From paint-chipper to command master chief: Navy veteran shares her story at Belvoir Women's History

By Brittany Carlson, Belvoir EagleMarch 20, 2014

Retired Navy Master Chief Evelyn Banks
Retired Navy Master Chief Evelyn Banks speaks during Fort Belvoir's Women's History Month Observance, Tuesday at the Community Center. Banks shared her struggles and successes in climbing the ranks during the early '80s, noting that her faith and oth... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Fort Belvoir, Va. (March 20, 2014) - For retired Command Master Chief Evelyn "Vonn" Banks, her 30-year Navy career wasn't without its struggles.

But those struggles helped make her stronger, she told Fort Belvoir community members at the Women's History Month Observance, Tuesday at the Fort Belvoir Community Center.

When she joined the Navy at age 29, Banks said she started out chipping paint, but often volunteered for other duties.

"I kept strong to my faith and my courage and my commitment to do the best that I could do," she said.

One day, a fireman asked for some food when the ship's cook was off duty, and Banks got him a plate from the galley. When her superiors found out what happened, she thought she would be punished for stealing food -- but they decided to make her a cook for her willingness to serve others.

Later, she worked for a commanding officer who said he didn't like her because she was a woman.

"I moved onto the ship and the CO said to me 'I don't like blacks, I don't women, and I don't like early candidates. … I'm going to wipe that smile off your face and I'm going to see that all women suffer on this ship,'" Banks said. "I said … 'I came here to feed the crew and I'm going to do my best to make you look good despite you.'"

Banks ended up becoming master chief on that same ship.

After that, she served as Command Master Chief at the Navy Support Facility, Diego Garcia, Carrier Air Wing 14 in Lemoore, CA; Navy Recruiting Command in Millington, Tenn., and U.S. Naval Academy.

"I kept holding on, knowing that I would not quit," Banks said. "My message is always to study first.

Know your job. Don't give people the opportunity to say 'Women can't. Women don't know.'"

She also encouraged other women to hold onto their faith and work hard.

"I would say to all women, do not expect it to be easy. You've never heard of anybody falling up a mountain. We fall to destruction, but we climb the rough side," she said.

Olga Bryant, Fort Belvoir Equal Employment Opportunity office, said she was inspired by Banks' story.

"I thought it was wonderful," Bryan said. "She showed us as women that we can do anything that we put our minds to. She motivated me to keep moving and to do bigger and better things."

Banks' message also impacted men in the audience.

"It was a great story," said 1st Sgt. Tracy Felts, 212th Military Police Detachment. "She actually came into the Navy at a time when women weren't thought highly of in the military. She fought through barriers and proved a lot of people wrong."

After Banks' remarks, guests had to chance to view artwork depicting women in the military during different combat eras, courtesy of the Women's Memorial Foundation's Britta Granrud, and check out displays on Women's History Month.

The event was co-hosted by the U.S. Army Garrison Fort Belvoir and Military Intelligence Readiness Command Equal Opportunity offices.

This year's theme is "Celebrating Women of Character, Courage and Commitment."

The theme "honors the extraordinary and often unrecognized determination and tenacity of women," said Col. Tamara L. Morris, deputy commanding officer for MIRC's Training Support Command. "When we see women raise their voices and we see them move their feet and empower others to create change, we need to realize that each one of us has the same power."

Sgt.1st Class Hugo Almaraz, equal opportunity advisor for the Military District of Washington, said he hoped women in attendance would feel empowered by Bank's message.

"Any woman out here can be a role model," he said. "Hopefully a woman in here will be inspired by her words of wisdom and maybe … she'll stand out just like Ms. Banks did."

For more information about Women's History Month, visit www.womenshistorymonth.gov.