📖 1954 WAVES Boot Camp – Company 54-23W, USNTC Bainbridge (The PORTAL)

Front Cover, United States Naval Training Center at Bainbridge, Maryland "The PORTAL" 1954 WAVES Company 23W. | GGA Image ID # 12b7f83e24

Quick Facts

• Training Center: U.S. Naval Training Center, Bainbridge, Maryland
• Year / Company: 1954, WAVES Company 23W
• Commander: RM1 M. Carver (Company Commander)
• Graduates: 38 women (graduated 27 September 1954)
• Organization: 31st Battalion, 3rd Regiment
• Training Dates: 30 July – 27 September 1954
• Document Type: Yearbook (The Compass)
• Standout Features:
  • Transition of leadership from CPT Joy Bright Hancock to CPT Louise K. Wilde
  • Compact roster of 38 recruits — fewer but highly documented
  • Extensive staff listings across multiple instructional and support roles

What Makes This Unique ✨

Company 23W reflects the changing of the guard in Navy women’s leadership. By mid-1953, Capt. Louise K. Wilde succeeded Capt. Joy Bright Hancock as Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Women, and this yearbook is among the first to feature Wilde’s profile.

Compared to earlier classes, the smaller size (38 recruits) of Company 23W is striking. This reflects both the Navy’s shift from wartime surges to Cold War stability, and the more selective process of recruiting women for specialized roles.

👩‍✈️ Company 54-23W Leadership✈️

• CAPT Louise K. Wilde, USN — Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Women
• LCDR Jean M. Stewart, USN — Officer-in-Charge, Recruit Training for Women
• RM1 M. Carver, USN — Company Commander
  

🌟 Noteworthy Leaders

CAPT Louise K. Wilde — Fourth Director of the WAVES, Navy officer, educator, and journalist who succeeded Joy Bright Hancock in 1953. Recipient of the Bronze Star and several WWII service medals.

LCDR Jean M. Stewart — Continued to oversee recruit training, bridging WWII service experience with Cold War Navy needs.

RM1 M. Carver — Radioman First Class, Company Commander, emphasizing the communications focus of women’s training during this period.

Company 54-23W Commanding Officers, Page 1. Contains Portait Photos of CPT Louise K. Wilde and LCDR Jean M. Stewart. | GGA Image ID # 12b81aea02

Company 54-23W Command Officers

CPT LOUISE K. WILDE, U. S. NAVY
Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Women

Captain Louise K. Wilde, U.S.N., fourth director of the WAVES, has been Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Women since relieving retired Captain Joy Bright Hancock, U.S.N., on I June 1953. She is a former newspaper woman and educator who has been in the Navy since August, 1942.

Her Navy assignments have included serving with each of the previous WAVE directors and have taken her to Hawaii, where she was District Director for the 4,000 WAVES in that area. Prior to the assumption of her present duties she was assigned to the Staff of Commander, Western Sea Frontier, in San Francisco, as Assistant Director, Shipping Control Division.

A native of Concord, N. H., Captain Wilde attended the public schools in that city and received her B.A. degree from Mount Holyoke College in 1931. In 1941, she received her M.A. degree from Columbia University.

She worked for several years as a newspaper woman and was Director of Publicity at Mount Holyoke College. She was also Assistant to the President and the Freshman Dean at Rockford College in Illinois.

Captain Wilde holds the Bronze Star Medal, Commendation Metal Pendant, American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.

LCDR JEAN M. STEWART, U. S. N.
Officer-in-Charge Recruit Training for Women in the Navy

Lieutenant Commander Jean M. Stewart, U.S.N., reported to the Recruit Training Command for duty as Officer-in- Charge of Recruit Training (W) in December 1952. Just prior to assuming her present duties,

Miss Stewart was Assistant for Women and Assistant Personnel Officer on the staff of the Chief of Naval Air Training at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida.

A graduate of Mills College, Oakland, California, Miss Stewart was first commissioned an Ensign in the Naval Reserve in March 1943. Her first duty was with an Advanced Base Outfitting Detachment of the Amphibious Training Command at Port Hueneme, California, where she served as Administrative Assistant until April 1945.

