European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 29, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Smooth sailing Santa Barbara s men and women work together Well by de Reavis staff writer fixed gender Crews in the Navy have ceased to be a Novelty and according to the commander of the ammunition ship Santa Barbara they Are the trend of the future. The women have proved they can do the Job and we need them because we just Don t have enough men volunteering. It s As simple As that said cmdr. James m. Graham. The Novelty of women on warships and on ships in Genera _ has worn off for the Crew of the Santa Barbara and members react with mild astonishment when asked by visitors what the difference is Between serving on a mixed gender ship and an All male one. There is none. We do the Job that s required said Ensign Rebecca Dickinson a Veteran of six years. The Santa Barbara currently has a Crew of 300 men and 85 women with slots for five More women. The ship was anchored off the coast of the French Riviera in the Bay of Saint Tropez earlier this month after participating in a naval Parade to celebrate the 50th anniversary of operation Dragoon the Allied Landing in Southern France during world War ii. Before returning to its Home port in Charleston s.c., the ship held an open House which was warmly received by Beac Side vacationers. The Crew had just spent 45 Days at sea. Dickinson said the hardest thing about that experience was Lack of communication with her husband in Charleston. Separation is the toughest part and nearly the Only problem i can really think of and that has nothing to do with gender Dickinson said. Fireman Priscilla Roldan who dressed As a yellow jacket to Greet Young visitors and to personify the Crew s motto of we deliver the sting said the Crew has developed a men think this and women think this about a subject then we work out a Compromise that s acceptable to All. The important thing is for the men to just consider us sailors. And they really do she said. However it. Mary Smith the ship navigator was t so sure All the men accept the women. Some of the older sailors May resent taking orders from a woman but Don t show it she said. I Don t find that surprising it. Nancy Brooks ship Supply officer has spent two years on the Santa Barbara and eight years in the Navy. She said the Santa Barbara had its first mixed Crew in 1989. Brooks repeated the Crew s lament i Jat separation from family and friends is the toughest part about being at sea. She has a husband who teaches school in Charleston. Graham having worked with the Pentagon commission that put women on ships is an advocate of mixed Crews. We have 10 female officers aboard for example my Supply dispersing ship gunnery navigator and other important personnel he said. Our greatest problem stems from berthing How to separate sleeping and showering areas. That also Means we have to consider berthing when we lose or gain Crew sign Rebecca Dickinson it. Mary Smith it. Nancy Brooks is photos by Dave Casey women on Board i . Brad Kinslow from leftist. Cmdr. Mark Oyle and it Karen Cook prepare to Welcome sitors aboard the Santa Barbara. Above Seaman recruit Lisa Anderson conducts a guided tour. Graham called the atmosphere on ship very Good. He Iid there Are friendships on Board but nothing improper. We have seminars and schooling that use actual Case stories of fraternization and sexual harassment for group discussions and it raises our awareness of potential problems Graham said. But he said the key to keeping people out of trouble is keep them Busy. Time flies when you work he Santa Barbara s Mission is to transport cargo and provide logistical support ammunition fuel groceries and the All important mail for the . Ships. I we also provide helicopter support for picking up Milors on emergency or leave. And we provided combat logistic support to the germans and British navies in the Adriatic four times for the Bosnia blockade Craham said. We were the Only dedicated ammunition ship in the Mediterranean and we also served in the Gulf Graham said that the future of the Santa Barbara As the Alt ships in the Navy is to have eve., More women on Board. Cmdr James Graham is an advocate of mixed Crews. Women have served on . Warships sporadically since the War of 1812, when Stephen Decatur enlisted two of his officers wives to care for casualties he anticipated during the British blockade of new York but when the emergency passed the women were always sent ashore. In 1978 women served aboard Hospital and Supply ships but they were limited to spending 180 Days on fighting ships As aircraft carriers and destroyers. The big change in America s attitude about women in combat came during the persian Gulf War when some 40,000 military women served in the Middle East War zone and 11 were killed. Although America grieved for its sons and daughters it did not go to the barricades about the fact that women came Home in body bags. The Tail Hook scandal in which Navy women were allegedly sexually harassed by Drunken male counterparts had the direct effect of forcing the Navy to change its attitude toward the women in its service. In 1993 Congress repealed the world War ii Law that excluded women from combat jobs. On March 9, 1.993, it. Cmdr. Jan Hamby walked up the gangplank of the aircraft Carrier Eisenhower and became one of the first women assigned to regular duty aboard a . Combat ship. The associated press r 16 the stars and stripes monday a ust 29, 1994 the stars and stripes 17
