00:00:00BONANO: So today is Thursday, April 23rd, 2026. This is an interview with Liliana Molina, who served in the United States Army from March, 1999 to August, 2002. Liliana entered service as Liliana M. Corrales. This interview is being conducted by Kristen Bonano on Zoom for the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Oral History Program. No one else is present in the interview room. So tell me, Lily, where did you grow up?
00:00:30MOLINA: I grew up in San Antonio, Texas.
00:00:33BONANO: Tell me what it was like growing up there.
00:00:37MOLINA: I had a really good childhood. My parents were really, you know, they were hard workers. They did as much as they could for their kids. My dad is originally from Mexico and he eventually became an American citizen, but he started off as a construction worker. Then went to insurance salesman and then my mom and him got together and they actually started a business, a dry cleaning business there in San Antonio. So, we didn't live in the greatest part of town. So the owning that business gave my parents an opportunity to move us into a safer area of San Antonio, but otherwise pretty much, you know, a pretty good childhood. I did not have any family on my side that were in the military. Like great uncles and other than that. So there was really not a kind of a military history within my family.
00:01:44BONANO: OK. Did you have any siblings growing up?
00:01:46MOLINA: I do I have I'm the oldest of three I have a sister who is a year and eight months younger than me and then my brother. He's eight years younger than me.
00:01:57BONANO: Okay, and they didn't have any interest in the military?
00:02:00MOLINA: Um, They did, so not growing up You know, we didn't really honestly we didn't really know what The military we saw what we would see it in movies and that kind of thing, but it was never something that was anything that was ever discussed in the home. So my, I joined in 1999. My brother, he actually, we were living at Fort Benning, Georgia at the time. And my younger brother had just graduated from high school. He didn't really know what he wanted to do. His, he had found out that he was gonna be a dad soon. So he actually we kind of wanted to, you know, lead him in the right direction and. So he mentioned possibly joining the army. And so he went to a recruiter and they, they told him that he had to lose some weight and certain things that he has to accomplish before they could do anything. And so, he actually moved from San Antonio to Fort Benning where we lived. And my ex-husband actually put him like on a, like a exercise regimen. You know, he would drop him off at work and in the morning, because he would work overnights, would drop my brother off at at work. And then my brother would. Starting off walk home, and then it turned into where my ex would actually meet him at the place where he worked and they would run back together. And so he ended up joining in 2004 and he just retired last year.
00:03:30BONANO: Oh wow, so he was in it.
00:03:32MOLINA: Yes, he was, he just retired last year with 21 years.
00:03:37BONANO: Wow, okay, thanks for that. So I'll go back a little bit again. So you grew up in San Antonio, where did you go to school?
00:03:46MOLINA: I went to a Catholic school called St. James the Apostle. It was very small, the classes were not that very big. All the kids, all the parents of all the kids that went there, we all knew each other. We were from the same side of San Antonio. And I went there for, it was from kinder through eighth grade. And then I attended a all girls private school, Catholic school. It's named Providence High School. Go Probex. And then I transferred to a coed high school, it was called Antonian College Preparatory. And then, I actually ended up graduating from a public high school in '91, it's called Southside High School.
00:04:38BONANO: OK, I also went to a Catholic high school.
00:04:40MOLINA: Oh, did you? Okay.
00:04:41BONANO: Yeah, I like it.
00:04:42MOLINA: I liked it a lot. It's it was smaller and I just it was I liked it was more one on one with the you know, the teachers and all that. So it was it was really close people.
00:04:52BONANO: I agree with you I had the same experience. So you graduated high school in '91,
00:04:57MOLINA: Yes.
00:04:58BONANO: so did you have any plans when you were in high school for like a career or college or anything like that?
00:05:03MOLINA: I did. Growing up, I wanted to go to be a pediatrician. That was my dream. I kind of tried to do that when I joined the military. I knew that I wanted something in the medical field. My plan was to go into the military, I'd be enlisted, but then I wanted to join, get accepted I guess, and start a PA program that they have. So it didn't work out that way, but that was, I was always been something like medical related that I've always wanted to do.
00:05:41BONANO: Okay. So, so I'll ask really quick because you know you graduated high school in '91 and then you joined the military eventually in '99. So I kind of wanted to know what happened in between there. So did you end up going to college at all for pediatrician before joining the military?
00:05:58MOLINA: I did not. I went to school for science, first biology and then sciences. I did not finish. At the time, I actually got a pretty good job working at a credit union there in San Antonio. It's called Security Service Federal Credit Union. They have kind of like how USAA is, how military members can join and their families and their dependents and stuff like that. So it's similar to that. I work there, for a while. And then I think I worked there for a pretty good while actually. And then I met my my ex husband and he was in the military. And it's really funny that asked this question actually, because after you know, of course I was going to follow him in his career. And we actually got married in '97. And he was stationed in Baumholder in Germany. And still had that, you know, I was going to stick with the, what I was doing back in San Antonio. I was gonna, you now, stay with the credit union. There was a credit union there on the post, there in Baumholder, and they weren't taking any, they weren't accepting any applications. And then I was maybe in Germany for maybe, maybe not even two, quite two years, and I did not realize that at the time, well, that you could actually be dual military. And so the first time that it came to my mind was when I ran into one of my ex-husband's soldiers. He ran into his wife at the gas station and she happened to mention that they were leaving and I thought they were just going to another duty station or maybe he was getting out. But she said no, that she was joining the military. And so I didn't realize that that was something you could do. And so, I just kind of looked into it and I was like. Sounds kind of interesting. I hadn't finished school. I already had my oldest, you know, he was almost two. Well, actually, he was two when I when I joined. And so, you know, he wasn't I already have him and so I didn't really, you know, with my ex-husband at the time, you know, we're over in Germany. I don't know. I didn t know anyone or any, you know, I didn't t have a vehicle or anything. So it just seemed like something that could help out. You know, cause when I was there, the only job that I was able to get was a job there at the AAFES's, which is the store there on the post and the bases and stuff. So I kind of got that in my head and, you know I did some research and I realized that, yes, you can do that. And so I thought that would probably be a good route to go. So.
00:08:53BONANO: Okay, you kind of went into the next questions I wanted to ask, which is good. But yeah, I just wanted to, you know, for clarification purposes, for anyone who's listening to this interview later, still a lot of your military service stories, obviously strongly connected to your ex spouse. Um, so do you want to tell me, um, if you want, tell me about how did you meet him in the first place?
00:09:14MOLINA: Oh, so another funny story. So when we had been dating about a few months and we were discussing the elementary school, or our teachers actually, and I mentioned one of my teachers, exceptional teacher, I mentioned his name and my ex-husband was like, wait a minute, I had him too. And we're like I was like, where did you go to school? He was like I went to St. James. I said, so do I. So did I. And this was in '93 when we met. We met in '93. And so we figured, we actually realized that we were in the same elementary class, but we don't remember, well, I don't remember him anyways. I do remember that there was a boy in our class that got in a lot of trouble. He got in, he got in a lot trouble. He, I am trying to think, he so he used to pull my at the time I had a really bad my best friend, of course in elementary Her name was Rosemary And um, I remember that there was a boy that used to pulls her hair all the time and um, and uh, you know, and she'd get so angry and then I also remember at and I didn't know that it was him at the time Uh, but I he wouldn't him him and the boys sat like all the boys side on one table And i'm sure you're familiar with this And the girl sat on one table. And so he had all the boys put their ketchup packets right in front of them. And they were all sitting on one side of the table and they all at the same time squished the packets and all all the ketchup went squirting onto all the girls.
00:10:57BONANO: Terrible.
00:10:58MOLINA: Yes. The funny thing is I remember I do and I was just like wait a minute. Did your mom have to take all of our all of the uniforms somewhere to get cleaned? And he said yeah. I said, I think she took them to my dad's drying cleaning business.
00:11:13BONANO: Oh, wow.
00:11:15MOLINA: Yeah, so, and you know, we ran around a lot of the same people. So that's, we actually ended up meeting, a friend introduced us and then, we didn't start dating like right away, but then after that we ran into each other at a different place and then that's how we started. And so funny thing, so we met in like April of '93 and he left for basic training in October. So we had been dating not very long when, he'd already joined the military actually before we met. And that's when he was leaving. And so um, yeah, it was kind of a short notice. He was like, this happened before we meet, but I'm leaving for basic training and not a very long time from now. And so we dated all the way through his basic training, his AIT, he was at Fort Riley. By himself for the time he was there. And then we got married in '97. And soon after we got married in April, he left for Germany. And so I had orders to go and, you know, to go up there with him as well as our child. And they cut my orders actually, because he, as soon as he got to Germany, he was deploying. So we didn't get there until the next year. And um, and that's it.