This assignment was followed by duty, also in administration, on the staff of the Commander, Western Sea Frontier, with headquarters in San Francisco, California.

In August 1946 she was transferred to Washington, D. C., where her assignments included duty in the Office of Naval Material, the Bureau of Aeronautics, the Air Transport Section of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and on the staff of the Commander, Fleet Logistic Air Wings, as Assistant Air Traffic Coordinator.

In recognition of her services during World War II, Miss Stewart was awarded the American Area Campaign Medal and the Victory Medal.

🌟 Leadership Profiles

Captain Louise K. Wilde (1909–1979)

Wilde became the fourth Director of the WAVES in 1953, succeeding Joy Bright Hancock. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College (B.A.) and Columbia University (M.A.), she brought a background in journalism and education to Navy service. Wilde held assignments across Hawaii, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., overseeing thousands of WAVES. She received the Bronze Star Medal, Commendation Ribbon, and other honors, marking her as one of the most decorated early female officers.

LCDR Jean M. Stewart

Continuing her role as Officer-in-Charge of Recruit Training for Women, Stewart’s experience from WWII administration and logistics ensured continuity of standards as the Navy shifted from Hancock’s leadership to Wilde’s.

RM1 M. Carver (Company Commander)

As a Radioman First Class, Carver exemplified the communications specialty central to women’s Cold War Navy service. Company 23W’s focus on clerical, communications, and technical instruction is underscored by her role.

Company 54-23W Commanding Officers, Page 2. Portrait Photos Included LCDR J. M. Stewart, LT M. T. Flynn, LT L. F. McCarty, LT V. Atkinson, LT B. R. Tennant, LT B. J. Ross, LTJG L. J. Fox, LTJG H. F. Burczak, ENS L. Williamson, and ENS N. B. LaBonte. | GGA Image ID # 12b8a2753b

NCO Instructors 🛠️

The staff supporting Company 23W was extensive, spanning regimental commanders, instructors, adjutants, drill, personnel, physical training, and even “Beauty Shop” oversight. This reflects the breadth of training beyond military drill, ensuring women recruits received both technical and professional grooming for shore-based roles.

Notable instructors included:

• LT M.T. Flynn – Regimental Commander
• LTJG L.J. Fox – Battalion Commander
• YNC A.M. DeLeo – Company Commander (later seen in 1953’s Company 125W)
• PN1 Nancy G. Pickett – Company Commander (also noted in 1951 Company W23)
• DK1 E.H. Wedemeyer – Instruction
• PNC M.E. Roush – Company Commander

The repetition of familiar names across classes (DeLeo, Pickett, Wedemeyer) demonstrates the continuity of senior women staff guiding WAVES training.

