded 140 00:06:54,050 --> 00:06:51,450 from 141 00:06:56,420 --> 00:06:54,060 anything he could do and then of course 142 00:06:58,760 --> 00:06:56,430 my opportunity there was to pick up 143 00:07:01,520 --> 00:06:58,770 there see but we got to see the Daily 144 00:07:03,740 --> 00:07:01,530 Journal which had my boss would since he 145 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:03,750 was shadowing him so he would go in and 146 00:07:08,990 --> 00:07:06,330 dictate to the Daily Journal about all 147 00:07:10,580 --> 00:07:09,000 the activities he was part of so we got 148 00:07:12,470 --> 00:07:10,590 to see the Daily Journal we got to see 149 00:07:14,210 --> 00:07:12,480 the weekly notes we saw what was going 150 00:07:16,750 --> 00:07:14,220 on around the center from the weekly 151 00:07:18,830 --> 00:07:16,760 notes and then we saw dr. ron brown's 152 00:07:22,970 --> 00:07:18,840 reaction to the senator knows a great 153 00:07:26,270 --> 00:07:22,980 part of my job was to receive the weekly 154 00:07:27,860 --> 00:07:26,280 notes on monday and i make copies they 155 00:07:29,150 --> 00:07:27,870 would bring me the originals from all 156 00:07:31,550 --> 00:07:29,160 the Blockheads I call them the 157 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:31,560 Blockheads but but all the block ads for 158 00:07:37,750 --> 00:07:34,290 bringing me their weekly notes and I 159 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:37,760 would copy them and then they would be 160 00:07:41,900 --> 00:07:39,690 though you get a copy of everybody 161 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:41,910 else's them go back to them then the 162 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:43,890 same thing when dark from Brown made his 163 00:07:48,710 --> 00:07:46,410 notes I'd make copies and those were 164 00:07:50,330 --> 00:07:48,720 sent out so all around the center the 165 00:07:52,610 --> 00:07:50,340 communications were the same everybody 166 00:07:54,740 --> 00:07:52,620 pretty much knew what was going on now 167 00:08:01,489 --> 00:07:54,750 the daily journal was naughty Oh shared 168 00:08:06,879 --> 00:08:03,879 her parents and my parents were friends 169 00:08:09,079 --> 00:08:06,889 and they used to play rope together so 170 00:08:11,570 --> 00:08:09,089 Bonnie just took me right under her wing 171 00:08:14,419 --> 00:08:11,580 when I came up but and she was the same 172 00:08:19,129 --> 00:08:14,429 that with all of the secretaries she was 173 00:08:22,519 --> 00:08:19,139 she came to work in the 50s and with 174 00:08:26,619 --> 00:08:22,529 ABMA and when the van Brown team came 175 00:08:28,879 --> 00:08:26,629 she was already more working there and 176 00:08:31,820 --> 00:08:28,889 they advertised for doctor from brand 177 00:08:33,409 --> 00:08:31,830 secretary asked her to apply and she 178 00:08:36,110 --> 00:08:33,419 didn't coerce she was selected and she 179 00:08:39,529 --> 00:08:36,120 was the perfect person she was she had 180 00:08:43,850 --> 00:08:39,539 been to business school she was trusted 181 00:08:45,889 --> 00:08:43,860 by him so much she was pretty much less 182 00:08:48,470 --> 00:08:45,899 I was saying how I did for Jim Shepherd 183 00:08:50,829 --> 00:08:48,480 she could you know anticipate what he 184 00:08:53,900 --> 00:08:50,839 needed and make sure that he had it and 185 00:08:56,689 --> 00:08:53,910 she said she and I worked so closely 186 00:08:58,340 --> 00:08:56,699 together she taught me how to put 187 00:09:00,710 --> 00:08:58,350 together the pack the briefcase 188 00:09:02,449 --> 00:09:00,720 briefcase packages every night our 189 00:09:06,069 --> 00:09:02,459 bosses would go home with a briefcase 190 00:09:09,230 --> 00:09:06,079 with anything they needed to know 191 00:09:12,350 --> 00:09:09,240 anything needed to approve or concur in 192 00:09:14,629 --> 00:09:12,360 and of course most everything didn't go 193 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:14,639 