00:12:43BONANO: Wow, okay, so you said in April '97 is when your ex-husband went to Germany, he went to Baumholder.
00:12:51MOLINA: No, April. No. So let's see. No, because he joined in '93. It was '90. '97. I'm sorry. Is that what you said? '97?
00:13:02BONANO: I said April '97. Is that correct?
00:13:03MOLINA: Yes, correct, correct, sorry.
00:13:05BONANO: All right, so you got married in '97 and then he was deployed or sent to Baumholder, Germany, correct?
00:13:14MOLINA: Correct.
00:13:16BONANO: And then at that point you had already had your son?
00:13:20MOLINA: I did, I did. And so since they cut, since they cut my orders, I actually had to stay behind until he came back from the place that he was deployed to. So because I was out, I'm sorry, I was actually pregnant when I was supposed to go over there. And then they cut our orders because he was leaving. So I went ahead and stayed back and well, I had no choice, but I stayed back in San Antonio. But I did have our oldest when he was deployed.
00:13:47BONANO: Okay so that makes sense because it says that um your husband um your ex-husband had gone to Germany but you joined around two years later in '99 right
00:13:56MOLINA: Right, correct, correct. So yes, so when he got to Germany, I was still pregnant with our oldest and then we he so actually my our son was probably about, I can't remember how old he was, but he didn't meet our son until we got to Germany.
00:14:13BONANO: Oh, OK. When was your son's birthday? When was he born?
00:14:17MOLINA: He was born September 28th, '97.
00:14:21BONANO: Awesome. So I'm just trying to get the timeline set, so.
00:14:23MOLINA: Yes, and please let me know if there's anything that's confusing or, or.
00:14:27BONANO: No, it's okay. I think I got it all. So you guys married in '97, April '97, he goes to Germany, September '97, you have your son, which means you have to stay. And you didn't end up going to Germany until '99, correct?
00:14:42MOLINA: 98, actually.
00:14:44BONANO: Oh, 98. Okay. So 1998, you end up going to Baumholder, Germany, which is, I looked this up as near Luxembourg in France. Seems like a nice area.
00:14:59MOLINA: Yes.
00:15:00BONANO: So tell me what it was like living in Germany.
00:15:04MOLINA: Um, so being a, a Texas girl, I never saw snow. I did one time and they made t-shirts for it. It was, uh, I survived the blizzard of '85 or something like that, or some kind of, you know, something funny. And, um, so when we got there, it was, it was in April and I couldn't believe like that there were still snow out there. It might've been mid March or April that there was still snow up, you know, at that time of the year. And we're not talking just a little bit snow. It was a lot of snow. So I didn't have, I ended up getting my driver's license. I just didn't want to just not be able to go anywhere. We did it by, so we actually shipped our main vehicle from the States to Germany and then we ended up buying just something that would help us just, you know, just run to work or back or whatever. So it was, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed a lot. Unfortunately, my ex didn't get to. So much because most of the time that we were there he was gone and so it was my son and I and I just became friends with other moms and my son became like the best little travel partner you know, he was amazing you know, when we were traveling and so we went to a lot of places you know, unfortunately like I said unfortunately my my ex couldn't but we made the best of it. Germany is one of the duty stations that everybody that you know is going to come and visit you at because it's so nice, you know? And so I did have some friends and family visit. My dad and his wife, they came to visit and they stayed with us for a little while, a couple of weeks. And then a really good friend of mine that I've been friends with for over 30 years, she came to visit and my mom and her husband. So. I kind of kept a little busy as well, you know, entertaining or whatever. And I was fortunate to where at the time also they had the daycare that they have there on post. If your spouse was deployed, you had like so many hours that you can get like a free daycare. So I made sure to take that opportunity. And when I dropped them off, I would either go to like the commissary or the PX or or go home and just wash clothes or clean the house while he was at the daycare. It's just something that I couldn't normally do like how I would like to with him around. And so then I ended up working for AAFES for not very long. I worked at the sports, where they sell, they do all the sporting goods, the toy store, and the garden, the garden part. So um And shortly after when I started working there is when I ran into my friend that mentioned to me that you could be dual military. So I didn't really work there too, too long, but it was um, I really enjoyed Germany. I was able to go to France quite a bit because I think we were like within an hour of the border, I think. I got to visit Heidelberg, the Black Forest. You went to Paris, Luxembourg, where else? Um, Amsterdam, you know, I didn't get to go everywhere that I would like to have gone, but I went to a lot of places, you know, a small, you, know, girl from San Antonio, being not in a place like that. It was very, it was very nice. It was just very majestic, even. We went to go see the new Schweinstein Castle that's over there in Bavaria. So we got to see a lot of stuff there.
00:18:52BONANO: It seems very centrally located.
00:18:54MOLINA: Yes, yes. It was a great location. We were very far from, um, Ramstein either. So like the hospital there, Landstuhl, um and then the recruiting station that I went to was in Kaiserslautern. They call it K-town.
00:19:07BONANO: Yes, ok you mentioned before, what is AAFES.
00:19:12MOLINA: Oh, AAFES, It's um, oh gosh, you can make me make me tell a fib here. No, um, it's like a it's, like a department store kind of for people that like on post there. It has they sell everything from clothes, kind of like a department store, they sell clothes, like sporting stuff, lawn and lawn equipment, just about everything shoes, electronics, It's just like basically like a like a department store for just people that are there on the base.
00:19:42BONANO: Oh, okay. And can you spell it for me?
00:19:44MOLINA: It's A-A-F-E-S. I think it's-
00:19:49BONANO: Okay.
00:19:50MOLINA: I don't even, I can't even remember right now at the top of my head what it stands for, but yeah.
00:19:55MOLINA: Okay, that's okay.
00:19:56MOLINA: So on base, so I'm sorry. So an army is a army post. So they call it the PX, which is a post exchange. Then you have the Navy. Is NEX for Navy Exchange, and then an Air Force is a base, so they call it the BX.
00:20:21BONANO: OK, So being in the army, or your ex-husband was in the Army, you lived on post.
00:20:27MOLINA: We did, well, it was military housing, but it wasn't on post.
00:20:31BONANO: Okay.
00:20:32MOLINA: It was like, it wasn't right outside the post. So we were very, very close to it, to where when we didn't have our cars yet because they had to ship our one vehicle and we hadn't purchased the other one yet, it wasn't a very far walk from where we lived over to-- to the post, and everyone that lived in my building, they were all military.
00:20:58BONANO: Okay. And what was the name of the post?
00:21:02MOLINA: Baumholder.
00:21:03BONANO: Baumholder, that was the name, okay. So the building you lived in was mostly US Army soldiers?
00:21:09MOLINA: Yes.
00:21:11BONANO: Okay, did you get a lot of interaction living there with German civilians or the German military?
00:21:17MOLINA: Not myself, no.
00:21:19BONANO: OK. So I guess we can get into this because this goes into the next thing. So you're living there, your ex-husband's away, you're with your son, you are doing your civilian jobs. What initially made you want to join the military?
00:21:39MOLINA: When I ran into my ex-husband, soldier, she told me that she was doing it. I was at a point where I really, really wanted to do something in the medical field. I knew that. At the time, well, thinking back now, I felt like I didn't have the time to go back to school. I did. But, you know, I had a you know my my son was still a toddler and my husband was gone a lot. So I just kind of focused more on one thing than the other, which you know which is fine. It's great. But I really wanted to go to school. And then so when I run into this person you know she told me, and so I went one day I took my son to the little daycare thing and I drove to Kaiserslautern and I went to go see a recruiter and um that's and he mentioned a lot because I mentioned that I wanted to do something in the medical field and he just kind of listed a kind of you know a lot of the things some of the thing that I could look into, or that kind of thing. And that was it. After that, I don't even know. I don't even know what, that's all. And once I walked inside recruiting station, I knew that's what I was gonna do. I didn't realize that there was, there's some obstacles, I mean, that you can of course overcome when it comes to being dual military. So I did have to come up with like a, they call it a family care plan. And so what that is, is that if you have two people in the military, like you have to have like, pretty much like a backup plan. You know, who's gonna take care of your kids while you're gone or, you know, that kind of thing. And so you have a short-term care person, and then someone that's like in case you're gone for like a really long time. So I did have to make sure that I did that. You know, I had to make that I was, I met the requirements, you know, the weight, the, you know no pre-existing conditions that kind of stuff. And once I got my once I took my the test and I got my score back and they're like, okay, these are the jobs you can do and I said pharmacy technician, and with the plan that I was gonna do that. And then after being in for so long, try to go into the PA program.
00:24:07BONANO: So there's a lot going on there. You join, what did your spouse at the time have any thoughts about you joining?
