81-year-old gets offer to enlist in Naval Reserve

MAGNOLIA, Ark. -- At age 81, Fola Coats might seem a little old to join the Navy. But the great-grandmother recently received a letter inviting her to enlist in the Seabees of the Naval Reserve.

"I laughed when I got [the letter]," she said. "I told [my family], I can't wait to get my uniform."

Coats' husband served in World War II and two of her sons were in Vietnam.

"I guess they figured we were a great military family," she said.

The letter suggests she should volunteer for the Seabees, supporting Navy construction needs with a specialty rating of builder, construction electrician, construction mechanic, engineering aide, equipment operator, steelworker or utility worker.

Coats said the letter has been good for laughs for her whole family.

"And the worst part of all of this is I don't even like water," she said. "I won't even go swimming. That would be a little difficult when I get on that boat and get way out in the ocean."