Pocono News Section

Nanticoke Woman to Break Gender Barrier on Navy Sub

Nanticoke Woman to Break Gender Barrier on Navy Sub - Monday, May 10, 2010 at 04:17AM EST

Reported by: Mike Trim
Monday May 10 2010
NANTICOKE, LUZERNE COUNTY -- Abigail Gesecki of Nanticoke is about to make military history and her father Henry Gesecki is taking it all in.

"You can't help but feel a lot of pride. you try to keep some humility with it because she's doing a lot of things that we have so many young people doing in this country. she doesn't consider herself any better or any worse. she just wants to do her part," he said.

Gesecki will be one of the first women to be stationed on board a US Navy submarine. The Navy changed its regulations this year to allow women on subs.

Gesecki is a 2006 Nanticoke high school grad. At the end of this month, she'll graduate from the United States Naval Academy.

In high school, Abby was an all-state track athlete. She continued running for Navy's team. Now, she'll join another team, the tight-knit submarine community. Henry Gesecki said, "The history making thing is exciting to her but her whole main reason is she wants to be on subs. she wants the challenge of being on a submarine."

The challenges of submarine life include tight living quarters and months underwater at a time. Dad says it will take a little getting used to. Henry Gesecki said, "When she's going to be underwater, I'm not going to be able to talk to her for at least 90 days so that's going to cause some anxiety there."

Gesecki's dad is used to daughters in the military. The U. S. Marines flag hangs on his porch because another daughter is serving in Afghanistan.

Gesecki's not the only local woman to join the submarine community. Jessica Wilcox of Honesdale will also graduate from the Naval Academy this month. She'll be stationed to submarine duty as well.