00:24:15MOLINA: Yes. Ha ha ha! Yes, he did. He did. Um, I think this might be sound kind of interesting, but I think at the time he kind of thought, well, the army is my thing.
00:24:31BONANO: Mm-hmm.
00:24:32MOLINA: You know, and like how, not how dare you, but like, again, this is my thing. Like you don't know anything about the army, like ever. Like you never, you know, would he, him as a young boy, you would be, you know, he saw all the military movies. His dad was in the military, you know, so he knew all about it. And so he was kind of like, what do you know about it? You know? And that's when I was like, but it would be something in the medical field, you going. Um, so, and then, oh my gosh, she's going to be, he's going to laugh when he hear's this, um, he told me, cause at the time he was already on, um an E five. Wow. So he was already high like already a, a NCO and I'm commissioned officer and I was, I would have gone in as like a, I think an E-2, which is like a private, it's a private, you know? And so, um. So he said to me. Imagine a whole bunch of people like me telling me what to do. I heard something different. I heard you can't do it. And so that really maybe it's a Hispanic in me or maybe I don't know what it was. But I was like, Oh, really? Okay. And I was like, All right. So and tell them this is what I have to do this, this, and that. I have come up with a plan for, you know, family care. I said, Don't worry about it. I will do it all. I will let you know when I when I'm supposed to leave. And He was like, oh. So I don't think that he thought I was gonna do it. I think he thought she's gonna go through all that work, all that paperwork, or maybe not even get through the paperwork. And you know, she's going to change her mind or she's just gonna not do it or whatever. But that made me more determined. And so I don't think it was maybe like, cause I had made sure that I, so I called my mom and I told her, You know what, my-- Ideas were, and she's always been there, always been there. Same thing with my brother. She did not want my brother to join the military. After he did, she was just like his biggest supporter, aside from his spouse and his children. And so I called my mom and I told her what my plans were and why I needed someone that could be long-term care provider. And she was like, sure, I guess I'll do it. And so then I had my short-term, someone there like in Germany that until my parents could or my mom could get there they could watch my you know watch our kids just in case you know and um so the plan was that I was going to bring my oldest to San Antonio where my mom was living at the time. And um she just called me one day she was like hey um so um her husband Mel said we're selling the house and um instead of you in your son, you know, my son Trey. Instead of bringing him here, we're going to go up to Germany. And I was just like, you don't have to do that. And she was like, no, no we want to do this. One, she wanted to do it because she was, you know, he's already going to be away from his home and, you, and his dad, you she's like, I want him to still be in the same environment that he said he knows the only thing that he knows. And then secondly, my stepdad was once stationed in Baumholder. So he wanted to go back. So they ended up staying there with my oldest, I called one day from basic and I asked my mom, I was like, Hey, how's everybody doing? Because she answered the phone and I was, like, hey, can I speak to Trey, which is also my ex-husband's name. And she said, Did you not get my letter? I said, What letter? She said, He went to work one day, just didn't come back. At the time, he was attached like a, I don't know what they call it, but like it's a, well, they just get called right away. They show up and they're like, okay, no one's leaving, you know, hey, let's go. And they're out. I think it's like a quick reaction force, I think. I'm not really sure. But so it worked out great that, that my mom actually came and stayed there with my oldest. And so my oldest was there with my mom and my stepdad, you know, they were the best. But one dad is in base one. I mean, his dad's in you know deployed and then his mom was in basic training. So it was kind of rough. It was rough when I called and I heard that. I cried.
00:29:27BONANO: Can I ask for clarification? You said that you found out that your ex-spouse was gone?
00:29:33MOLINA: Yes, I called and I was talking to my mom and I said, hey, is Trey there? And she was like, that's what she asked if I'd gotten received her letter. But I had to, I didn't, I had gotten injured in basic so I didn't have to start completely over. I got like what they called recycled. So I started my training like where I had originally like stopped because of injuries or whatever. And so my mail wasn't hadn't quite hadn't quite caught up with me and and so I didn't get the letter that she had sent me. Letting me know that my ex-husband went to work and they left within a matter of like hours or something. And so, yes, so when I called her and I asked to speak with him, she was like, no, he's not here. And she told me what happened. And I was like I want to go home. That's it. That is it. He's away from both of us now. You know, that's and I trust my mom and my stepdad. I mean, they did a great job with him. You know, but yeah, it was kind of hard. It was kind hard.
00:30:33BONANO: Yeah, I can imagine. So okay, that's a lot of stories. So let me try and focus in.
00:30:39MOLINA: Okay.
00:30:40BONANO: No, you're good. I'm glad for all the stories. So in, in March '99 is when you joined the military, right?
00:30:47MOLINA: Yes.
00:30:49BONANO: So at what point did you did your mother come to Germany to take care of your son?
00:30:54MOLINA: She actually came up about two months before I left for basic training.
00:30:58BONANO: Okay. So that was like January '99.
00:31:01MOLINA: Because we did, yep, yep.
00:31:04BONANO: OK, So your mother moved in and, can I ask, you mentioned that your dad was stationed in Baumholder?
00:31:10MOLINA: No, my stepdad.
00:31:12BONANO: Your stepdad, okay. Interesting.
00:31:16MOLINA: He still had friends there.
00:31:19BONANO: Oh, that must've been a big plus for them.
00:31:22MOLINA: It was, it was.
00:31:23BONANO: Yeah, okay, so in January '99, your parents at that time come to take care of your son and then in March '99, you joined. So the story where you find out about your ex-spouse being gone was when, was, do you remember when that was that you learned that?
00:31:40MOLINA: Um, I don't, um, oh, I was so long ago. I don, I think, so I think what I got through basic training, I can't remember what week we were in, but
00:31:51BONANO: But it was during basic.
00:31:53MOLINA: Yes, it was during basic. Yes.
00:31:54BONANO: Oh, Okay.
00:31:55MOLINA: Yes, because, um. That's why my, so my mail didn't catch up with me because I had to start, I was recycled. And so they moved me to a different unit, a different, they, so they waited for me to. They sent me to different unit that was in the same training. That I had stopped at, so that way I wouldn't have to start all over. And so they let us call home and I was going to let my mom know that, hey, you know, I'm getting moved, or that I'm moving to start, you know, it's called a holdover unit, where they hold the people that they're waiting to either get out or they're going to like go back into other classes or other cycles. And um, so I called her to let her know I was going to be moving again. And that's when that's what she let me know. So I was in basic and my husband was actually deployed at that time. I think he was Bosnia or Macedonia. I'm not quite sure.
00:32:53BONANO: Okay, so I guess we'll start with basic. So you joined in March '99. What do you remember about your arrival at basic training and where was it?
00:33:03MOLINA: It was in Fort Leatherwood, Missouri. Yeah, so. I didn't know what to expect, in all honesty. When I got there, I was so, not, I wasn't scared, I wouldn't say scared. I arrived at, so I arrived at like five in the morning, because coming from Germany, you know, going to, I went to Chicago and to this airport, and then I had to take a bus, so because I got through so late in the evening, that are done. The airport that I landed in, they didn't have anyone picking any soldiers up cause they have like a, they have a USO where you can sit there and wait. Although they, you know, they'll call them like, no, hey, you have some soldiers here, but it was already late so they didn't have it open. So I didn't get into the reception part until like five or five in the morning. And so I really didn't sleep because by the time I got there, You know, got all got everything, you know, situated. It was already time to wake up. But the one thing I do remember from when I first got there, I was already 24, 24, 25 when I joined and I already had a son. So I felt a little bit on the, you know, the older mature side, you know, and I wasn't going to cry about it. Cause I got myself into this. I was like, you, you can't, you So I'm waiting in line to get my linen and there are people there's people crying because they're probably just like confused and scared and like, what did I just do? And I was like, this doesn't even feel like it's happening. This feels like an out of body experience. Like I'm watching myself, you know, waiting for linen. You're 24 years old. Like you had a great place to live. But you're like, and then just the part where, you know when you when you leave for the company that, you know, the unit you're going to be with, they, you get there and the drill sergeants are just all there, you, know, and, and people are just like, they don't know there's that, that saying, they didn't know whether to, um, what is it? Scratch their watch or wind their butt. You know, they're just like oh no, oh no. Oh no. And, um, so I just, you now, I just did what I was told, you know, push ups this and that and do this and this and I just was like, this is, This is. So very interesting. And then I knew what my ex-husband was talking about. Imagine a whole bunch of people like me running around and yelling at you telling you what to do. So even more so, I was like, nope, not gonna cry. Not gonna cry, but that's one of my, actually my best memory. The scariest ones, the scariest moments, but one of some of my best memories are just those things that it's like, you know, I just honestly felt like I was watching myself, You know from afar doing all this stuff, but because I'm 4'11", I'm really short and so I don't have like a big old lot of body strength at the time. And so it was something for someone of my stature, I think, and even just like thinking what is, okay, whatever, just go with it, but it was interesting though. It was interesting.