Company 54-23W NCO Instructors

1. LCDR J. M. Stewart, USN — OIC, RT(W)
2. LT M. T. Flynn, USN — Regimental Commander
3. LT L. F. McCarty, USNR — Instruction Officer
4. LT V. Atkinson, USNR — Personnel Officer
5. LT B. R. Tennant, USN — Schedule & Uniform Officer
6. LT B. J. Ross, USNR — Materiel Officer
7. LTJG L. J. Fox, USN — 31st Battalion Commander
8. LTJG H. F. Burczak, USNR — Instructor Training & Training Aids Officer
9. ENS L. Williamson, USNR — 32nd Battalion Commander
10. ENS N. B. LaBonte, USNR — Physical Training Officer
11. PN2 M. Anderson, USN — Battalion Adjutant
12. YN1 L. M. C. Baker, USN — Company Commander
13. PN2 B. P. Brooks, USN — Regimental Clerk
14. SHSA M. V. Brown, USN — Beauty Shop
15. YN1 T. C. Bukousky, USN — Instruction
16. PNSN P. M. Callahan, USN — Physical Training
17. RM1 B. M. Carver, USN — Company Commander
18. SN C. F. Clabes, USN — Uniforming
19. SN S. L. Crowe, USN — Materiel
20. SN J. Davis, USN — Regimental
21. YNC A. M. DeLeo, USN — Company Commander
22. SN B. L. Deno, USN — Physical Training
23. SK1 A. G. Dilanjian, USN — Company Commander
24. YNC M. D. Doherty, USN — Company Commander
25. PN2 A. Dorian, USN — Schedule
26. PN2 H. K. Duggan, USN — Instruction
27. HM1 F. G. Franklin, USN — Physical Training
28. AKC M. L. Franklin, USN — Materiel
29. SKC M. A. Gay, USN — Regimental Adjutant
30. AC3 M. E. Graham, USN — Materiel
31. AK1 A. H. Hall, USN — Instruction
32. PNC M. O. Hall, USN — OIC Yeoman
33. PN3 R. P. Hance, USN — Personnel
34. PN2 H. I. Harris, USN — Materiel
35. YN1 H. C. Harty, USN — Instruction
36. PNSN S. Haskin, USN — Instruction
37. YN1 A. D. Hayes, USN — Company Commander
38. PNC E. R. Hicks, USN — Company Commander
39. PNC R. L. Hoctor, USN — Instruction
40. SN K. Howrigan, USN — Materiel
41. HM1 R. M. Hydzik, USN — Physical Training
42. PN3 A. M. James, USN — Physical Training
43. AKC W. F. Jones, USN — Company Commander
44. PN2 L. G. King, USN — Materiel
45. SKC H. Kostohryz, USN — Instruction (standardized from “SKCA”)
46. AK1 K. L. Langdon, USN — Materiel
47. PN3 L. E. Long, USN — Materiel
48. SKC M. A. Long, USN — Company Commander
49. SH1 F. H. Meehan, USN — Beauty Shop
50. DK1 M. M. Millar, USN — Personnel
51. SA T. M. Mish, USN — 31st Battalion Clerk
52. TE1 P. A. Muenchow, USNR — Company Commander (standardized from “TEM1”)
53. PNSN M. A. Nielsen, USN — Instruction
54. SK2 M. L. Pearson, USN — Instruction
55. SK1 M. Petee, USN — Drill
56. PN1 N. G. Pickett, USN — Company Commander
57. SN J. Raftell, USN — Materiel
58. DK2 N. B. Redditt, USN — Instruction
59. SN C. L. Richardson, USN — 32nd Battalion Clerk
60. YNC F. G. Richardson, USN — Company Commander
61. SK1 O. P. Rowan, USN — Company Commander
62. PNC M. E. Roush, USN — Company Commander
63. PN3 M. E. Russ, USN — Personnel
64. PNSN N. C. Sinclair, USN — Instruction
65. YN1 V. L. Smalczeski, USN — Instruction
66. SN G. Thacker, USN — Materiel
67. YN1 L. L. Thompson, USN — Uniforming
68. SN A. B. Umsted, USN — Physical Training
69. SK1 M. Vigen, USN — Materiel
70. SN R. Vincent, USN — Materiel
71. DK3 E. C. Wadsworth, USN — Drill
72. DKC V. H. Waskow, USN — Company Commander
73. PNSN A. B. Watson, USN — Physical Training
74. DK1 E. H. Wedemeyer, USN — Instruction
75. YN1 L. E. Wentworth, USN — Instruction

Company 54-23W Non-Commissioned Officers, Page 1. Portrait Photos Included PN2 M. Anderson, YN1 L. M. C. Baker, PN2 B. P. Brooks, SHSA M. V. Brown, YN1 T. C. Bukousky, PNSN P. M Callahan, RM1 B. M. Carver, SN S. F. Clabes, SN S. L. Crowe, SN J. Davis, YNC A. M. DeLeo, SN B. L. Deno, and SK1 A. G. Dilanjian. | GGA Image ID # 12b8d2808d

Company 54-23W Non-Commissioned Officers, Page 2. Portrait Photos Included YNC M. D. Doherty, PN2 A. Dorian, PN2 H. K. Duggan, HM1 F. G. Franklin, AKC M. L. Franklin, SKC M. A. Gay, AC3 M. E. Graham, AK1 A. H. Hall, PNC M. O. Hall, PN3 R. P. Hance, PN2 H. I. Harris, YN1 H. C. Harty, and PNSN S. Haskin. | GGA Image ID # 12b8db6f2d

