She Magazine JULY 2016 | Page 96

Women Who Serve feature AFTER HER EIGHT WEEKS WERE UP, LENORA WAS SHIPPED OUT TO FORT DIXON, New Jersey, comrades in Orleans, where she worked in the Engineering Department. “I absolutely loved my for Clerk Typing school. Although the girls were given much more freedom than they previously time there. Because of the Army, I got to travel all over Europe - to West Germany, Austria, and experienced in Virginia, it wasn’t all fun and games. As Lenora explained, they weren’t allowed Paris. However, my two favorite places were Switzerland and the Burchas Gardens in Germany. to have leave, so it caused a bit of a stir when her family popped by for a visit one day. “We were I was shocked by how clean and fresh the air was in Switzerland… Not to mention the beautiful walking back to the barracks after dinner and I just happened to notice a brand new Oldsmo- lace that I saw in the shops as I traveled through the country.” bile that looked just like my uncle’s! Sure enough, it was him, along with my father, cousin, and Sadly, though, while she was stationed in France, her grandmother passed away. After such grandmother. Talk about a surprise! I knew I wasn’t supposed to leave the area, but I couldn’t a traumatic event, her family pushed for her to be brought home.  That time at home brought help but run over when I realized who they were. Just as soon as I made it to the car, the First another opportunity that Lenora jumped to say yes to. After a short stint at Fort Benning, Geor- Sergeant in charge of our group yelled at me to come back. When I tried to explain that it was gia, Lenora was asked if she would be interested in working with the Federal Government in my family, she just retorted, ‘Yeah, and that’s my grandfather over there.’ I guess she thought I Washington, D.C. A short time later and a test to determine her security clearance, Lenora was was trying to meet up with a fella or something.” However, like before, her grandmother made in. When I asked why she chose to go back into military work, it was her spontaneity that led her sure that their effort hadn’t been a waste. Later the next day while in class, someone came by to to the decision. “I didn’t really know what it meant, but I checked yes anyway and was chosen excuse Lenora for the rest of the day. “My grandmother had apparently walked into the officers’ almost right away. I enjoyed the people I worked with, but it got rather lonely not having any building and made those in charge aware that she had driven over a thousand miles to see her family or friends up there, and the pace was so different from South Carolina. The pace was granddaughter and that she was determined to see me!” And that was that. so fast. When people would get off work, it was like a bunch of bees swarming. There were so Soon after finishing school, the Army had plans for Lenora at Fort Knox in Kentucky. “I was many people up there. I just needed to come on back home.”   recruited to help increase the number of women enlisting in Kentucky,” she explained, as she That decision to go back to South Carolina ended up bringing her more happiness than she showed me a black and white picture of her in a log cabin. “Here, they took us to a replica of could imagine. Shortly after working at the Charleston Naval Base, Lenora met her husband, Abe Lincoln’s log cabin. Basically, they shipped us around the state to all of the famous places William Reynolds Hamer, and gave birth to their daughter, Norma Olivia Hamer. “It has cer- to take pictures for advertisements.” After a few months, Lenora was given another chance - tainly been an experience that I’m grateful for,” said Lenora, in regards to her military career. one to work in Europe, to which she once again answered with a quick, “Yes!” She was given “Without the Army, I wouldn’t have been able to travel all over the USA and Europe, nor would a choice between the comfortable barracks of Heidelberg, Germany, or the boondocks of Or- I have made so many memories and met so many people. My time in service is something that leans, France. Despite the obvious perks of Heidelberg, Lenora chose to stay with her fellow I truly cherish.” Lenora Hamer resides in Florence, South Carolina. She is the wife of the late William Reynolds Hamer and mother of Norma Olivia Hamer. 98 JULY 2016 SHEMAGAZINE.COM