The NYC Veterans Oral History Project: Edith Lazenby, Veteran Interview

 Biography

Edith Lazenby served in the Women’s Army Corp from 1963-1966. While in the service, Ms. Lazenby was stationed in Frankfurt and Munich, Germany. In this interview, recorded at the New York Public Library on July 18th, Ms. Lazenby discusses her time in the Signal Corps, where she worked decoding confidential messages. Much of her work is still confidential, but she recalls her experiences traveling in Germany, the skills she acquired in Basic Training, and how all of her peers learned to get along with each other. Ms. Lazenby was on flag duty at Basic Training when she heard the news that President Kennedy had been assassinated, and she talks about the grief that reverberated through the base and how it felt to lower the flag for him. Ms. Lazenby advises young people going into the Army, “Go in and make something of yourself. Come out, and help someone.”

 

Major Points in Interview

2:00 - Basic Training and getting along with people

3:55 - Description of teletype machine and signal school

7:45 - Transfer to Frankfurt, Germany

11:30 - Process for top secret clearances

12:55 - Extra curricular activities and sports in the Army

14:25 - Differences between Frankfurt and Munich

16:15 - Experiences of racial prejudice in the American South

19:31 - Everyone who joined was young, the Army forced them to grow up

20:00 - Skills learned in Basic Training, how to pass inspections

22:34 - Taking the Army oath made the whole experience seem real

27:24 - Talked someone out of suicide, who later went AWOL

30:34 - Had a job held for her until she finished service

32:36 - Advice to young people

33:49 - Tested to see if she adhered to top-secret protocols

36:33 - Didn't carry a gun, no women did

42:15 - Recounts marching songs

46:00 - Discussion of salary, buying bonds

48:55 - Served at the same time as her brother

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