Diana Kathleen Cattani
Bio
Diana Cattani was born and raised in Michigan and originally attended college to become a home economics teacher. However, she decided to join the military in 1953 because she knew it would provide for her basic needs, offer her the ability to see the world, and because she wanted to “do something good.” While in the Air Force, she met her husband, and unfortunately, was discharged upon becoming pregnant in 1954. After her discharge, she followed her husband to his Air Force assignments, and later became a civilian worker for the Department of Defense, doing mostly clerical and accounting work.
Video Clips
Experience in Basic Training
Diana Cattani reflects on her experience in basic training for the United States Air Force. She especially remembers learning how to march, as well as the level of regiment in basic training. She shares she never learned how to use a gun, however, because leadership knew she would not be fighting. She discusses her experience doing "KP"--kitchen duty.
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Job Description and Living Conditions
Diana Cattani describes the testing she underwent for placement into a job in the U.S. Air Force. She recounts how, despite graduating at the top of her class, her assignment was as a typist, a position she was unhappy about. She discusses her living conditions at her first assignment.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggCeqXoXOaU&start=514&end=722
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/diana-kathleen-cattani#clip-2
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Working as a Civilian for the Department of Defense
Diana Cattani reflects on her time working as a civilian for the Department of Defense after her discharge from the U.S. Air Force due to her pregnancy. She recalls feeling very underused compared with her skills and feels that women were treated unfairly. She remains very disappointed she had to leave the Air Force upon her pregnancy, which was the norm of that time.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggCeqXoXOaU&start=1095&end=1355
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/diana-kathleen-cattani#clip-3
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