The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Fern Ward. Ward was born in Wausa, Nebraska on 16 January 1923. She grew up during the Great Depression years. Soon after joining the Navy (WAVES) in 1944, she was sent to Hunter College, Bronx, New York for six weeks of basic training. She was then sent to Indiana University in Bloomington where she studied bookkeeping for six weeks. Upon graduating she was classified as a Storekeeper 3rd Class and sent to the San Francisco Naval Shipyard, Hunters Point, California. She tells of the work she did and comments on the living conditions there. Ward concludes the interview by telling of her life following her discharge in 1945.