Many distinguished visitors have toured the spaces of Pre-commissioning Unit Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), but none of have visited under the circumstances of one particular guest.

Norma Bauerschmidt, a 91-year-old World War II veteran and member of Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service, after being diagnosed with stage four uterine cancer has declined medical treatment and has instead taken to life on the road.

Fondly referred to as Miss Norma, she has moved into an RV with her son Tim Bauerschmidt, daughter-in-law Ramie Liddle, and their travelling companion Ringo the poodle.

"Living life to the fullest is important," says Miss Norma. "Do what you want because the doctors aren't always right."

Miss Norma's journey didn't begin in an RV. It began when she boarded a train headed to the San Diego Naval Hospital as a member of the first-ever nurse corps.

"It was very important to us to meet a nurse from World War II, the greatest generation. They were the ones who led the way," said Lt. Cmdr. Shane Lawson, a member of the nurse corps aboard Ford.

After her service concluded, she and her husband moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan. After awaiting their benefit checks for their military time, they laid all of their money on the kitchen table for a total of three cents; not even enough for a loaf of bread costing five cents at the time. It was time to write a letter to their congressman.

"This was a long time ago in 1949. My husband - who was in the Army Air Corps - and I were just out of the service and went to Grand Rapids for school. Our benefit checks didn't follow us. I told my husband that I was going to write Mr. Ford to see if he could help us because he was the new congressman. He came out and handed us our checks, just like that," Miss Norma said.

Years later after the chance meeting with the future president, the Bauerschmidts and Ford crossed paths again, but in a different kind of way. Their daughter Stacy, who passed away in 2008, was a high-ranking Secret Service official who served the Ford family and had a large role in planning the president's funeral.

"When Stacy was working for the Ford family, she went up to President Ford knowing he might not remember them, but mentioned how much he did for the family. He remembered the entire story and told it back to her. He was a very large part of our lives," said Tim.

Miss Norma and the crew were able to connect with another part of Ford's legacy by visiting the newest and most technologically advanced aircraft carrier named after none other than the president himself, Pre-Commissioning Unit Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). Once aboard, they had the chance to tour various spaces throughout the ship and interact with Ford Sailors.

"This experience tops all of the rest. We can't get much better than this," said Miss Norma.

"It's a great honor to meet Miss Norma, a member of the greatest generation, and have her meet Ford Sailors, who are among the greatest of their generation," said Capt. Richard McCormack, Ford's commanding officer.

Visiting Ford was one of many stops on her extraordinary journey to live life to the fullest and experience all of the great things this nation has to offer after she gave so much for her country. Miss Norma said that there will never be a last stop and she plans to live the rest of her life on the road with her family and their fluffy companion Ringo.

For more news from Pre-Commissioning Unit Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), visit www.navy.mil/.