KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Ruth Coughlin set sail on many a life adventure in her 100 years including 51 years of marriage, five children and six grandchildren. But for almost two years during her service in the Navy, the Knoxville woman says she made 28 trips across the Atlantic Ocean.
“A woman officer has to be aboard a Navy ship if there's any woman or child on board. That's a rule and you don't break it. And so anytime in which we transported Navy wives, or Army wives, any kind of service wife and their children back and forth,” said Coughlin.
At 30 years old, she joined the Navy for one reason.
"Just decided I wanted to do something different," she said.
In addition to our on-camera interview about her almost five years of service, she took time to answer the following ten questions about the impact of her military service on the rest of her life. Those questions and her answers are available below.
Service & Sacrifice: 10 Questions
1. What one person influenced you most in life?
My grandmother, whom I lived with in Birmingham, after I finished my nurse’s training there. She was a very strong woman, being the oldest child of six children, whose parents were German immigrants that settled in Baltimore. When both of her parents died young, she had to take charge of raising and supporting her five younger brothers and sisters.
2. Do you feel honored and respected for serving your country?
Yes, I do.
3. How can people thank you for your service?
I don’t really know, but I will say that I felt very honored and appreciated when I had the opportunity to be a part of an Honor Air flight to Washington, D.C. in 2015.
4. How do you honor your fellow servicemen and women?
I display USA flags all around my home and property on important national holidays, including Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day.
5. How do you think this generation of military men and women is different or similar to yours?
I think many of them are more casual about their patriotism and about honoring our country with their military service. I think today people join the military for different reasons than I did. I also think there are less women serving as nurses in the military now, than when I was doing that.
6. What influence did your military service have on the rest of your life?
It instilled in me a greater sense of organization and discipline in my personal life. It also instilled a greater sense of pride for my country. To this day, I am still very interested in current events that involve our country.
7. Does your family have a history of military service?
My husband, whom I met while I was in the Navy, completed some of his medical training as a doctor in the Navy. My two brothers were enlisted men in the Navy. My father was in the Army during WWI.
8. Would you encourage younger generations in your family to join the service?
N/A
9. How has your opinion of war changed?
I was born only five years after World War I ended. I lived through several more wars during my lifetime, including World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq. I am very concerned for our country, because I think we are more complacent about war now, than in the past, and I hope and pray that we would be ready!
10. How did your military experience shape your religious faith?
My religious faith was already very well shaped & strong when I went into the service; I do not think being in the Navy really had much influence on my faith.