00:36:35BONANO: So you already mentioned a couple of things, but what are some experiences that you remember from basic?
00:36:42MOLINA: I remember a road march, everybody would be walking and I'd be running because my legs are so short. Yeah, it's funny because everybody's like, you walk so fast, like it's because of the army. I'm like, I had to keep up with everybody. But I met some really great people there, some really good people there. You know, other service members there. And it surprises you how close you can get to people when you're in that similar environment, you know, and there's so many people from different places and just different, you know habits, different, you know ways of thinking. And it's for me, any way, anyhow, I didn't feel like this person is any different than me. It's like, this is my battle buddy. This is the person that you know that kind of thing. So. I don't see a lot of them are here, you know, keep up, I haven't kept up with them, but you know a lot people, but I mean it's, we got, you get very close in a very short amount of time.
00:37:52BONANO: Okay, were there any, you said you don't keep up, were there are any friends that you made that stick out to you in basic?
00:37:56MOLINA: Yes, yes. I had this one friend, I cannot remember her name. I know her last name was Kim. And she was from, she was Korean, but they lived in Argentina, so she spoke Spanish also. And I remember my mom was in Germany, you know, and it's my son and my ex-husband was deployed and my dad's family really doesn't have. He's a proud army dad now, now that he knows exactly what it kind of entails. But he didn't really know about a lot of the whole military thing when he was younger or even just. And so nobody, so he didn't attend my graduation. So actually I had no family members there. And so she invited me to hang out with her family. And so, you know, we did, you know, and we, you know, I just. That was like, honestly the best because, you know, you might, you know how when you're, when you have kids and, and they, and they have sports and like they, that's how you don't have to go, mom, you don't have to go to the game. It's okay. But then you see them looking for you. You know, and you're like, yes, it's a good thing that I, that I you know I arrived or whatever. And that's kind of how it is. Like, I really didn't think anybody was going to do, you know, make it to come. But I was kind of hoping they would. You know, so, so that was amazing that she did that. You know she, I hung out with them, you know, the whole time and the time, that free time that we had or you know that kind of stuff. And it was, it was really nice. It was really but I remember that really a lot, yeah.
00:39:48BONANO: Yeah, um, you had mentioned somewhere that you had an injury during basic. You want to describe that?
00:39:54MOLINA: Yes, after one of our road marches I was okay, but then during the night, I started feeling some like pains up and down my legs. And to where it was difficult to sleep. It was difficult, I couldn't run, that kind of thing. And I went to the doctors several times and they did all kinds of tests and x-rays and everything. You know gave me some you know some stuff for pain but because I couldn't do certain they put me on a profile and because that profile I wasn't allowed to do certain things um and so that's what got me behind all my training so that was why I was recycled And they also had to make sure that I was fit to go back to even do any of those things anyhow that I gonna have to, you know, do again or whatever. But yeah, so that's how it started. I specifically remember after a road march, I just, just shooting pains up and down my legs.
00:41:01BONANO: Terrible. So did finishing basic take longer than normal for you?
00:41:05MOLINA: It did.
00:41:06BONANO: How long was it
00:41:08MOLINA: Um, I think I graduated like two months behind, maybe, maybe almost two months behind because it took the time for me to, you know, um, the training once they realized like, Hey, she can't train anymore for me, to go to this hold over unit and then for me wait for another cycle that's already around the same time. So I would say no more than two months.
00:41:32BONANO: OK, What was the holdover unit like?
00:41:36MOLINA: They had us doing a lot of other stuff around the post within, of course, you had to make sure that you adhere to your profile. But if I remember correctly, they had us sometimes just doing, like cleaning up the outside areas, you know, the. It was various things that they had us doing, classes, you know, kind of stuff, cleaning a lot. We did clean a lot, I remember that. We cleaned the barracks a lot but yeah, that was pretty much it. Well, they do have they did have us make they did like kind of go over like military stuff Like we did have to you know, if you were allowed to you marched you did that, you know You did other stuff too or whatever. But um, you you know They try to keep our memory, you don't fresh with everything that we just remembered But um But yeah, and then after that so then I had to when I left that holdover unit, then I went into another another company and I started where they were at. So it was it was a little challenging because I started off with some people, and then I met a really good group during the holdovers. And then I had to meet a whole other group of people that I was going to graduate with.
00:42:59BONANO: You were in three different groups during basic.
00:43:02MOLINA: Yes, yes.
00:43:04BONANO: And were all these units very different? Like, was it all women or was it mixed?
00:43:08MOLINA: It was co-ed.
00:43:12BONANO: It was Co-ed, okay. Okay, so you graduate. Your family didn't make it. Do you know why they weren't able to come?
00:43:19MOLINA: Again, my mom was overseas and everybody was living their lives.
00:43:26BONANO: Mm-hmm
00:43:26MOLINA: You know, I had my sister, she lived out of state. It's, everybody was just kind of doing their thing, which was fine, you know. I would prefer them, well, I knew that my graduation was gonna be in San Antonio, so that's when I was like, no, you guys better make it to my graduation, so.
00:43:50BONANO: Okay. So you attended advanced training after basic.
00:43:52MOLINA: I did, I did. I went to, on Fort Sam, Fort Sam. I went, they bused us from Fort Leonardwood to Fort Sam I, I'm a 90, at the time it was called 91 Quebec. It's a pharmacy technician. I think now they call them 68 Quebec's. But yeah, so I went there for, what was it? I'm trying to think. I got there and trying to wait till I. I can't remember how long, I think it's 20 weeks. I think its 20 weeks training, if I remember correctly.
00:44:30BONANO: So that was a pharmacy specialist you were training for, right?
00:44:32MOLINA: Yes, yes.
00:44:34BONANO: Okay. And sorry, when did you get there? Do you remember?
00:44:38MOLINA: Ah, cause I graduated in December. I'm trying to think back.
00:44:43BONANO: December '99? Okay, as so you went straight to Fort Sam.
00:44:50MOLINA: Right, we had maybe a day that from when we graduated to get down there, we got bussed. Everybody got bused to their own individual advanced training places or some people stayed behind depending on what they were doing.
00:45:05BONANO: So you got bussed there. And Fort Sam's in San Antonio?
00:45:09MOLINA: Yes.
00:45:10BONANO: Okay. And so you mentioned before that you wanted to do something in the medical field and then eventually make it to pediatricians. Did you, you chose pharmacy technician?
00:45:20MOLINA: I did because according to my score is what I was able to select and I figured that was probably a good start since I would at least get to know like all the other medications and a lot of the terms and stuff so
00:45:32BONANO: So you were happy with that, you thought you can use that for the future?
00:45:34MOLINA: Mm-hmm. Mm-hm.
00:45:36BONANO: Okay. So what were classes like.
00:45:38MOLINA: Rough. Normally a pharmacies technician course lasts about two years. They put that in like 20 weeks. So because not only are you doing your schooling, you're also still doing your military duties. Like you still have to march here, march to the chow hall, clean the barracks. You know, you have people that are on fire guard, they're the ones that kind of, make sure everything's, there's no fire alarms. Make sure that nothing's going on while everybody is asleep. So you not only had your schooling, but you also had the military part of it as well.
00:46:24BONANO: Oh, what was the discipline like? Was it like very rigorous?
00:46:28MOLINA: Um, I think, I think so. I think. So we had some, they were really good drill sergeants. They were, they, they weren't, I wouldn't say tough, but like, you know, they they made sure they made sure that we were where we were supposed to be. Cause they're the ones that also have to get us to the classes. So, you, they don't want to, you not get us there at the right times, whatever. So yeah, no, it was the one drill sergeant that I do remember. I cannot remember her name, but she was the tiniest tiniests lady. And she was a meanest one. Yeah, no. I wouldn't say mean. She was the most. She with the a disciplinarian, I would say.
00:47:13BONANO: What was it like seeing another petite woman?
00:47:16MOLINA: I was like, okay, if she can do it, I can do it.
00:47:19BONANO: Right. Okay, so you completed your 20 weeks of school. And then so quick math, this is terrible. Would you say February, March 2000 is when you went to your first unit?
00:47:38MOLINA: Yes, yes.
00:47:39BONANO: Okay
00:47:44MOLINA: Because I went so because I did Christmas so during so when I graduated I think it was in like I think It was in December, and we had they let us at that. Oh, oh, I graduated honor grad too, by the way
00:47:57BONANO: Oh awesome.
