MONROE - Master Chief Petty Officer Barbara Griffin felt a calling from God to join the Navy, so she enlisted in 1953.
While attending a Christian college, a lot of her peers were leaving to do missionary work in Africa - but she didn't feel like that was the path for her. She had three brothers in the Navy but joked they were cowards for only serving 20 years, compared to 24 of her own.
"Women are stronger," Griffin laughed. "But between the four of us, we had 68 years of service."
Griffin was stationed in numerous places throughout her career, such as Pearl Harbor, San Francisco and Norfolk, Virginia.
She worked as a physical trainer, motion picture projection assistant and an instructor for ship and aircraft weapons and equipment. She also interviewed for Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service.
Griffin is a sports fanatic and competed on women's softball and basketball teams within the Navy. When she retired in 1976, she decided to open up a ceramic shop in Stoughton, Massachusetts. She was in business for almost 30 years, and she used her store as a tool to counsel children who couldn't afford to see an actual therapist.
"If you can't laugh, you'll die," Griffin said.
Griffin, 83, moved to Monroe 11 years ago to be closer to her brother and sister-in-law. She now volunteers and travels to visit different veterans in the area in hospice care and make sure each of them has a proper pinning.
"It's emotionally draining," Griffin said. "But someone's got to do it."
While attending a Christian college, a lot of her peers were leaving to do missionary work in Africa - but she didn't feel like that was the path for her. She had three brothers in the Navy but joked they were cowards for only serving 20 years, compared to 24 of her own.
"Women are stronger," Griffin laughed. "But between the four of us, we had 68 years of service."
Griffin was stationed in numerous places throughout her career, such as Pearl Harbor, San Francisco and Norfolk, Virginia.
She worked as a physical trainer, motion picture projection assistant and an instructor for ship and aircraft weapons and equipment. She also interviewed for Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service.
Griffin is a sports fanatic and competed on women's softball and basketball teams within the Navy. When she retired in 1976, she decided to open up a ceramic shop in Stoughton, Massachusetts. She was in business for almost 30 years, and she used her store as a tool to counsel children who couldn't afford to see an actual therapist.
"If you can't laugh, you'll die," Griffin said.
Griffin, 83, moved to Monroe 11 years ago to be closer to her brother and sister-in-law. She now volunteers and travels to visit different veterans in the area in hospice care and make sure each of them has a proper pinning.
"It's emotionally draining," Griffin said. "But someone's got to do it."