into up and Brown's desk safe from there 194 00:09:20,569 --> 00:09:17,610 so and if they were traveling there 195 00:09:23,780 --> 00:09:20,579 would be a folder with an agenda on top 196 00:09:26,870 --> 00:09:23,790 and a tab for almost every agenda item 197 00:09:27,410 --> 00:09:26,880 and that part of our job and this is how 198 00:09:29,629 --> 00:09:27,420 bunny 199 00:09:32,090 --> 00:09:29,639 trained us to do we would take each 200 00:09:34,069 --> 00:09:32,100 agenda item we called the manager that 201 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:34,079 had the information on that particular 202 00:09:38,090 --> 00:09:36,689 subject and ask for whatever we thought 203 00:09:40,460 --> 00:09:38,100 would be appropriate you know white 204 00:09:42,559 --> 00:09:40,470 paper you've got any issues you want to 205 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:42,569 bring up anything you need then you want 206 00:09:48,860 --> 00:09:46,250 him to request or whatever and know so 207 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:48,870 when he got to his meeting everything 208 00:09:51,980 --> 00:09:50,730 was there we hoped that he needed I'm 209 00:09:52,999 --> 00:09:51,990 sure there were times he would say when 210 00:09:57,259 --> 00:09:53,009 I wish they'd ask some more questions 211 00:10:00,499 --> 00:09:57,269 but and but the the managers had a lot 212 00:10:03,590 --> 00:10:00,509 of respect for us and they would if if 213 00:10:06,769 --> 00:10:03,600 we call they would respond most likely 214 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:06,779 immediately I mean I was teasing one of 215 00:10:12,020 --> 00:10:10,410 my friends saw recently who used to work 216 00:10:14,210 --> 00:10:12,030 for the shuttle office 217 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:14,220 I said Deemer if I called you and asked 218 00:10:18,230 --> 00:10:16,770 for a new graph of the Eiffel Tower I 219 00:10:20,690 --> 00:10:18,240 said you would have had it there in 30 220 00:10:21,860 --> 00:10:20,700 minutes and I said not only that you 221 00:10:24,050 --> 00:10:21,870 would have probably said and here's a 222 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:24,060 night view as well you know it was just 223 00:10:28,970 --> 00:10:26,370 that kind of support that we got and it 224 00:10:31,010 --> 00:10:28,980 it was just that made our jobs easier 225 00:10:35,420 --> 00:10:31,020 but that's part of the facilitation that 226 00:10:37,670 --> 00:10:35,430 we did and in the book ed but this late 227 00:10:39,620 --> 00:10:37,680 book that I wrote this about Bonnie I 228 00:10:41,180 --> 00:10:39,630 think on a tip they wanted to know what 229 00:10:44,540 --> 00:10:41,190 was a typical day well there's not was 230 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:44,550 not a typical day but oh just say for 231 00:10:47,510 --> 00:10:45,810 instance I said she would get a 232 00:10:49,220 --> 00:10:47,520 telephone call from maybe the 233 00:10:51,260 --> 00:10:49,230 administrator's office and said we need 234 00:10:53,290 --> 00:10:51,270 doctor around here tomorrow for a 235 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:53,300 meeting of the budget 236 00:10:59,840 --> 00:10:56,010 well money would have to call home have 237 00:11:02,120 --> 00:10:59,850 the wife pack a bag it's in the courier 238 00:11:03,680 --> 00:11:02,130 for the bag and she'd have a note past a 239 00:11:05,150 --> 00:11:03,690 doctor from around where he was and 240 00:11:08,450 --> 00:11:05,160 saying you got to be in Washington 241 00:11:10,850 --> 00:11:08,460 tomorrow at 8 o'clock she called but the 242 00:11:12,890 --> 00:11:10,860 pilot get the plane set up then she 243 00:11:14,300 --> 00:11:12,900 would call transportation and say we've 244 00:11:16,310 --> 00:11:14,310 got a plane going up tomorrow we got 245 00:11:21,650 --> 00:11:16,320 five empty seats if you have someone you 246 00:11:25,130 --> 00:11:21,660 can take off an airplane be you can put 247 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:25,140 him on the cup stream and then we put 248 00:11:29,420 --> 00:11:27,330 the package together you know whatever 249 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:29,430 the agenda was about and something 250 00:11:35,060 --> 00:11:31,890 everything was ready and so that would 251 00:11:37,220 --> 00:11:35,070 be the way we would work on nothing 252 00:11:38,990 --> 00:11:37,230 wasn't the same as yesterday it was and 253 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:39,000 that's what made it so much fun and you 254 00:11:45,079 --> 00:11:41,850 loved coming to work she was just bonnie 255 00:11:48,980 --> 00:11:45,089 was so she was well-rounded person to 256 00:11:52,430 --> 00:11:48,990 you she would come in talk about family 257 00:11:54,590 --> 00:11:52,440 and sports over the weekend and then but 258 00:11:56,360 --> 00:11:54,600 she was very dedicated doctor from Brown 259 00:11:59,600 --> 00:11:56,370 came into work about nine o'clock which 260 00:12:03,260 --> 00:11:59,610 gave us about an hour to get our coffee 261 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:03,270 and get settled and then he would leave 262 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:06,450 between 5:30 and 6 and that was pretty 263 00:12:12,590 --> 00:12:08,810 much oh and of course in those days 264 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:12,600 another thing with the communications we 265 00:12:17,090 --> 00:12:15,330 monitored their telephone calls and of 266 00:12:19,220 --> 00:12:17,100 course dr. brennan's definitely were 267 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:19,230 monitored and transcribed and added to 268 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:21,330 the daily journal and of course mr. I 269 00:12:25,630 --> 00:12:23,730 wouldn't monitor mr. Shepherds of course 270 00:12:28,180 --> 00:12:25,640 that was just so that I could 271 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:28,190 pick up on any actions or anything that 272 00:12:31,930 --> 00:12:30,650 needed to be done Jack Bosch was the 273 00:12:34,990 --> 00:12:31,940 director at the Mississippi test 274 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:35,000 facility and I believe it was Hurricane 275 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:39,290 Camille but he was calling dr. Brown and 276 00:12:46,420 --> 00:12:44,810 telling how bad it was and his voice you 277 00:12:49,210 --> 00:12:46,430 could just tell I mean he was almost in 278 00:12:51,700 --> 00:12:49,220 tears for his employees and the impact 279 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:51,710 on his employees and what could we do 280 00:12:57,340 --> 00:12:55,130 you know it's just it was those those 281 00:12:59,920 --> 00:12:57,350 kind that when I remember very well you 282 00:13:03,190 --> 00:12:59,930 know he was so he but dark jack-bots 283 00:13:05,110 --> 00:13:03,200 what he spoke very loudly a minute but 284 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:05,120 it wasn't so much I mean he wasn't mad 285 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:06,770 it was just that he was so sympathetic 286 00:13:13,450 --> 00:13:10,010 and and heartbroken of the damage that 287 00:13:17,629 --> 00:13:13,460 Camille had done to hit the residents 288 00:13:21,859 --> 00:13:20,059 you know I did not know him and when I 289 00:13:24,109 --> 00:13:21,869 came up to the office I mean of course I 290 00:13:27,710 --> 00:13:24,119 knew he was center director and no but I 291 00:13:29,929 --> 00:13:27,720 did not he was a gentleman on the way 292 00:13:33,939 --> 00:13:29,939 through I never heard any kind of slang 293 00:13:38,150 --> 00:13:33,949 words I mean no level of slang there was 294 00:13:43,669 --> 00:13:38,160 we were treated very respectfully by him 295 00:13:47,030 --> 