00:47:58MOLINA: Yes. Thank you. Um They um They let us do this thing called, um hometown recruiting you do that for like two weeks and what you do is um you actually just fall tag along with a recruiter and you go to different schools and stuff and different places to try to recruit people. And I guess. [Break in interview]. Of the people that joined. So that's kind of a way to, you know, you see more, I guess I see more approachable ones, you know, to high school kids, that kind of thing or whatever. So, and you know you just went through it so you can answer all the questions. So I did that for two weeks. And then I think it was like the holiday time. And then, cause I remember spending San Antonio, I mean it's Christmas in San Antonio. And then after the new year is when I reported to Fort Benning.
00:48:50BONANO: So after the new year, you went to Fort Benning. So that's January.
00:48:53MOLINA: Yes.
00:48:54BONANO: January 2000. Okay, we'll say that. Okay. So you went into Fort Benning. So your unit was MEDAC at the Martin Army Community Hospital in Fort Benning, Georgia, where you were a pharmacy tech. So what was it like? How did you get from San Antonio to Fort Benning?
00:49:16MOLINA: I actually flew. I flew in. So, my ex-husband and my son were still in Germany. So he already had orders to go to Fort Benning. So there is this program and I think it's called the… Oh my gosh, I think is like military spouse program or something if I'm remembering correctly. But what they try to do is they try and stationed families together.
00:49:41BONANO: Mm-hmm.
00:49:42MOLINA: And so I know that there's like a I think there's a thing where you can't like have them no more than so many miles apart or something like that, but they do try to kind of get you to be in the same place. So I already knew when I graduated that he was going to be at Fort Benning and then I got stationed at Fort Benning. And so I got there and since they were not there, I actually lived in the barracks for I think like maybe two or three months until they came down, my ex and my son came down to Fort Benning. And before they got there, I rented an apartment and got stuff in there and that kind of thing. And so that way when they came in, it was already done. So I did live in the barracks. I had a roommate for a couple of months.
00:50:35BONANO: After a couple of months, you moved to an apartment and prepared for your husband and your son to come.
00:50:38MOLINA: Yes, yes.
00:50:41BONANO: And your parents had moved back to Texas?
00:50:43MOLINA: They did. Actually, they moved to Georgia.
00:50:46BONANO: Oh they did?
00:50:47MOLINA: Yes.
00:50:48BONANO: OK, they lived nearby the fort?
00:50:50MOLINA: Yes, it worked out perfectly that way. My stepdad had family in, right outside of Atlanta. They moved to, I think I remember the name of the city now, but they were a little bit past the Six Flags there. And so that made it so nice because we were able to visit them all the time. They were able visit us all the times.
00:51:11BONANO: Very convenient for your family to have connections in Baumholder and have connections in Georgia.
00:51:16MOLINA: Yes, absolutely. Yes. I never thought of that.
00:51:19BONANO: Yeah. Okay. So, so you lived in the barracks and you live in an apartment and I was going to ask, how did you keep in contact with your family? That question is answered. They were nearby.
00:51:33MOLINA: Um, I spoke to my dad and my, my siblings a lot too at the time. So over the phone,
00:51:39BONANO: mmm, okay.
00:51:40MOLINA: but yeah, it was so nice because I know one time my oldest son was really upset about something that we did, or I don't remember. He actually called my mom was like, grandma, my mom and dad won't let me do yada yada yada. And she was like she's like, put your mom on the phone. I was like oh no, she was, like, um, don't make me go over there. And I was just like, okay, sorry. But yeah, so it was really nice. It was really nice.
00:52:06BONANO: Yeah. So what was a typical day like at the hospital?
00:52:10MOLINA: Um, it's, I've learned that any pharmacy that I've worked at is extremely busy all the time. Our schedules are more like nine. Well, I worked in outpatient most of the time that I was there. So I worked like either like 730 to 330. 8 to 5, 8 to 4, 9 to 5 that kind of thing or 9 to 6. We were always busy. We never ever had a downtime. It was just, you know, because they're not just coming from, from Fort Benning, they're coming from like surrounding areas as well. You know, you have a lot of the activity, but then you also have retirees as well and so it's, it was just constantly busy. You know we were, you had technicians that were at the windows typing in prescriptions and you have technicians that were filling the medications, you had technicians that were in the vault, you know, just. It's just a constant, constant going.
00:53:11BONANO: Um, did you enjoy the busyness of the pharmacy?
00:53:14MOLINA: Oh, I did. I did. I did, yeah.
00:53:19BONANO: Um, so in your downtime, when you weren't working at the hospital, what were you doing in Georgia?
00:53:24MOLINA: Um, So we did have to do PT on our own time. And so we'd like try to just make sure I stayed healthy or healthy enough to pass my PT test or whatever. But no, well, when my family wasn't there, there was this one soldier that I got very close to. We were actually roommates and we would just go to the mall or go to the movies or go, just kind of get out of the barracks. You know, and just go to other cities to go visit, you know that kind of thing. So I try to stay as busy with my family not being there, you know. And, but I just make sure that I stay out of the barracks as well, just to kind of make sure that I was out there and just, you know doing something.
00:54:16BONANO: Okay. Were there any special people that you remember from your time working at the hospital?
00:54:24MOLINA: Yes, my friend, a really good friend of mine, her name is Danielle Shipley. She was a really, really good, she was the one that was my roommate. And we got really close. And I heard from her a few years ago, but it's been a while. But I met a lot of great people, a lot a lot of the civilian employees were great as well. You know, a lot of good people. Um, but
00:54:52BONANO: Any other experiences that you remember and that you want to share, anything that happened while you were at Fort Benning?
00:54:59MOLINA: Trying to think. So I was able to, you know, luckily, so my, my husband, he, he did go to a couple of schools there. And so I did go through some of his graduations, you know, if possible with me being, you know, working or in any, you know, whatever. But, um, I do remember one Christmas. My, so, my husband was an airborne instructor there at Fort Benning. He was a pathfinder instructor and I think he was an instructor at the sniper school. And so he would practice his speeches all the time, you know, he would smack his leg and do this and this and this and that, you know he had it all, you know would practice it all the time but he had to memorize. And it was funny because I remember him giving his speech and then I hear a little clap and I'm looking like, who is that? And it's my son, he was giving the exact class. Like I honestly thought that my oldest was going to join the army because he wanted to be like his dad so much, you know, and I mean, this we went to an event for the Christmas holidays and they were letting the kids, you jump out of a certain airborne tower, the lowest one. And I hear this, I mean it's secured and everything, you that's nothing. And I heard this voice that I recognize say, Airborne? And he jumps out and I'm like, no, that's my son. But no, it was, I mean, it, it wasn't interesting. It was interesting. You know, my, my husband was, he worked a lot, you know, he works a lot. Cause again, he was an instructor. So he did work a lot but you know we tried to do as much as we could there. And I enjoyed, I enjoyed Georgia. I liked it. But then my husband--[Audio cuts out].
00:57:06BONANO: --Hello? Can you hear me?
00:57:09MOLINA: I'm so sorry. My power went out.
00:57:11BONANO: Oh,
00:57:12MOLINA: my power went on. I guess I turned on my I guess on my Wi Fi. I'm so sorry
00:57:17BONANO: Oh, that's okay. I can hear you now. The last thing I heard was my husband.
00:57:23MOLINA: Um, I think where I was going with this, um, I can't remember anymore, but um, that's okay. But um, what was I saying before that? Do you remember?
00:57:32BONANO: You just started on a new story, so I don't even know what you were gonna say. Oh no, oh no, that's okay. You mentioned your son jumping.
00:57:39MOLINA: Oh yes, yeah.
00:57:40BONANO: Yelling Airborne and then something about your husband.
00:57:43MOLINA: Oh, you know, I don't remember anymore,
00:57:46BONANO: That' okay. Um, so yes, you were at Fort Benning for roughly, um, how long, cause you got there. Uh, January 2000 and then you ended up leaving August 2002.
00:58:00MOLINA: Yes.
00:58:01BONANO: So any, any experiences you want to share in the lead up to when you decided to leave?
00:58:04MOLINA: So when I left basic training, I was somewhat okay to go into AIT, but again, as soon as I would start doing rigorous activities or whatever, my injuries would kind of flare up, that kind of thing. So I did have some difficulty in AIT as far as my running, or even just the whole marching thing. I was actually on profile most of the time that I was at Fort Sam. And then so when I went to Martin Army, Again, I really did try to keep up with the running and everything, but it was at the point to where it was pains that were up and down my leg. But then I also started getting this snapping inside of my hip. When I would do my sit-ups, the ones that were holding my legs, they could feel it and they could hear it popping. Uh, and it was just, uh, It was just a constant pain, constant pain. Sharp pains, you know, that kind of thing. So I wasn't able to do a lot of the PT and everything. And then after seeing doctors for a certain amount of time, they really didn't know what was causing, you know, all the pain and the, you know, the snapping of the hips and all that. And so that's when I think they kind of determined like, you know she's not, I'm not fit for duty. I can't go to the range. I can't go to, you know, do certain things. And so. They asked me if I wanted to, what I wanted to do at that point. I had already had my. April of 2001. And so I, it was honestly just probably the best thing to get out because, you know, we were dual military, but we were, you know we had to take the kids to daycare because you know that because we both weren't, you know working and all that. And it was getting kind of expensive and you know my oldest was gonna start kindergarten. So it was, we made a decision that it was probably the best, you know for just because of my injuries but also for the family, you now that I get out. So I was eventually a medical, I was a medical board. I was medically out of the army.
01:00:28BONANO: Um, so you cut out really briefly when you were talking about, um, your second child. So, so can you just repeat when you had your second child.
01:00:36MOLINA: Oh yeah. So she was born in in April of 2001. And so with that pregnancy, though, it was kind of rough because I had that just, you know, the added weight and all that. It just kind of made the it made it worse, you know, the pain, the issues. And I'm so after I had her, I it was, we had to come to a decision, you okay, am I ready? Can I still stay in? Still be able to do my, not just my job, but like what I'm supposed to do for the military. And so that's when, you know, they were not really, they didn't really know what was causing the issue. So they were just like, you know, do you, what do you want to do? And so I discussed it with my husband and, you know he was like, hey, if if we need to get out because of it, then that's, you know that's up to you really, because um. It was a constant issue all the time. It was difficult to sleep. It was just a lot. And it was also financially easier for us if I stayed home more because the kids were in daycare and that kind of thing. So we decided what was best for the family. So I was medically boarded from the military.
01:01:54BONANO: Okay, and that was in August, 2002, correct?
01:01:58MOLINA: Yes, so August, yep, that was my last day in the military.
01:02:02BONANO: Okay, would you have stayed in if you could have?
01:02:06MOLINA: I think so, I think, so if I hadn't gotten injured, I think so.
01:02:12BONANO: Yeah. You would have enjoyed continuing to do the pharmacy tech career.
01:02:17MOLINA: Yes, actually I did it for, after I got out of the army, I did for the government from 2004 to 2023.
01:02:31BONANO: So that that became your career
01:02:32MOLINA: Yes.
01:02:33BONANO: Okay
01:02:34MOLINA: That's why I don't think that I would even, again, I never knew, I never thought that I was gonna be one in the military and two a pharmacy technician and I enjoy it. And that's what's kind of led to the job that I have now that I had done so many amazing things that I never though I would have done as a pharmacy technician. But no, I think I would've stayed in. I liked the structure, I liked, you know. I like, I enjoyed it. I love just doing anything like medically, you know, and I love speaking to people. So as you can probably tell, so, um, you knew it was, I, I got a big joy out of just talking to people at the window and you get your regulars and you know they start to kind of know you a little bit and so it was nice.
01:03:20BONANO: Okay. Um, so initially, how did it feel leaving the military?
01:03:26MOLINA: Um, it's so funny because-- The civilian employers or even just the people that work outside of the military, it's very different. It's very different. And so for me, again, it was very, I missed it. I did miss it. It was just a different environment. I just honestly, I felt closer to the people that I worked with when I was in the military. But I missed it.
01:03:57BONANO: Is it you miss the camaraderie of the military?
01:04:00MOLINA: Yes, yes.
01:04:03BONANO: Um, where was your family at the time of your discharge? Everyone was still in Fort Benning with you.
01:04:08MOLINA: Yes, yes. And then my husband called me at work one day and was like, hey, you got to pick one. He said, no, he said Hawaii or Fort Bragg. And I was like you didn't even have to call me to ask me that one. So then he had orders to Hawaii and so we moved from Fort Benning to Hawaii.
01:04:32BONANO: Okay. Where in Hawaii were you guys at?
01:04:36MOLINA: He was stationed at Schofield Barracks. And I worked at the military hospital, it's called Tripler.
01:04:44BONANO: Tripler?
01:04:45MOLINA: T-R-I-P-L-E-R
01:04:48BONANO: Okay. So how long were you in Hawaii?
01:04:56MOLINA: From 2004 to 2009
01:05:00BONANO: Awesome, so you worked at the, Tripler was the military hospital there?
01:05:04MOLINA: Yes, I worked in the pharmacy. I worked in the inpatient side of it. I worked inpatient pharmacy and then towards the end I so then I worked yeah an inpatient pharmacy and then they asked if anyone wanted to work in the critical care pharmacy which is um you're the right next to the ICU and like the progressive care so you're and the NICU so it's a pharmacy that needs to be right there in that area to get medications to everybody quickly.
01:05:36BONANO: So you leave the military and you continue basically working
01:05:39MOLINA: Yes
01:05:40BONANO: adjacent to the military. Did you enjoy that?
01:05:43MOLINA: I did, I did. Um, oh, can we pause for just a second?
01:05:46BONANO: Sure.
01:05:47MOLINA: My dog is starting to bark. Hold on, just a sec. Okay, hold on. [Break in interview].
01:05:53BONANO: This is segment two of the interview with Lily Molina. We were just talking about what it was like working at the military hospital after being discharged. So go ahead, Lily.
01:06:04MOLINA: So actually when I got out. I did get a job there in Columbus, Georgia, at a hospital at a hospital there. I didn't work as a pharmacy technician. They actually had me work for the department of pharmacy. They needed an admin assistant. So I got hired on that and there were some times where if they really needed me, I could work in the pharmacy as well. But so then I applied for the job there at Tripler and I worked the Outpatient Pharmacy.
01:06:59MOLINA: I am so sorry, Kristen.
01:07:00BONANO: That's okay, you can keep going.
01:07:03MOLINA: So I started, when I went to Hawaii, I was, I got a job there at the inpatient pharmacy. So that was for all the inpatients that are admitted. And then I worked in the NICU pharmacy, which is for ICU, it was critical care, I'm sorry. It was for the ICU, the NicU and the progressive unit. And then it's for and then about two years before I left my husband was coming back from a deployment and I had applied for a job as a medical support assistant which is the other ones that um check in patients at the front desk when you go to the clinic um you know they page you know the providers or nurses or anything and also they take messages for the providers and you know so they can get a call back and that kind of thing so I did that at the end and I moved and I did because it was part-time. And so my husband was coming back. And so I kind of wanted to, you know, be home a little more, that kind of thing. You know, kind of get used, you get us back to where, you know we're going to be with him being at home. So that's what we did there.
01:08:12BONANO: So, you were, so after you got discharged, you worked at Columbus.
01:08:17MOLINA: It was Columbus Regional Hospital. That's what it's called at the time.
01:08:21BONANO: Okay, Columbus Regional hospital. And then after that is when your husband at the time got orders to Hawaii and then you went to Tripler.
01:08:27MOLINA: Yes.
01:08:28BONANO: So that was from 2004-2009. So what happened after that?
01:08:34MOLINA: After that, he, we, he was stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
01:08:41BONANO: And so you went to Fort Jackson and you continued working there?
01:08:45MOLINA: Yes, I worked at the hospital there. I can't remember the name of it, but I worked with the hospital there on post on Fort Jackson.
01:08:52BONANO: Oh, so you worked at the military hospital there, too?
01:08:54MOLINA: Mm-hmm.
01:08:55BONANO: Okay. And do you remember when that was? 2009 to what?
01:08:58MOLINA: To-- 2011.
01:09:02BONANO: Okay. I'm just gonna keep asking because you keep working at military places, so it's relevant.
01:09:07BONANO: Yes. No, it's okay, it' okay.
01:09:10BONANO: What was the hospital at Fort Jackson like?
01:09:12MOLINA: It was good. It was nice. It was small. It was very small, smaller compared to Tripler. But no, I had I had a really great time there. I know, it was a smaller hospital. We didn't when I left there, they didn't have like a like a trauma center or anything ER. So people had to go off post. But it was very small. But I like I enjoyed working there too, though.
01:09:35BONANO: OK. Where'd you go after for Jackson?
01:09:39MOLINA: We got orders to go to Fort Bragg
01:09:43MOLINA: Fort Bragg
01:09:44MOLINA: Which is funny because remember before he asked me right for a bragg or Hawaii And I said Hawaii hello, and so we got then we got to Fort bragg in 2011
01:09:53BONANO: Okay, and you worked at the army hospital there.
01:09:56MOLINA: Yes, it's called WOMAC.
01:09:57BONANO: WOMAK, okay.
01:09:59MOLINA: W-O-M-A-C-K.
01:10:02BONANO: Awesome. And how long were you working at WOMAC?
