Ina Casales served in the United State Navy WAVES (Woman Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) during the peak of the Vietnam War, during a time where being a woman in the military was a challenge.
Casales, a Moriches resident, is married to her husband and Vietnam veteran, John A. Casali. Together, they have two children: a son, who is also a Navy Veteran; a daughter; and four granddaughters. She was also a Suffolk County Community College faculty advisor for the Veterans Association, mentor, and an adjunct English professor. She also has two Dobermans and six cats.
She taught English for 25 years after getting her master’s in the fine arts for English and writing. As an adult in her late 30s, she went to Suffolk County Community College, then LIU, for both her bachelor’s and MFA. She graduated in 2000.
Originally, she was born in St. Albans, Queens, and moved to West Babylon as a child. Her father was from Aberdeen, Scotland, where he served in the British Merchant Marines during WWII. Upon moving to the United States, he began working for the U.S. Navy and worked his way up to handle budgeting and procurement.
“He was very highly respected,” she said, noting she grew up in the Navy life. “We used to say, my dad liked anything that was grey and floated.”
However, he did not believe girls should go to college; therefore, when she graduated high school, she made the decision to enlist in the U.S. military at 17 years old and officially began serving at 18. Her father, she said, was so proud.
She served with the U.S. Navy WAVES for three years, from 1967 to 1970.
“I served during the Vietnam Era during the Tet Offensive, which was the height of the war,” she said, noting she served in Charleston, S.C., working for the commanding officer.
“It was a very busy time period; we got to do different things on the base,” she explained.
She said at that time, women were considered “unsafe” to shoot a gun in camp. However, she was one of 16 women who were properly trained how to do so.
“We were told we might hurt ourselves,” she laughed.
After serving in the Navy, she went home and was in a serious car accident, requiring several surgeries to reconstruct her face. The injury prevented her from re-enlisting and she was forced back to civilian life.
“It wasn’t easy serving during the ‘60s; it wasn’t an easy place for women. We had to be very strong and learn to be tough,” she said.
As for her serving as the grand marshal for the Center Moriches Veterans Day Parade, she said, she was originally taken aback and asked, “why me?” Then, she realized not only did she serve during a difficult time for women, but she continues her life work mentoring and working with veterans today
“I am not doing this for me; I am doing this for the women who have gone before me, the women serving now, and the women who will serve,” she added.
Military Women Support one Another Inc. member and Army veteran Sharran M. Chambers-Murphy nominated Casali for the honor.
“She is a valued member of her community; she is proud to live in the Moriches community as a female veteran,” she said of her reasoning. “Ina is not only capable and responsible, but she has also consistently displayed the characteristics of personal determination, honesty, courtesy and respect for military service members.”
Veterans Parade, Sunday Nov. 9
The chamber will be hosting the annual Veterans Day parade on Nov. 9 starting at 2 p.m. on Main Street in East Moriches. If you or someone you know is a veteran and would be interested in participating in the parade, please call Miriam Gillies at 631-878-1111. If you are unable to walk, the chamber will drive. Float participants are also needed. For more information visit: www. moricheschamber.org.
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