103-year-old WWII U.S. Navy veteran reflects on her long career

Throughout the day, our country has been honoring our veterans, and tonight we want to share the story of a Bay Area Navy commander who served during World War II. KTVU's Janet Katsuyama sat down with the veteran, who was part of a groundbreaking women's reserve unit in the U.S. Navy. On this Veterans Day, It looks like he's giving you some award. Is it a star? Does it look like a star? It does. Oh, for heaven's sake, I know what that is. Florence Coyne McDonald might no longer be able to see these photos, but the snapshots of her long life are clear in her mind. Like this one, when an admiral in Japan gave her a star for her excellent service back in 1955. It goes way out of proportion. I'm McDonald is a U.S. Navy veteran born more than a century ago. starting She grew up across the Mississippi to from New Orleans in Gretna, speak Louisiana. now. Her accent on instant recall, like many of her memories. She graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans. My degree I was a bachelor of arts with a major in mathematics. Florence was a force at a time when women had fewer career options. I didn't want to spend the rest of my life in the small city where I grew up. So the armed forces gave me the opportunity to travel around the world. She was among some 100,000 women with WAVES, the Women's Naval Reserve Unit. She says the decision to join the Army or the Navy came down to one basic thing. The women who joined the Army were issued khaki colored underwear. The Navy didn't care about underwear, so she signed up, and she was sent to study meteorology in Massachusetts. The Navy said, this is where you're going. And I said, aye, aye. So I had a year of graduate school. At MIT, her meteorology expertise was critical to so many missions and led her to Washington, D.C. and Japan. And along the way, she picked up her nickname, Flip. Well, Florence Coyne became Flipper Coyne. Did you like your nickname? Yes. Thank you very much. I don't particularly like Florence, and I do not answer to Flo. Oh. Flip's framed certificate from the Secretary of the Navy in 1943 referred to her in male pronouns, his and him. And after 20 years of service, so does her Navy retirement certificate in the 1960s. She retired as a commander. Well, I was very pleased and very proud. And now, on this Veterans Day, looking back over a lifelong military career, Flip has one simple message. Do the best job you can. When you're given an order and you say aye aye, sir, mean it. Do the best you can. Jana Katsuyama, KTVU.