00:13:43,679 he but he was very curious I remember 296 00:13:48,859 --> 00:13:47,040 one day we used the our ribbons on 297 00:13:51,799 --> 00:13:48,869 typewriters where those carbon ribbons 298 00:13:53,269 --> 00:13:51,809 that you only used one time and so when 299 00:13:56,290 --> 00:13:53,279 you took them off you could see the 300 00:13:59,929 --> 00:13:56,300 imprint of the letters on the ribbon and 301 00:14:01,939 --> 00:13:59,939 the bonny had an assistant secretary she 302 00:14:05,419 --> 00:14:01,949 had laid her discarded ribbon on her 303 00:14:07,609 --> 00:14:05,429 desk and dr. Ron came in picked it up 304 00:14:10,249 --> 00:14:07,619 forever and ever and he said did 305 00:14:12,859 --> 00:14:10,259 somebody leave me a message I mean but 306 00:14:14,660 --> 00:14:12,869 he wanted he wanted to he's here if it's 307 00:14:16,669 --> 00:14:14,670 here for me I wanted you know I want to 308 00:14:19,249 --> 00:14:16,679 know and that was it he wanted to know 309 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:19,259 that all signs of everything well he was 310 00:14:26,539 --> 00:14:22,170 just so busy he did not change too much 311 00:14:28,249 --> 00:14:26,549 oh that I recall now he I don't know if 312 00:14:31,189 --> 00:14:28,259 he wanted to go to Washington you know 313 00:14:33,350 --> 00:14:31,199 at the end we certainly didn't want him 314 00:14:35,269 --> 00:14:33,360 to go and that I don't know that it was 315 00:14:38,449 --> 00:14:35,279 a mistake but it would seem like a 316 00:14:39,949 --> 00:14:38,459 missed assignment from him but he's 317 00:14:46,579 --> 00:14:39,959 thought you know he's the one that had 318 00:14:49,850 --> 00:14:46,589 the dream and the start and all of his 319 00:14:52,489 --> 00:14:49,860 team from Peenemunde a they just revered 320 00:14:54,769 --> 00:14:52,499 him they would do anything and of course 321 00:14:56,960 --> 00:14:54,779 we would too I mean and we loved him 322 00:15:00,049 --> 00:14:56,970 that much I mean he was just whatever we 323 00:15:02,269 --> 00:15:00,059 can do to make this easy and meet this 324 00:15:07,379 --> 00:15:02,279 goal we wanted to do it we wanted to be 325 00:15:12,389 --> 00:15:10,499 it was exploding really it was exploding 326 00:15:18,079 --> 00:15:12,399 in though you know housing was an issue 327 00:15:21,389 --> 00:15:18,089 and those you know dr. brennan's 328 00:15:23,759 --> 00:15:21,399 probably responsible for a lot of the 329 00:15:26,460 --> 00:15:23,769 young I worked in facilities off of us 330 00:15:31,379 --> 00:15:26,470 before 65 I stayed in their facilities 331 00:15:35,100 --> 00:15:31,389 office of course we had Hans 332 00:15:37,319 --> 00:15:35,110 I know if Hans Hilton and a mr. Larson 333 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:37,329 and a Heinrich Schultz they from that 334 00:15:43,079 --> 00:15:39,730 team in there and I remember it was 335 00:15:45,479 --> 00:15:43,089 Larson and Hilton I believe who even 336 00:15:48,329 --> 00:15:45,489 worked with the city as they were 337 00:15:52,470 --> 00:15:48,339 expanding with the roadways in the 338 00:15:54,780 --> 00:15:52,480 parkway and said build them wider build 339 00:15:57,509 --> 00:15:54,790 them wider you know that was that was 340 00:15:59,389 --> 00:15:57,519 thing because they from Germany they had 341 00:16:02,400 --> 00:15:59,399 already been through the pains of 342 00:16:05,039 --> 00:16:02,410 exploding areas and the roadways were so 343 00:16:07,139 --> 00:16:05,049 important and so we can be thankful to 344 00:16:11,730 --> 00:16:07,149 them for more than just getting to the 345 00:16:15,630 --> 00:16:13,710 you know you don't want to change that 346 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:15,640 come in this electric typewriter where 347 00:16:18,540 --> 00:16:16,930 you really don't want to change but oh 348 00:16:21,090 --> 00:16:18,550 it's fabulous you didn't have to erase 349 00:16:22,889 --> 00:16:21,100 anymore