01:10:06MOLINA: I worked until 2023.
01:10:08BONANO: Okay. Um, okay. And how was, um, working at WOMAC?
01:10:16MOLINA: I liked it. So I started off there as a pharmacy technician and, um. So they had asked for, they needed another, um administrative assistant. And so they had, uh, anyone that wanted to, you know, do it. And they're like, Hey, didn't you have that kind of experience before? And I was like, yeah, you know, on the civilian side, so it's a little different, but, um So actually, I think I was maybe a technician there for about a year and a half when then I started working as the pharmacy administrative person. So I was the administrative assistant for all the pharmacy locations. There were several, there was a lot actually. And then there were some off-posts too that I was assistant to. So I worked under a lot of colonels, a lot captains, lieutenants, NCOs, that kind of thing. But what I really enjoyed about that job that since I was the admin person for the whole pharmacy, I did get to sit in a lot of great meetings. So I kind of saw a different side of what how the hospital works. There was one meeting that I sat in, it was called the medication management meeting and that's just kind of it goes over just different like the formulary. They do, I'm trying to think of what else, the formulary. They also went over. The different floors had a person that would represent, but then I also sat in the P&T committee, which is the pharmacy and therapeutics are the ones that decide what medications are on the formulary. So I got to see a lot of different things, a different side.
01:11:57BONANO: Okay, so, you stopped working at Fort Bragg in 2023 and you mentioned earlier that was the end of your pharmacy tech job, correct?
01:12:04MOLINA: Uh, for the government.
01:12:07BONANO: For the government, okay. So are you still working as a pharmacy tech?
01:12:11MOLINA: So I'm working as the pharmacy technician instructor.
01:12:15BONANO: Oh, OK.
01:12:16MOLINA: Um, I work on um, I worked on Fort Mccoy in wisconsin um, so I So when I I didn't actually apply for the job It's really funny because I didn't apply for but I guess I saw my resume on indeed And so they reached out and they said they wanted an interview and at the time I was going through my divorce. So I The plan was to go back to texas and I was applying for all kinds of jobs in texas, in Texas and remote because I didn't know where I was going to live. I was gonna just you know, maybe stay with my mom for a little bit until I found something. And so that's all I applied for was jobs in Texas or remote. And when they reached out, I didn t remember I had applied for so many jobs that I was like, Did I apply for this? You know, and so I had an interview and you know they discussed you know some of the things and, you know, all that stuff. And then they mentioned relocation pay. I was just like. And they're like, Wisconsin. I was like, wait a minute, like up in the Midwest? And they're like, yeah, I was, like, what? So basically, I I was I hadn't really thought about moving in that direction. Is it okay if I, you know, kind of take it over over the weekend kind of thing. And they were like, No, sure. Great. You know, so I talked it over with a friend of mine, and she was like you need to go. It's like, just try it out. And I was just like, Okay, okay. So I called them on Monday, and I was I'll take it. And so I moved up here in December of 24. And I am a pharmacy technician instructor, but that's not the only thing that I teach. I also instruct basically what the instructors were there for, like our specialty, of course. But then we're also there to show, instruct students how to basically how to build a hospital out in a, like in a combat area, a combat hospital. And so we show them from tents to like certain buildings, like how to, I tell them, okay, this is where you would put this in your pharmacy, that kind of thing. So, and not only my, kind of refreshing them on like pharmacy technician things, I'm also helping them with, okay this is how you build up your area kind of thing.
01:14:44BONANO: Okay, do you like the teaching aspect of your job?
01:14:47MOLINA: So, I do. I'm not a very good public speaker. I get really nervous and then I feel like I start to jumble my words and all that. But they've given me some classes to teach and it's getting easier. It's getting easy. But no, I do actually. I really do enjoy working with the military because we get reservists from all over. And so reservists and a lot of these units are either going somewhere soon, you know, or they're, you know. So I'd like to hear all their, just everything that they, you know I mentioned in all of them, you it's just, it's as far as in here. Like right now we have some students and it's just nice to see like, where are you from? And you know that kind of thing. And, you just, we meet so many different people.
01:15:39BONANO: Mm-hmm.
01:15:40MOLINA: But yes, I'm getting a little bit better at the instructing part. I just have to kind of get over the speaking in front of public. In the public. No, but I do enjoy it though.
01:15:50BONANO: Sure. All right, so since you had been discharged, you had access to veterans benefits. Did you end up using any?
01:16:01MOLINA: I have. Let's see, when I, so when I got out, I, so since I was medically boarded, they, you know, I kind of got automatically put in the system and all that, but they, I've, so I get seen there for my, you know service connected. And I have used the, it used to be called, oh my gosh, now it's called the VRNE, the Veterans Readiness and Employment. And so I've actually gone to school for, actually back for something in biology and science. And I haven't finished schooling yet, but it's in progress again, now that I'm here, so. But I've done that. Trying to think of anything else. Of course I get seen in the VA. I think that's about it actually.
01:17:04BONANO: So what are your overall thoughts on being a veteran?
01:17:09MOLINA: Let's see so I'm not sure if this is just, we were dual military, you know, my husband and I, and at the time, sometimes I don't feel like the veteran in the family because he has done so much more than I ever did. He was in longer, you know? That kind of, so, and then I guess a lot of times my family would even, like on Veterans Day, they would-- Wish them a happy Veteran's Day and they wouldn't say anything to me, I'm thinking.
01:17:43BONANO: Mm-hmm.
01:17:44MOLINA: I was in it too, but I think it kind of falls under that whole, you know, she's, I was only in for three years and I didn't see any combat or I didn t have to go anywhere, you know, far and that kind of thing. So I think sometimes people forget that, you know, women are, were veterans too and that we might not necessarily have done all that really cool stuff, but like they're actually, we're actually the support part, you And so. Um, I'm actually pretty proud of it. It's a very small number of people that joined the military and, um, an even smaller amount that are women. So I'm really proud to be in that part of, you know, of my country's history and, and just be saying, Hey, you know what, especially for myself, um. It took me a long, it took me longer than some people to finish, you know, and the fact that I. You know, I did and you know what, I'm pretty proud of that.
01:18:53BONANO: All right, thanks for sharing that. You kind of already alluded to your feelings about Veterans Day, like not getting thanked for your service, but your husband was. But what are your thoughts on Veterans Day? Memorials Day, other military-related holidays?
01:19:12MOLINA: You know, I wouldn't consider myself, I didn't consider myself a patriotic person, like when I was younger. Because again, I wasn't really familiar with anything regarding the military at all. And cause even like, so my mom has an uncle that was in the service. And I know he went through a very terrible time. He was on a. I think on a boat and they had to jump out and he was lost at sea for a few days. But I never heard those stories from her because it just wasn't something that anybody really spoke about. I lost my train of thought here. I wasn't very patriotic. I don't consider myself at the beginning. But then, one, also being married to someone in the military. And then after I joined myself. I really feel like everyone should do it. I feel like it gave me more, it gave a sense of. A better sense of love for my country and a better understanding of what soldiers do every day and more on my husband's side, just some of the things that they grow through. Or even as a pharmacy technician in the military, like I would hear the stories from the veterans and the dependents and the military guys and it just, it made me proud to be part of that kind of environment.
01:20:56BONANO: Alright, thanks for sharing. What do you think your life would have been like if you had not ever served in the military?
01:21:04MOLINA: I don't know, honestly, I don't know. Like I said at the time, I worked at a credit union for about 10 years or so. And then, you know, the plan was to go to school, but that was put on hold. I put that on hold I don't t know and I'm you know honestly I'm glad I don't because I really do like the way that my life has gone. You know, even I just, I had a great time being a. I had a great time. I want to say a great time. I learned a lot from being a military spouse. I learned a lot. I learned so much more to you from just being part of it myself. I honestly think that considering of what I went through, like with my injuries and all that stuff, I still would do it over again. I feel like it's made me a better person. I understand a lot more being a military spouse and just also being in it, I feel a lot empathy for people that are going through this kind of, you know, like the soldiers that are there now, you know overseas somewhere, or like some of the students that I instruct now, they're just, they're my kids' ages. And it just makes me so proud to see them, you know at that age. I mean, my kids are, they've grown, they're 28 and 25. But when I see like, a few weeks ago, we had a student that was my daughter's age and they might be going somewhere sometime soon and it's scary for me as a mom, but then I'm proud of them too because I'm like, not very many people know this feeling and they don't get to see this side. So I'm actually very proud and it makes me very proud to be able to still not being the military anymore, not being like a military spouse anymore, to-- Still be able to do this with the military soldiers that we have, with the service members that come through the school. So I missed it when I didn't work around the military, I did miss it. So it was just, it was a transition from going from like working with military to working a civilian job. And I did it, so that's why I'm so grateful that I was able to this job that I'm doing now. And it's something that I've known that I, I mean, my husband was in for 21 years and we were married for 19 of those. And then, you know, we dated before he even joined the military. So it's all I've know for since maybe 22, 23. Right. So it it's nice to be back in that. And so I enjoy it. I don't know what my life would be like, but I know that I like the one that I have now.
