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Show Feature SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 6, 1998 8 This Mama wore combat boots By Barbara Pyles Veterans Day is a time to honor men and women who have served in the military. This story is not about those who fought in wars. Rightly so, they have had their fair share of coverage. They are our nations enduring heroes. Instead, this article is about a housewife and mother of four, who proudly served and supported her country behind the front lines, close to home. Without this kind of support battles could not be won. It all started in 1974 when Jane Hansen answered a newspaper ad. The ad wanted someone to fill a simple clerical job and did not specify the employer. The mother of four children ranging in age from 4 to 9, didnt realize that she was making a date with fate. When the man in civilian clothes revealed that he represented the Army Reserves, the other women got up and left. Keep talking, said Jane. She had taken the first step towards joining the United States Womens Army Corps. Hansen confessed that had she known the position was for the Army, she would never have answrered the ad. Her husband said, Go for it. Her children thought it was cooL Not everyone had a mama wrho wore combat boots. On May 21, 1974, Hansen enlisted in the Army Reserve under the Civilian Acquired Skills Program. Under this program the Army recruits civilians who have skills the Army needs. The rules said, no more than two children, she had four. The Army gave Hansen a waiver. As a two star general swore Private First Class Hansen into the United States Army, a one star general witnessed the event. Lets get real, generals dont swear in recruits. The Army was especially anxious to obtain women. In that era, although there were women in all the services, the Army had just started recruiting women into the Army Reserves. She would have to prove herself over and over again. It came with the territory. As an Army Reservist, HanSen stint of signed for a three-yea- r 16 hours of active duty per month. Its only a part time job, she thought. TTie 30 year old WAC traveled to Fort McClellan, AL for her basic training. Instead of the usual eight weeks of WAC Basic Training, the new program offered a condensed introductory training period of two weeks. If KP or clean-u- p duties came along ... well the young housewife did have experience. At this point women did not shoot rifles, so there was no qualifying on weapons. Hansen would qualify on an M-1- 6 later in her career. After basic, Hansen served as a clerical aide for the 96th Arcom Headquarters at Fort Douglas, UT. Her civilian skills were directly applied to her military job. After three months, she was asked to go on active duty. Whats that? asked Hansen. Theyoungmother served short active tours of three, four and six months, five days a week. When the Army Guard Reserve Lorin Tonks 310 s 100 E Kanab, Utah 644-268-3 JNSUBAMC a Good naietzbar. State Farm is w Like scats Harm imuranet companies Homo Offices: fleomingten, nilneli .. program came into being, she went full time. Now a SP4, Hansen was assigned to the recruiting section at ARCOM headquarters. She was tuned into what would get people into the Army, after all a blind ad brought her in.( A blind ad doesnt mention the Army and is illegal today). Anyway, she wrote ads for the area, dealing with all the recruiters and newspapers by phone. According to Hansen, the ads had very good results. One day her supervisor shook a surprised Hansens hand and said, You got your promotion, you are now a recruiter. Sgt. Hansen left Fort Douglas, and recruited in downtown Salt Lake at the Federal Building. She was the only female recruiter in Utah. Asked about being a recruiter, Hansen said, I really believed in the sendee and the training for both men and women. It is good basic training for life... I never lied to a recruit, and it is very tempting to fabricate the truth a little bit. There is such pressure to get the numbers in, but I told it like it was. I never had anyone accuse me of lying. six-sta- te . Although her enthusiasm caught fire with both young men and women, she always talked to the parents. She tried to convey that most people in the Army are everyday people. Recruiting was a fast paced duty, there was always a quota to fill. (Hansen did fill her quota, receiving a gold badge with full sapphires). There were insane hours of getting up at four in the morning, takingyoung people to be tested and processed, and the late night interviews. After six years of recruiting, soldier mom applied for the job ofSupply Sergeant. She wasnow a single parent, and it was rough being a single parent and a recruiter. Much to her relief, she got the job and received orders to report to Fort Douglas. But her commander didnt want a female supply sergeant and he started playing games. Normally a person of my rank, E7, wouldnt shovel snow. The commander had me shovel snow all around the ARCOM building. Hansen didnt complain, she just kept shoveling. Fortunately, the general got tired of seeing the humble sergeant with the icy nose shoveling snow, so he called her commander. The next day, and for many days thereafter, lieutenants and captains helped her out. Her next duty, after training, was head of the personnel and finance section, still at Fort Douglas. When Hansen had close to 16 years in the service, she received orders to report to the Army Reserve. Personnel Kanab veteran Jane Hansen and her dog Molly. Hansen retired from the Army after 21 years, three months and four days ofactive duty. At one time she was die only woman recruiter in the state of Utah. Photo by Barbara Pyles. Louis. Keep in mind, Hansen had lived in the Salt Lake Valley area all those years. But as far as the Army was concerned, she had been moving. The sergeant arrived at her new post to find the position no ter in St. longer existed. The Army promptly put her in charge of Data Input. I had never touched a computer in my life, so they sent me to school. Later, she was detailed over to (FTSMC) Full Time Support Management Center. She stayed in St. Louis for four years. Her supervisors gave Hansen choice a ofbeing promoted above SFC or not. If she accepted, it meant a tour of duty in Washington, D.C. Since she had remarried and was close to retirement, she decided not. Sgt. Hansen was 19 years into her career when the Army transferred her to Denver, Colorado. She worked as office manager for an Army Reserve Unit at the Denver Federal Center. It was a great job for my last tour of duty, she says. When Hansen joined the Army, she never imagined it would become her livelihood. Although she felt Army, at times instance: Hansen spent a good y time traindeal of her for blind. the Shes ing guide dogs trained three dogs, keeping each in her home for about a year. She became interested in guide dogs while writing a term paper on guide dogs for a college class. At the age of 35, she joined a 4-group in the Salt Lake area, being the only adult in the group. The teenagers, and Hansen received guidance on how to train their puppies. She had her own dog, Molly, trained as a therapy dog. While stationed in St Louis, Hansen off-dut- H visited nursing homes with Molly. Civilian Hansen says she does not miss the Army. It was a part of my life that was real cool, and I enjoyed it. But it was time to leave it to the younger people. I look back with fond memories. I dont look back with any regrets. Being in the Army gave me a tremendous amount of she says. Id do it again. There is a special pride that comes from serving your country and Hansen has it. Like others, she has served her country with dignity in a meaningful way. Hansen retired July 31, self-wort- h, she felt like a civilian too. 1995 after 21 years, three months and four days of active duty for the Army Reserves. She lives in Kanab and loves the people and the area. Those who serve in the Army Reserves are a valuable resource to the Army. Reservists have served in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, during the Berlin Crisis, and Vietnam War. They were activated to serve in Grenada, Panama, Southwest Asia, Somalia and Haiti and Operation Desert ShieldDesert Storm. We owe our freedom to those Americans, in all branches of the service, who serve as our nations guardians. Happy Veterans Day. vv-'-- ' Hansen laughed. Of course, you learn how to shoot an 6 in the Army, and you can be moved around more, or sent to wrar, she explained. I dont think you can have a career in the service without a war coming along, and mine was the Gulf War. If needed, I would have gone, she says. During the Gulf War, Hansen did what the Army Reserve is supposed to do, activate people. Hansen also worked the hot line talking to soldiers and their relatives. Her own son was in harms way, so it was easy for her to relate to others. Hansen says sendee personnel tarn ihremormah lives.'-Fo- r M-1- |