and then when the computers came 350 00:16:26,220 --> 00:16:22,899 and then that was just wonderful one of 351 00:16:27,810 --> 00:16:26,230 my basic jobs was my boss Jim Shepherd 352 00:16:31,079 --> 00:16:27,820 wanted me to initial off on all 353 00:16:32,670 --> 00:16:31,089 concurrent sheets and see I so my job 354 00:16:34,860 --> 00:16:32,680 was to go through the package making 355 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:34,870 sure that if you were replying to a 356 00:16:38,910 --> 00:16:36,330 letter that all issues were addressed 357 00:16:41,220 --> 00:16:38,920 and you'd have all the proper 358 00:16:43,290 --> 00:16:41,230 concurrences was there anything in there 359 00:16:46,019 --> 00:16:43,300 if I couldn't understand it he'd say it 360 00:16:46,949 --> 00:16:46,029 needs to be rewritten and so you know a 361 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:46,959 lot of times you have to go back and 362 00:16:50,639 --> 00:16:48,850 rewrite it but and so those computers 363 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:50,649 made that so easy all I had to do some 364 00:16:56,070 --> 00:16:52,450 call the secretary at the division level 365 00:16:59,790 --> 00:16:56,080 and say you know email me that letter 366 00:17:02,220 --> 00:16:59,800 and I'll make these changes and make and 367 00:17:04,770 --> 00:17:02,230 then you make sure everybody who has a 368 00:17:07,319 --> 00:17:04,780 need to know he's getting a copy of this 369 00:17:09,540 --> 00:17:07,329 letter when he's signed and and that 370 00:17:12,329 --> 00:17:09,550 made it you know those computers made 371 00:17:13,620 --> 00:17:12,339 that job very easy it was exciting it 372 00:17:15,329 --> 00:17:13,630 really was it and that's why you just 373 00:17:16,650 --> 00:17:15,339 love to come to work and see what's 374 00:17:18,510 --> 00:17:16,660 gonna happen today but it was very 375 00:17:21,270 --> 00:17:18,520 exciting and and of course if there were 376 00:17:23,579 --> 00:17:21,280 anomalies we were always you know sad 377 00:17:24,870 --> 00:17:23,589 but we knew that somebody was gonna get 378 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:24,880 to the bottom of that and that's gonna 379 00:17:35,730 --> 00:17:33,210 I was just beginning to realize that you 380 00:17:38,220 --> 00:17:35,740 know I'm a part of that I never thought 381 00:17:42,450 --> 00:17:38,230 I'd be a part of history like that you 382 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:42,460 know it's just it was wonderful I got to 383 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:45,490 see a Saturn one and seven 1b and I also 384 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:49,450 I was there for Apollo I was I got to 385 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:51,610 work in the press office at the Cape for 386 00:17:57,690 --> 00:17:53,770 a week got to take my family down my 387 00:17:59,340 --> 00:17:57,700 husband we had an 18 month old son and 388 00:18:02,250 --> 00:17:59,350 then my sister went down with us so she 389 00:18:05,250 --> 00:18:02,260 could babysit and know and that was fact 390 00:18:07,799 --> 00:18:05,260 the anticipation of the launch I think 391 00:18:11,100 --> 00:18:07,809 was it was just in the atmosphere there 392 00:18:13,139 --> 00:18:11,110 was just you know electric and of course 393 00:18:17,490 --> 00:18:13,149 to see it go off you just you know you 394 00:18:19,380 --> 00:18:17,500 have a pride itself in fact even with 395 00:18:21,330 --> 00:18:19,390 you've been through the shuttle period I 396 00:18:24,090 --> 00:18:21,340 got to see several shuttles as well and 397 00:18:27,810 --> 00:18:24,100 I got to see one of the Skylab Skylab 398 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:27,820 launches and know it's like you it's 399 00:18:32,909 --> 00:18:31,690 like a patriotic feeling when I go to a 400 00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:32,919 football game and they raise the 401 00:18:37,710 --> 00:18:35,890 American flag you know I can I can tears 402 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:37,720 can well in my eyes whether the same 403 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:39,690 thing would happen with a lift off of 404 00:18:44,669 --> 00:18:41,890 something that we had been a part of 405 00:18:47,669 --> 00:18:44,679 it's just you know I have an interest in 406 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:47,679 that and you just feel a pride that it's 407 00:18:55,710 --> 00:18:51,250 going off successfully to look back to 408 00:18:57,810 --> 00:18:55,720 Apollo 11 that to be first I mean that 409 00:19:00,480 --> 00:18:57,820 was the first thing you think of we won 410 00:19:04,039 --> 00:19:00,490 that we are first in space we have our 411 00:19:08,700 --> 00:19:04,049 flag is their footprint on the moon and 412 00:19:12,120 --> 00:19:08,710 just how fabulous it was we had had so 413 00:19:14,250 --> 00:19:12,130 much success there was some apathy I 414 00:19:16,139 --> 00:19:14,260 think even among the employees you know 415 00:19:19,789 --> 00:19:16,149 if things had been kind of routine 416 00:19:25,110 --> 00:19:19,799 where's Apollo 13 kind of woke us up and 417 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:25,120 there was that risk reward was high high 418 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:26,770 subject again you know is it really 419 00:19:32,490 --> 00:19:29,290 worth going on you know and 420 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:32,500 and the people it's the person on the 421 00:19:36,420 --> 00:19:35,050 street you know I think they thought 422 00:19:37,830 --> 00:19:36,430 wouldn't you know is this really worth 423 00:19:41,130 --> 00:19:37,840 it what are we really getting out of 424 00:19:45,030 --> 00:19:41,140 this and my personal opinion is that 425 00:19:48,300 --> 00:19:45,040 NASA was not as good as they should have 426 00:19:49,650 --> 00:19:48,310 been in communicating the benefits of 427 00:19:52,500 --> 00:19:49,660 the space program 428 00:19:56,700 --> 00:19:52,510 even from the launches to tell the 429 00:20:00,150 --> 00:19:56,710 ordinary person how this is building to 430 00:20:03,060 --> 00:20:00,160 a greater achievement but you know 431 00:20:06,870 --> 00:20:03,070 Apollo 11 in my opinion is the greatest 432 00:20:09,060 --> 00:20:06,880 American achievement ever if it had not 433 00:20:11,730 --> 00:20:09,070 been for dr. around in his Peenemunde 434 00:20:14,940 --> 00:20:11,740 a-team we would not have been on the 435 00:20:17,610 --> 00:20:14,950 moon in 69 we might have been working on 436 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:17,620 some field of it but we would not have 437 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:18,690 been on the moon 438 00:20:22,700 --> 00:20:21,850 Huntsville would not have be what it is 439 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:22,710 today 440 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:29,410 and employees like me I mean it was my 441 00:20:35,700 --> 00:20:32,650 life I mean I owe him so much to provide 442 00:20:37,650 --> 00:20:35,710 that opportunity to work with them and 443 00:20:41,370 --> 00:20:37,660 own such a mission that was so rewarding 444 00:20:44,690 --> 00:20:41,380 and so rewarding to the country but I 445 00:20:46,770 --> 00:20:44,700 was so grateful because and NASA and 446 00:20:48,990 --> 00:20:46,780 this started with Dawn from Rand you 447 00:20:51,210 --> 00:20:49,000 know there were no limits you know I 448 00:20:53,100 --> 00:20:51,220 mean whatever you can do you you do it 449 00:20:55,650 --> 00:20:53,110 you show us you can do it and you know 450 00:20:57,870 --> 00:20:55,660 you you could get promoted because if 451 00:21:00,090 --> 00:20:57,880 you if you really were sincere and tried 452 00:21:02,100 --> 00:21:00,100 hard and did your job