Paris woman recalls 22 years of experiences
Audrey Banks says she lives a simpler life now, enjoying the chance to knit mittens, garden and spend time with her dogs.
By Jim Smedley
Staff Writer

PARIS – Audrey Banks was never in a foxhole and never had to carry a rifle while walking through a rice paddy.

But she was part of a team that gave aid and comfort to the thousands of American troops who did.

She entered the Navy in 1959, already a registered nurse, went to Officer Indoctrination School in Newport, R.I., and was commissioned as an ensign, the lowest ranking officer.

Banks spent 22 years working in the Navy, progressing from staff nurse to patient care coordinator, supervisor and eventually to the rank of commander, a step below captain.

Before retiring in 1979 she would be the nursing education supervisor at whatever hospital she was assigned.

“I was doing in-service programs, continuing education programs and orientation of new staff,” Banks said.

She worked in naval hospitals in Long Island, North Carolina, Morocco, at the Kittery naval yard, Cuba and several tours in Newport, R.I.

All shore duty

Although in the Navy, Banks never spent time on ships.

“It was all shore duty,” Banks said. “The only time I was on ships was for R ‘n’ R (rest and relaxation).”

“The Navy was fun, it was a nice time to be in and I enjoyed every minute of it,” she said.

In her 18th year of service, the Navy sent her to college at the University of New Hampshire, Durham, where she received her bachelor’s degree in nursing.

When she retired she went on to obtain a master of science degree in psychiatric nursing, then master of arts in holistic counseling. She worked as a clinical instructor for Salve Regina University, a liberal arts Catholic college in Newport, R.I.

She stayed in Newport until 1991. That’s when she moved here.

Banks, a native of Auburn, had two family members who were in the military.

Her father, Ralph, was drafted into the infantry in 1942. Banks said he served in Germany and came back home when she was 6 years old.

Robert, her brother, was in the Navy for four years in the 1950s. He was on the USS Samuel B. Roberts, a destroyer escort stationed on the East Coast.

Banks almost didn’t enlist. She graduated from Lawrence General Hospital, Lawrence, Mass., and began working at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. While there, Banks and a friend signed up with the Navy recruiter to go in under the buddy plan.

A balk, then …

She said when they were called they told the recruiter that they had changed their minds.

“A month later I called the recruiter and said that I was ready,” Banks said.

Banks said the military had been good to her.

“I got the duty stations I requested, they sent me for my bachelor’s degree and the GI bill paid for the others when I got out,” Banks said.

She said now that she has retired she is just not as busy as she used to be.

“I knit mittens, scarfs and simple things,” Banks said. “It’s fun when I can find time to do them. I also like to garden and photography. I have three little … dogs that keep me busy.”

Banks is secretary for local chapter American Association of Retired Persons and is running for treasurer of camera club.

While she also belongs to several organizations, she’s not as busy as she used to be.

“I used to be a workaholic in the olden days, I’m not anymore,” she said.

jsmedley@sunjournal.com

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