The Days Forward

West Point Class of 1969

Diana Hastings

 In 1965 as I graduated from High School, I was at loose ends.  My hopes for college were dashed, as my parents and grandparents felt higher education was not necessary for girls.  

     The only thing I could think of to prove them all wrong was to “run-away” and join the Army.  OK, I didn’t run-away, I persuaded my Dad to sign the permission slip and off I went to basic training at Ft. McClellan, AL in Sept. 1965. 

  

     I served in the US Army for 12 years from 1965 to 1977 – I started out as a Fixed Crypto Repairman, serving at Ft. Meade. MD, Okinawa, the Pentagon, and Stuttgart, Germany for the 5th Signal Group at Patch Barracks.  From Germany I went TDY to the Army Recruiting and Career Counselor course at Ft. Ben Harrison, IN.  I returned to Germany, as the Battalion Career Counselor.  I met Chuck. 

     After returning to the states, I was stationed in Watertown, NY as the WAC Advisor to the Recruiting Office.  A few months later all WAC Advisors were transitioned to “real” recruiting and I went on quota with the rest of the crew.  I placed my first recruit in an Army Band.  The High School Counselor was thrilled, but my Station Chief was not.  He asked if I knew how to spell INFANTRY? 

     After Chuck and I married in 1975, I requested re-assignment to Ft. Bragg, NC where Chuck was assigned to the 82nd Airborne – again.  I was offered a job in the Mess Hall at 1stCOSCOM; I turned it down.  After completing Senior Sergeant Personnel Course, I served at Ft. Bragg in the XVIII Airborne Corp. where I was promoted to SFC/E-7.  I was released from the Army at my own request, in 1977 as I was pregnant with my first child.    

      I served with the Central Intelligence Agency from 1986 until 2006 rising from GS-8 to GS-15 before I retired in December 2006.     Besides raising 2 sons with Chuck, I enjoyed Volunteer Work, Genealogy Research, collecting music boxes and sewing.  During COVID, I wrote a book about my life using the STORYWORTH website.  It was quite cathartic.  Chuck and I have 5 grandchildren and 7 other babies from our extended family. We are blessed!