Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Agnes Helen Patterson Collection

Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Cold War
- Branch of Service: Air Force
- Unit of Service: 62nd Communications Squadron
- Location of Service: Lackland Air Force Base, Texas; Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming; Donaldson Air Force Base, South Carolina; Larson Air Force Base, Washington
- Highest Rank: Airman First Class
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/92108
Agnes Gomez Patterson enlisted in the Air Force in 1950, armed with her birth certificate, high school diploma, and five dollars. Though she had hoped to join the Marine Corps, her small stature prompted a recruiter to suggest an alternate branch. When she arrived at Lackland Air Force Base outside of San Antonio, Texas, for basic training, she found she was the only Mexican-American within her 150- woman squadron. Serving as a teletype operator with the 62nd Communications Squadron from 1950 to 1952, she also participated in base activities such as softball, basketball, and bowling, which helped boost her confidence and communication skills. Though she separated from the military in 1952, she went on to work as a civilian for the Air Force and the Navy, and as a volunteer for the Red Cross. As she wrote in her memoir, following her time in the military, “I found my voice, and now it was hard to stop me.”
Interview / Recording
Share
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PlayMother suggested she join military; family background; brothers in military; enlisting in the Air Force. 00:17:01.0 - 00:21:00.0
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PlayJourney to Texas; seeing segregated facilities; being shocked by overt racism. 00:24:20.0 - 00:25:18.0
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PlaySpent less than a year in Greenville SC; had a tough time with racial bias; incident in which she offered seat to pregnant woman and was thrown off bus; segregation in churches. 00:47:14.0 - 00:50:26.0
About this Item
Title
- Agnes Helen Patterson Collection
Names
- Patricia Henshaw
- Patterson, Agnes Helen Gomez
- Farrar, Mike
- American Red Cross, Greater Long Beach Chapter
State of Birth
- CA
Home State
- CA
Headings
- - Patterson, Agnes Helen
- - Cold War -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Air Force.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Female
Race
- Hispanic
Status
- Veteran
Service History
-
Cold War
- Branch of Service: Air Force
- Unit of Service: 62nd Communications Squadron
- Location of Service: Lackland Air Force Base, Texas; Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming; Donaldson Air Force Base, South Carolina; Larson Air Force Base, Washington
- Highest Rank: Airman First Class
- Dates of Service: 1950-1952
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: Veteran
Materials
- Photograph: Original photographic print [17 items] -- Photograph (collected 1950 - 1952)
- Manuscript: Memoirs [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 10/17/2013)
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 10/17/2013)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/92108
Cite as
- Agnes Helen Patterson Collection (AFC/2001/001/92108), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Donaldson Air Force Base, South Carolina
- Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
- Larson Air Force Base, Washington
- Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming