Naval Air Station (NAS) Ottumwa

This was a Naval Air Station in Ottumwa, Iowa in which the main operations were active from 1942 to 1947. It is the sister NAS Station to NAS Hutchinson (Kansas) as both locations were determined to move forward by the US Government at the same time. Much information can be found about this subject at www.nasottumwa.org and the administrative building of the base has been preserved and restored by the volunteers of the Friends of NAS Ottumwa, a non-profit corporation. NAS Ottumwa used to have approximately 60 buildings on the site - only one has been restored - the Administrative Building. Sweetie is one of the first women to work at the base (first with the contractors who built it, and then officially for the government, and Lew Graham (her husband) is stationed at the base when it opens in 1942. On this page, information is being documented about other individuals that worked or served at NAS Ottumwa as indicated by the letters and other family documentation.

Chaplain Luther L. Booth - Born on February 12, 1918 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and having become a Naval Chaplain in 1943, Luther L. Booth conducted Sweetie's wedding ceremony at the Cory home in Ottumwa on December 3, 1943.

Nelson Cory - Sweetie quickly made acquaintances with Nelson Cory who worked at NAS Ottumwa, and with the entire Cory family. Nelson's wife Eleanor helped plan Sweetie's wedding to Lew Graham, and her wedding was at the Cory home on December 3, 1943. Nelson Cory completed his work at NAS Ottumwa on February 15, 1944, and the family planned to leave Ottumwa after that work ended.

Lewis "Lew" Sidney Graham - Lew, from Collingdale, Pennsylvania, had enlisted in the United States Navy and was assigned to work at NAS Ottumwa. Lew had flight hours and worked as a mechanic, in addition to working on the switchboard at the base. It was through his work on the switchboard that he made acquaintances with Sweetie, the two fell in love, and Sweetie married Lew on December 3, 1943 at the Cory home in Ottumwa.

Marty N. Harkins - Noted in Sweetie's wedding album as one of the "Boys in the Barracks" from NAS Ottumwa, Charlie contributed to Sweetie and Lew's wedding gift from the group.

"Tractor" Hunstable - Noted in Sweetie's wedding album as one of the "Boys in the Barracks" from NAS Ottumwa, Charlie contributed to Sweetie and Lew's wedding gift from the group.

Lt. Robert McGee - Lt. McGee sent Sweetie a wedding gift - a silver relish dish.

Charlie Morrow - Noted in Sweetie's wedding album as one of the "Boys in the Barracks" from NAS Ottumwa, Charlie contributed to Sweetie and Lew's wedding gift from the group.

Joe Ruski - Lew's best man at his wedding on December 3, 1943, and one of the official witnesses for the marriage certificate (the other being Sweetie's sister, Jeanne).