Here's a television with a military history

[Kamakiri]

Went to the thrifts tonight, and spotted an interesting Sony portable from the early 60s. No raster, but it's got sound.

But atop this set in Dymo label reads:

MAJOR POLA L. GARRETT
L376
DSCPER PD ROOM 2B735
THE PENTAGON WASH D.C.

So, a quick Google search on Pola Garrett revealed that this set belonged to:

>>>> LtCol Pola L. Garrett, the first black WAC officer to be promoted to full colonel (1973), served as deputy commander WAC Center (1973-1974). She died at age 49 of emphysema.

So, this set I imagine is actually a part of African American history, having belonged to the first black woman ever promoted to the rank of Army Colonel. Being that this set says she was a Major at the time would coincide with the approximate date of the set.

It really is amazing what you can find at the thrift store. And more amazing yet, that all of the labelling is still intact after all these years, and nobody ever removed it.

[Eric H]

Of course it could be another Major Pola L. Garrett

But seriously, that's a really cool find, amazing you could find so much out through the Internet!

You say she died of emphysema? Not to be morbid but does the set smell of Cigarettes?


Eric

[Kamakiri]

No....in fact it's pretty clean.....would take just a little 409 to get it looking great....

I'm going to do a little more research on her when I have more time, to see if she had family in this area. I'd like to find out how in the heck this set would have made it to Buffalo.

[Kamakiri]

This is a 1972 photo, she is shown standing second to last on the right in the top row.

The DCSPER stands for Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, the L376 seems to stand for the media department at the Pentagon.

The room this set was used in was located on the 2nd floor, B ring, 7th corridor, room 35

Holy Jehosophat, gitta load of the fright wig wearing hair-hopper front row center!!!!! Tracy Turnblad, you get home right this moment and comb out your hair!!

Anthony

[Sandy G]

OMIGAWD !!! LOL !!! Pola looks a little subdued, or maybe embarrassed, but who wouldn't be by that damn Phyllis Diller fright-wig...Hayy-zoos !! -Sandy G.