01:23:53BONANO: That's a nice way to put it. Yeah. So what motivated you to do this interview?
01:24:00MOLINA: Um, honestly, I don't even realize I don t even know how I got the email, but um, just I hadn't even seen the pictures around the VA actually, honestly to tell you the truth. Pride, you know, for, or just kind of want to bring more. More information on women veterans as well, you know, and just, again, being proud of what I've done, I was like, you need to do this. If not just, if anyone, just yourself, you know to show that you're proud of it, you now? And so I think it's a great, great program. And I wish I'd done about it before, I would have done it before but I'm really. And I met really nice women at the photo shoot. So, yep. So, and it was nice to see women from all over and different jobs, you know, I'm medical, but then you have so many other jobs that they've done. And so it's been informative for sure.
01:25:11BONANO: That's great, yeah. Anything you want to tell a person who might be listening to this interview or people who are thinking of joining the military?
01:25:22MOLINA: Just do it. Do it, you know, and, and um. And the best is yet to come, you know? It's a one in a kind kind of experience. Like I said, when I was going through the basic training part of it, you know, it was like, what was I thinking? And my husband was right, but I wouldn't change anything for the world. Because like right now with my job, like as a pharmacy technician in the military, I've, you like I said I've learned things that I never knew. And not just that, but then like, I've gotten to do some really cool stuff. You know, like we go to the field and we're out there with the soldiers and, you know, I get to drive these really cool military vehicles, you know and so, again, I'm 4'11", so that's kind of an issue, but I've done things that I never thought in my life that I would have done. It's taken me to some great places, you know? And has taught me a lot. Honestly, a Hispanic girl from San Antonio, I didn't think that I was ever gonna go to the places that I've been, you know, and I'm so grateful for that. And I would just say, just do it.
01:26:46BONANO: OK, um, did we miss anything that you'd like to cover? Any, anything we forgot to talk about?
01:26:52MOLINA: So the only thing I maybe bring up is, like, the military child. We're in the month of April, and I think April is Military Child Month.
01:27:02BONANO: Oh, okay.
01:27:03MOLINA: And just so grateful for my children. You know, they, as a matter of fact, my daughter said the other day, because she just moved from Texas to California. And she said, you know, it's been a little bit of an issue, you know frustration for her. And so I said, she said I'm just trying to be like you. I'm like, what are you talking about? And she said, anytime we move somewhere different, it didn't matter where we were going. Or even if you wanted to go there, or if you liked it where we work. She's like, you never made it seem like a bad place. She said you made it. She says you made an adventure every time you move somewhere. And she's like so I'm trying to do the same thing. But so kudos to the kids because-- Um, we don't, now that my kids are older, I see more of the effect that, you know, not being with their parents certain times or, you know, that kind of thing, how it's affected them. And um, I really would like for them to have more programs for the, for the dependents, you know the children, um, but um, because they, they serve as well. You know, they're missing their parents. You know, there's a certain lifestyle that it's hard, I think, for some children to go to, to be in this military environment and then maybe to go to school that there's no military around or, you know, that kind of thing. Or they're so used to that closeness of family that when they don't get that, it's really hard. You know? Because there was holidays that we're not able to go home for every single holiday. So Like for example, when we lived in Hawaii, we lived in a cul-de-sac and Thanksgiving and like major holidays like that, because it was in a place where it was so warm. We always had like cookouts and the whole area came and all the kids were there. And I remember one time a girlfriend of mine, she, she was like, hey, before I go over, there's this family that just got here and we've known them for years and years and years and we invited them to come to your house for Thanksgiving. But they're kind of a little bit like, ah, they don't even know us. And I was like, girl, bring them over. Bring them over, who cares? And you know, it's just like, but they don't have anything to bring. I'm like, it doesn't matter. There's plenty of food here. It's not a big deal, bring then over. And this is when we were in Hawaii and I still talk to both of them to this day.
01:29:37BONANO: Oh, okay.
01:29:38MOLINA: Our kids went to elementary school together, you know high school together and they still, you know keep in touch and so. I just, would like to see a lot more programs for the kids. I mean, that would be kind of, I know it's veteran, you know, we're all the, it's about the veterans, but you know they, they kind of sometimes, might need someone else to talk to, that kind of thing. Because once they turn 18 too, it's like, eh, you know, they're adults. But yeah, I would really like to see something like that for the kids.
01:30:14BONANO: Thanks for sharing. That's an important perspective. I don't think it's brought up a lot in interviews I've heard about what happens to the kids who are having to adjust to their parents' lifestyle. I've never heard anyone frame it as the kids serve as well in a way they do, huh?
01:30:29MOLINA: They do, they do. I mean, unfortunately, we've had a lot of friends, you know, get killed in action. They don't come home and the kids feel it just as hard as we do. You know, my husband, when he was in Iraq, he actually lost about 10 soldiers in one day. Oh my goodness. And my kids knew all of them, because they would come over to the cookouts or. We would go to the events that they were holding, you know, and so, and we all live in the same area, so they got to know, you, know, these guys that uncle so-and-so and, you know, uncle so and so and, so it was something, it was hard for them, too, to, you know hear, you now, when they weren't coming back that, you know, so, it, was like, or like one time my husband was deploying and his, him and his captain they were in this we were all in the same room and this was the wife's first deployment, and she was just crying and crying, like, she could not stop crying. And I understand that part, but like, my kids are here, so I have to be really strong for them. You know, and you're kind of scaring them a little bit, you know, so my kids were like, she's freaking us out. I'm like, I know, I now. But, so they see all of that too, you know? And so, but I want to leave you with one really funny story.
01:31:54BONANO: Go for it, yeah.
01:31:56MOLINA: So, I used to work on Fort Benning. I used work at the hospital, but then I also worked in an offsite pharmacy. They call it the Refill Pharmacy. And at the time, the Refall Pharmacy, the way to go into the pharmacy was through a door that the Burger King sign happened to be over the door because it was the PX. So the PX, they have like a food court and they have the department part, the store part of it, you know? And so my kids would always see me going through that door. And so one time somebody asked my son, what does your mom do? He's like, oh, she works at Burger King. And I'm like, what? No, I said, do you not see me in my uniform? And he was like, oh, I didn't know you go into the door that says Burger King or my daughter. You know, I worked at a hospital. And as a pharmacy technician, but for some reason somebody asked her one time, what does your mom do? And they said, she said, oh, she's a doctor because she works at a hospital. I'm like, oh my Lord. It's like, now you guys are telling tales. But.
01:33:08BONANO: You're a doctor who works at Burger King.
01:33:09MOLINA: Yes, yes, absolutely.
01:33:12BONANO: That's so silly. Okay, that was the final story you wanted to tell. This is your last go at anything that comes to your mind you could share.
01:33:22MOLINA: Let me see, I'm trying to think. No, I think that's it, I'm probably going to think of one as soon as we hang up. Just also, our kids are mostly at Fort Bragg. We were there probably the longest out of any place that the kids were stationed at, And um, they've still kept they have they've stuck up in touch with all of their friends. If we're you know military dependents, you know, that kind of thing too. But yeah, just it's, it's such a close knit environment. And, and I'm so grateful for that too. You know that, you know, for example, when I was in Hawaii, I worked inpatient pharmacy, and you could work anywhere from 630 to 330, three to 11, you do that kind of thing. And so one of my, there was a soldier that worked there. And she, we both, both our kids went to the same daycare and they, if there's no school, they still go to the daycare like all day, but they charge you extra. So I told my friend, you know. Instead of paying extra, all you have to do is just pay the amount to hold the spot. I said, why don't you just leave him with me during the week? I took some time off, you know, and he can just spend the spring break with us. And so on the weekends as well, whenever I worked, she would watch mine, and whenever she worked, I would watch her son. So my kids were like, mom, Ms. Bridget, took us to a Baptist church today. And I was like, really? I was, like, okay, cool. And they're like, we were born, I was born and raised Catholic. They're like mom, we really like her religion so much more. I said, why is that? She goes, my son was like well, you sing a whole lot more. And then in the Catholic church, it's just up and down, up and, and I'm like, oh my God. So my kids have gotten to see a lot of different, you know. Different things. So I've I'm proud of that too.
01:35:44BONANO: That's it. Okay, so I guess I'll just say that concludes the interview. Thank you so much, Lily, for all your time. Thank You.