Company 54-23W Non-Commissioned Officers, Page 3. Portrait Photos Included YN1 A. D. Hayes, PNC E. R. Hicks, PNC R. L. Hoctor, SN K. Howrigan, HM1 R. M. Hydzik, PN3 A. M. James, AKC W. F. Jones, PN2 L. G. King, SKCA H. Kostohryz, AK1 K. L. Langdon, PN3 L. E. Long, SKC M. A. Long, and SH1 F. H. Meehan. | GGA Image ID # 12b9255894

Company 54-23W Non-Commissioned Officers, Page 4. Portrait Photos Included DK1 M. M. Millar, SA T. M. Mish, TEM1 P. A. Muenchow, PNSN M. A. Nielsen, SK2 M. L. Pearson, SK1 M. Petee, PN1 N. G. Pickett, SN J. Raftell, DK2 N. B. Redditt, SN C. L. Richardson, YNC F. G. Richardson, SK1 O. P. Rowan, and PNC M. E. Roush. | GGA Image ID # 12b98c8dde

Company 54-23W Non-Commissioned Officers, Page 5. Portrait Photos Included PN3 M. E. Russ, PNSN N. C. Sinclair, YN1 V. L. Smalczeski, SN G. Thacker, YN1 L. L. Thompson, SN A. B. Umsted, SK1 M. Vigen, SN R. Vincent, DK3 E. C. Wadsworth, DKC V. H. Waskow, PNSN A. B. Watson, DK1 E. H. Wedemeyer, and YN1 L. E. Wentworth. | GGA Image ID # 12b998fe9e

Roster And Portraits 📋

The 38 women of Company 23W included recruits from across the U.S. — and even abroad, such as Mae H. Martin from Pasay City, Philippines.

This roster is a genealogist’s trove, linking small-town America (and beyond) to women’s service in the Navy during the Cold War.

Company 54-23W Recruits, Page 1. RM1 M. Carver, Company Commander and Recruits Auxt-O'Donnell.

Company Commander: RM1 M. Carver

1. Joyce A. Auxt - Duncannon, Pa.
2. Ruby L. Boelter - Hebron, III.
3. Joan R. Bresnahan - North Syracuse, N. Y.
4. Jean A. Brewster - Burlington, Vt.
5. Shirley A. Brown - Reading, Pa.
6. Camilla Cranton - Norwell, Mass.
7. Helen J. Darby - West Linn, Ore
8. Elinor G. Davis - Rome, Ga.
9. Annette H. Desilets - Woonsocket, R. I.
10. Ruth E. Eipper - Port Byron, III.
11. Virginia M. Ellis - Waltham, Mass.
12. Mary D. Everett - Fort Gibson, Oklahoma
13. Joanne First - Tehachapi, Calif.
14. Beverly J. Fuss - Raymond, Wash.
15. Betty K. Hinderliter - Glasford, III.
16. Josephine K. Johnson - Greybull, Wyo.
17. Alice J. Kunert - Detroit, Mich.
18. June L. Laster - Clifton, N. J.
19. Marilyn A. Lawler - Seattle, Wash.
20. Edith E. Manning - Olathe, Kan.
21. Mae H. Martin - Pasay City, Philippine Island
22. Eleanor G. Miller - Mechanicsburg, Pa.
23. Virginia A. O'Donnell - Lynn, Mass.

Company 54-23W Recruits, Page 2 (Owens-Zeigler plus Lentz and Boshell)

1. Gerry M. Owens - Monticello, Ark.
2. Marcia A. Papanek - Kenosha, Wis.
3. Doris R. Parnell - Savannah, Ga.
4. Pearl T. Provencher - Manchester, N. H.
5. Billie R. Ray - Camanche, Iowa
6. Pauline G. Reardon - Lowell, Mass.
7. Iva L. Roberts - Oakland, Calif.
8. Joan M. Sherman - Hoosick Falls. N. Y.
9. Mildred E. Simpson - Clinton, Iowa
10. Mary E. Smart - Fairbury, Neb.
11. Roberta E. Spangler - Niagara Falls, N. Y.
12. Georgia A. Stier - Oregon City, Ore.
13. Faye R. Sturgell - Lake Charles, La.
14. Carolyn J. Tisdale - Lakeworth, Fla.
15. Patricia A. Wardley - Baltimore, Md.

