Karen Wertz
U.S. Army veteran and West Chester University undergraduate Lawrence Davidson interviewing United States Navy veteran and West Chester University graduate student Karen Wertz in the Special Collections room in the Francis Harvey Green Library on the campus of West Chester University, West Chester, PA as part of the Soldiers to Scholars project.
Chapter Index:
Chapter 1 (10:01): personal background (Doylestown, PA), high school (Central Bucks East), choosing the military, the navy, recruitment process, boot camp (August 2000), family/friends reaction, Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), radar specialist, experience at basic training, co-ed division, classroom learning during basic, A School (Norfolk, Virginia).
Chapter 2 (10:01): post-basic routine, electronic navigation, graduation (April 2001), first deployment (“Carrot Cruise,” Southeast Asia), USS Rushmore (amphibious assault), conditions on board, typical day, time at sea, back to port, 9/11 (at port in San Diego).
Chapter 3 (10:01): impact of 9/11 on naval readiness/mission, patrolling and training in the Pacific, January 2003 deployment (Kuwait, north Arabian Gulf), navy-marine relationship, day to day en route, arrival to Kuwait, dropping of marines, patrolling, new job (human resources).
Chapter 4 (10:01): paperwork, free time (classes), physical training, laundry, base at Bahrain, spring 2003, drills, May 2003 (marines return), marine stories, liberty to Australia, “crossing the line” (equator), “still beach picnics.”
Chapter 5 (10:01): port (Australia), calling home, emailing, liberty to Hawaii, back to San Diego, leave home, transition counseling, homecoming, “fathers meet babies,” marines dropped at Camp Pendleton, back to Pennsylvania, new job (postal clerk), training at Fort Jackson, SC, army-navy differences, to Japan (two year, land based).
Chapter 6 (10:01): reception in Japan, “ambassador” role, experience as junior leader, viewpoints regarding war in Iraq, politics, decision about leaving navy, transition to civilian life, to Kutztown University (PA), impact of military experience on college, to West Chester, reflection on military service.
Clip 7 (1:03): reflection on military service.
Biographical Information
Full Name Karen Wertz
Place of Birth Philadelphia, PA
Expected Graduation Date May 2011
Gender Female
Branch of Service United States Navy
Type of Service Regular/Active
Officer/Enlisted Enlisted
Service Dates August2000-October2005
Highest Rank Achieved E4-Petty Officer Third Class
Military Occupation (OS-radar and electronic navigation)(PC-postal clerk)
War, operation, conflict served in: Operation Southern Watch
Operation Iraqi FreedomUnit(s) Deployed With (provide as much as you know)
USS Rushmore (LSD-47)
Dates Deploy January2003-July2003
Location(s) of Service in Theater Northern Arabian/Persian Gulf
Brief Description of typical mission/duties while deployed
Transport Marine Expeditionary Forces to Kuwait before the start of Operation Iraqi Followed by patrolling the Northern Arabian/Persian Gulf.
Chapter 1 (10:01): personal background (Doylestown, PA), high school (Central Bucks East), choosing the military, the navy, recruitment process, boot camp (August 2000), family/friends reaction, Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), radar specialist, experience at basic training, co-ed division, classroom learning during basic, A School (Norfolk, Virginia).
Chapter 2 (10:01): post-basic routine, electronic navigation, graduation (April 2001), first deployment (“Carrot Cruise,” Southeast Asia), USS Rushmore (amphibious assault), conditions on board, typical day, time at sea, back to port, 9/11 (at port in San Diego).
Chapter 3 (10:01): impact of 9/11 on naval readiness/mission, patrolling and training in the Pacific, January 2003 deployment (Kuwait, north Arabian Gulf), navy-marine relationship, day to day en route, arrival to Kuwait, dropping of marines, patrolling, new job (human resources).
Chapter 4 (10:01): paperwork, free time (classes), physical training, laundry, base at Bahrain, spring 2003, drills, May 2003 (marines return), marine stories, liberty to Australia, “crossing the line” (equator), “still beach picnics.”
Chapter 5 (10:01): port (Australia), calling home, emailing, liberty to Hawaii, back to San Diego, leave home, transition counseling, homecoming, “fathers meet babies,” marines dropped at Camp Pendleton, back to Pennsylvania, new job (postal clerk), training at Fort Jackson, SC, army-navy differences, to Japan (two year, land based).
Chapter 6 (10:01): reception in Japan, “ambassador” role, experience as junior leader, viewpoints regarding war in Iraq, politics, decision about leaving navy, transition to civilian life, to Kutztown University (PA), impact of military experience on college, to West Chester, reflection on military service.
Clip 7 (1:03): reflection on military service.
Biographical Information
Full Name Karen Wertz
Place of Birth Philadelphia, PA
Expected Graduation Date May 2011
Gender Female
Branch of Service United States Navy
Type of Service Regular/Active
Officer/Enlisted Enlisted
Service Dates August2000-October2005
Highest Rank Achieved E4-Petty Officer Third Class
Military Occupation (OS-radar and electronic navigation)(PC-postal clerk)
War, operation, conflict served in: Operation Southern Watch
Operation Iraqi FreedomUnit(s) Deployed With (provide as much as you know)
USS Rushmore (LSD-47)
Dates Deploy January2003-July2003
Location(s) of Service in Theater Northern Arabian/Persian Gulf
Brief Description of typical mission/duties while deployed
Transport Marine Expeditionary Forces to Kuwait before the start of Operation Iraqi Followed by patrolling the Northern Arabian/Persian Gulf.
