[December 21, 2024] I arrived at college after completing my enlisted tour of duty with GI Bill in hand. My goal was to finish the last two years of my degree in engineering and return to military service. But I needed more money. Taking a job in a security firm the following summer, I was assigned to one of Lubbock’s hospitals, where I met a young lady named Gloria working in their computer department.
She seemed nice and had a great smile, so I asked her out on a lunch date. We had good conversations, and she told me about her family. She was the oldest of eight children. They were all close to each other and supported one another. Gloria earned extra money for the family and helped out with her younger siblings. That was a sign that she was a person of good character. In 1977 when we started dating, I was 25 and told her about the things I needed to do, like finishing ROTC and graduating college the following year.
On our second date, she took me by to meet her family, giving me a chance to speak with her parents briefly. They were lovely folks, although poor in many respects, but they seemed content and happy. Their economic status did not affect me in the least. I found that her parents loved Gloria deeply and relied upon their eldest daughter. In a surprise conversation, her father told me he wanted to get his daughter “married off soon.” I smiled, thinking this was just a little premature.
I would always stop by the hospital’s computer department on the weekends, working as a security guard, to see Gloria. Her co-workers were very supportive of her, and she worked with a great team. Outside work, we had a good time as I drove around the various parks, lakes, and recreational areas in the Lubbock vicinity in my new Chevrolet Camaro RS.
I got to thinking I might develop a longer-lasting relationship. Gloria was pretty, physically mature, had an outgoing personality, and had a good job. On one of our dates, something seemed a little off with her, like she didn’t understand the concept of what an engineer did or even where Germany was located (I had told her I was stationed there with the Army). There were a few other oddities, but compared to all these positives, they were small and inconsequential. Or, so I thought.
Curiosity got the better of me, and one day, I asked her how old she was. Understand that I’m not stupid about bluntly asking a woman her age. Fortunately, young women find the question less problematic. So I asked, “If you don’t mind telling me, how old are you?” Like it was just common knowledge, she told me she was 16 years old but would be 17 “real soon.”
I was flabbergasted. “Sixteen!” It was more of an off-handed confirmation than a real answer. Was I going to get arrested? Was I subject to some arcane Texas law about dating high schoolers? I had assumed that with her working in a large hospital computer center and being so well-developed as a young lady, she had to be at least 20. Obviously, I was wrong. This mistake was another lesson in not making assumptions, especially about important matters.
Later, I told her I could no longer date because of her young age. She was disappointed. So was I, and in many ways, because I’m convinced that our relationship certainly could have eventually led to marriage. Her parents were unhappy since they had high regard for me as a young man, military veteran, and engineering university student. To them, I was the ideal match for their daughter.
In 1983, as I was traveling down the highway to Fort Benning, Georgia, I heard Laura Branigan’s song “Gloria.” Instantly, my mind snapped to my time with Gloria, that 16-year-old in the computer room, who wanted a relationship with me. Looking back, my decision to end our relationship makes perfect sense. But maybe I should not have acted so hastily.
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Note: The photograph of a young woman in the article thumbnail is not Gloria. It shows an unknown woman working at the control panel of an IBM 360 computer, taken in 1968 in St. Louis, MO. from Fraser: Discover Economic History.
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Sir, I’m late making a comment on this humorous post. Thanks for making me laugh. Great story by the way. Yes, we can all wonder what would have happened if you had married her, eventually. I’m sure you’d have had a mess of kids and known as then”kid’s general.” 😀
Dodged a bullet on this one.
Yeah, Teller. I nearly fell out of my chair reading this story. I guess that Gen. Satterfield was not as experienced in the ways of manhood at that time. He learned pretty quickly however so he was not in trouble. Although Gloria’s parents clearly were okay with the relationship. Her parents were interested in getting her married for her own good to someone who could be trusted to care for her, protect her, and create a family with her.
I got a good laugh out of this story. 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Holy Cow, Batman, you nearly got yourself in some big trouble. Good thing you asked. Women do thei best to look like someone they are not, consciously or unconsciously. Hey, how’d your other dates work out? Please keep us informed and up to date.
GLORIA.
https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=gloria+song&mid=877538AE7D1D4E6C7D7A877538AE7D1D4E6C7D7A&FORM=VIRE
Yeah, great song SWEENEY and Gen. Satterfield. But there were many from that era. In fact, there are disk jockeys that specialize in 80s hip and rock music. To be a person with a good ear, you’d be able to distinguish the change over the years. BTW, interesting how that change happens. Great article Gen. Satterfield. Please continue. Oh, I hope that you write your book on “Letters to My Granddaughter “ soon. Nothing like a good old home town book of stories. ……
Nice, uplifting song.
Yes, I agree about a new book by Gen. Satterfield.
OUCH, dodged a bullet on that relationship.
“She Said She Was 16”
Never trust a woman, they will say anything to catch a good man.
Awwwww, lovely story. Thanks fo4 getting my Saturday off to a positive start. 👍
Hi Liz. Yes, maybe it could have turned into something bigger. I wonder if Gen. Satterfield would have had the same military career with Gloria and a mess of kids. Of course, we know that in the USA that the most happy women are those with three kids or more. Don’t knock what might just happen. I can imagine Gen. Satterfield with a dozen kids. Now that is funny. Oh, if you are thinking about writing more of those stowhen you dated women, then please continue. We l
All look forward to reading them.
Seems Gloria is a lovely girl but you did the right thing by calling off the relationship, even with her parents’ permission. Today, I’d avoid it totally because of our litigious society. Fifty years ago, it might have worked and you not gotten into trouble. But there is always risk. Stick with young women 18 years old and older.
I understand that a marriage would have been legal in the state of Texas if her parents had given consent. Although looks like that was not your intent. I would not have counseled young folks to marry under 18 yo. But I do encourage them
https://www.avvo.com/legal-answers/can-a-16-year-old-marry-a-26-year-old-in-the-state-2925877.htmlto have children early in life.
I’m no lawyer but that’s what I have heard all my life, not that I was testing the water.
Exactly. Plus don’t tempt fate. Marriages are in trouble in America because society (mostly the government, feminists, and radical leftists) is hammering away at the real reason for getting married in the first place. This places and enormous burden on the young if they want to marry because, “Why get married?” Gen. Satterfield, thanks for sharing one of your stories from your youth. For some reason, your stories are so different. 🎯
Pastor Jim and Gen. Satterfield, too bad. Would have made a beautiful love story to tell.
Yep, thought so. Gen. S’s instincts were spot on.
Thanks, LM. I was under pressure for the right decision.
Great story.
. . . . . . what would we be doing today if Gen. Satterfield had gotten married then? Would he have gone on to be an Army officer and eventually a General. Men who devote more time toward their families are good men but less likely to get promoted.