📋 Company 54-23W Recruit Roster (1954, standardized)

Company 54-23W Recruit Roster standardized to USPS 2-letter state codes (and “PH” for Philippines).

1. Joyce A. Auxt — Duncannon, PA
2. Ruby L. Boelter — Hebron, IL
3. Joan R. Bresnahan — North Syracuse, NY
4. Jean A. Brewster — Burlington, VT
5. Shirley A. Brown — Reading, PA
6. Camilla Cranton — Norwell, MA
7. Helen J. Darby — West Linn, OR
8. Elinor G. Davis — Rome, GA
9. Annette H. Desilets — Woonsocket, RI
10. Ruth E. Eipper — Port Byron, IL
11. Virginia M. Ellis — Waltham, MA
12. Mary D. Everett — Fort Gibson, OK
13. Joanne First — Tehachapi, CA
14. Beverly J. Fuss — Raymond, WA
15. Betty K. Hinderliter — Glasford, IL
16. Josephine K. Johnson — Greybull, WY
17. Alice J. Kunert — Detroit, MI
18. June L. Laster — Clifton, NJ
19. Marilyn A. Lawler — Seattle, WA
20. Edith E. Manning — Olathe, KS
21. Mae H. Martin — Pasay City, PH
22. Eleanor G. Miller — Mechanicsburg, PA
23. Virginia A. O'Donnell — Lynn, MA
24. Gerry M. Owens — Monticello, AR
25. Marcia A. Papanek — Kenosha, WI
26. Doris R. Parnell — Savannah, GA
27. Pearl T. Provencher — Manchester, NH
28. Billie R. Ray — Camanche, IA
29. Pauline G. Reardon — Lowell, MA
30. Iva L. Roberts — Oakland, CA
31. Joan M. Sherman — Hoosick Falls, NY
32. Mildred E. Simpson — Clinton, IA
33. Mary E. Smart — Fairbury, NE
34. Roberta E. Spangler — Niagara Falls, NY
35. Georgia A. Stier — Oregon City, OR
36. Faye R. Sturgell — Lake Charles, LA
37. Carolyn J. Tisdale — Lake Worth, FL
38. Patricia A. Wardley — Baltimore, MD

Locations normalized to modern USPS two-letter state abbreviations; original spellings kept in scans/captions.” That preserves archival integrity while improving readability/search,

Company 54-23W Recruits, Page 1. RM1 M. Carver, Company Commander and Recruits Auxt-O'Donnell. | GGA Image ID # 12b9cf1e41

Company 54-23W Recruits, Page 2 (Owens-Zeigler plus Lentz and Boshell). Page Also Included Five Photos of a Routine Dental Inspection of Recruits in Company 54-23W. | GGA Image ID # 12b9cfb132

Noteworthy Images 🖼️

• Front Cover, “The Compass” (1954) | GGA Image ID #12b7f83e24
• Commanding Officers (p.1) | GGA Image ID #12b81aea02
• Non-Commissioned Officers (pp. 2–7) | GGA IDs #12b8a2753b → #12b998fe9e
• Recruits (pp. 8–9) | GGA IDs #12b9cf1e41, #12b9cfb132

These provide a visual record of the officers, staff, and 38 graduates, bringing faces and names into focus for historians and family researchers.

Relevance And Research 🎯

Teachers & Students: Excellent material for discussions of post-WWII gender integration, Cold War mobilization, and women’s professionalization in the armed forces.

Genealogists: With only 38 recruits, the roster is highly manageable for tracing family service.

Historians: Key resource showing the leadership transition from Hancock to Wilde, marking a new era of Navy women’s administration.

Final Thoughts ⚓

Company 23W’s Compass yearbook is both intimate and historic. Its smaller roster provides depth, while its leadership profiles highlight the Navy’s commitment to professionalizing women’s service in the 1950s.

💙 Teachers can illustrate changing gender roles.

📚 Genealogists gain precise rosters.

⚓ Historians see the leadership transition from Hancock to Wilde in action.