Watch the interview HERE.

BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today released his latest episode of “Answering the Call: Maine’s Veteran Voices,” Senator King’s interview series in which he shares the stories of the lives, service, and sacrifices of Maine’s veteran community. In the ninth interview of the series, conducted in partnership with the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project, Senator King spoke with Gardiner resident Auta Main, who served in the Air Force as a Russian Linguist during the height of the Cold War. During the interview, Auta shared with the Senator her story of joining the military to support her family, the high-stakes work of linguistics and communications during the Cold War, and what it was like serving as a closeted gay woman during the 70s.

“It was an honor to speak with Auta Main and hear the story of her courageous service in this episode of ‘Answering the Call: Maine’s Veteran Voices.’ From joining the Air Force to support her family, to her current work with veterans, Auta has continuously shown what it means to selflessly defend our nation and the principles of our founders,” said Senator King. “Along with her critical work as a Russian linguist during the Cold War, Auta has helped the country live up to our promises of equality and opportunity. As a gay woman serving in the 70s, she paved the way for the current generation of LGBTQ+ servicemembers to live openly without fear. Her lifetime of dedication is a true inspiration, and I am grateful she could join me to share her story.”

Auta Main grew up in Dresden, Maine with her seven siblings in a three bedroom house with just one bathroom. They were a rural, working class family, with her father working as a pipe fitter at BIW. Auta had two uncles who had served in Korea, but she never considered military service until she realized her college scholarships weren’t going to be enough and that her older sister was struggling to pay her college bills. So when an Air Force recruiter approached Auta, it was a path to support both herself and her family and she enlisted in 1976.

Leaving the state for the second time in her life, Auta took her first flight ever to basic training in San Antonio and recalls the physical, mental, and emotional tests that left little time for homesickness or anxiety. Even more importantly, she remembers a strong sense of purpose, camaraderie, and duty she quickly came to love. As she and her fellow recruits began choosing their fields, Auta, who knew members of the Russian community in Dresden, decided to become a Russian linguist. The Air Force linguists received trainings in intercepting and translating Russian radio frequencies, a post that would take Auta to Germany.

Auta served for almost 3 years in Augsburg, Germany where she worked to intercept Soviet radio messages. While the frequencies she intercepted were primarily military exercises and counter-intelligence, she became skilled in recognizing the types of vehicles they were using by the background noise alone. In the height of the Cold War, it was clear this work was being closely watched by USSR intelligence, and was critical to maintaining peace.

Auta’s time in the Air Force was also a time of personal discovery. She had enlisted with a male fiancé waiting for her back in Maine, but the first time she fell in love was in the Air Force, with a woman. As she began to fully understand her sexual orientation, she faced the threat of expulsion if she was ever outed. Auta saw other queer women threatened and pushed out, and said that the homophobia was a large part of why she decided to leave the Force. Auta married her wife just two weeks after the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage, and they now live happily together in Maine. As she reflects on LGBTQ+ rights in the military she remarks, “Let people who want to serve, serve!” and is glad to see so many service members today being able to celebrate their identities without shame or fear. She now works to help veterans transition from military to civilian life.

The Veterans History Project is an effort by the Library of Congress to collect, preserve and distribute the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. The interviews and primary documents from the project are then used by researchers, historians, students, and filmmakers across the country. Senator King joins many other Members of Congress who’ve participated in the project.

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator King has been a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. Over the last year, he’s worked to honor and preserve veterans’ stories with his “Answering the Call” interview series in partnership with the Library of Congress, and with the Honoring Purple Heart Recipients Act of 2022 that would honor and recognize the sacrifices of Purple Heart medal recipients. King also recently celebrated the Senate’s passage of the PACT Act, which would provide veterans exposed to toxic hazards their earned healthcare and benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).