Her Pioneering Spirit

On October 28, 1978 President Carter signed a law allowing women to be permanently assigned to duty on some Navy ships. As a volunteer for the Women In Navy Ships Program (WINS), Susan Griffin was in the first group of women to report for duty aboard a United States Navy ship on the West Coast in 1979. A Naval Pioneer, she was a First Class Petty Officer onboard the ship when it embarked on a Western Pacific (WESTPAC) Cruise from March 7 to September 17, 1981. PO1 Griffin served as the Director of the first Counseling and Assistance Center (CAAC) aboard a US Navy ship. She also participated in the time-honored maritime tradition called Shellback Initiation, conducted when a new sailor crosses the equator for the first time:

"IMPERIUM NEPTUNI REGIS...To all Sailors wherever ye may be: and to all Mermaids, Whales, Sea Serpents, Porpoises, Sharks, Dolphins, Eels, Skates, Suckers, Crabs, Lobsters and all other living things of the sea. GREETINGS: Know ye: That on this 29th day of April 1981, in Latitude OO degrees and Longitude 84-09H there appeared within Our Royal Domain the USS Samuel Gompers AD-37 bound for the equator and for the tropical island, Diego Garcia. BE IT REMEMBERED THAT the said vessel and Officers and Crew thereof, have been inspected and passed on by Ourself and Our Royal Staff AND BE IT KNOWN: By all ye Sailors, Marines, Land Lubbers and others who may be honored by his presence that Susan Griffin, having been found worthy to be numbered as one of our trusty Shellbacks he has been duly initiated into the SOLEMN MYSTERIES OF THE ANCIENT ORDER OF THE DEEP. Be it further understood; That by virtue of the power invested in me I do hereby command all my subjects to show due honor and respect to him wherever he may be. DISOBEY THIS ORDER UNDER PENALTY OF OUR ROYAL DISPLEASURE Given under Our Hand and Seal this 29 April 1981."

Susan received an Honorable Discharge on June 25, 1982.