Our History

In June 1956, a meeting was held at Bethesda Naval Hospital. During this meeting, 176 women signed up for membership. Mrs. David Tyree was elected president and the NOW Club was born. Eventually, the name was changed to Naval Officers Wives Club (NOWC). In 2006, celebrating our 50th Anniversary, we stepped forward to meet the changing Navy and renamed ourselves once again to Naval Officers’ Spouses’ Club (NOSC). Today, we celebrate our past and look to our future.

NOSCDC long ago recognized the need for a retirement home for retired naval officers and particularly for service widows, many of who were in reduced circumstances prior to the enactment of the Survivors Benefit Program. Vinson Hall from its beginning has housed a congenial mixture of service widows, retired couples and single service retirees. Eventually, the Marine Corps and Coast Guard OWCs joined the effort and today Carl Vinson Hall, situated in McLean, Virginia, is a retirement community for Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard officers and their spouses. This community offers apartments for independent living, assisted care, full nursing care and services to the memory impaired.

Throughout the years, NOSCDC members have introduced several significant initiatives, including the creation of the Joint Armed Forces of Washington Luncheon (JAFOWL), Naval Services FamilyLine, COMPASS, and the establishment of Temptations Gift Shop. Temptations have been instrumental in generating financial support for college scholarships benefiting Navy dependents and local charity organizations. Simultaneously, our diverse activity and neighborhood groups, along with our dedicated tour and events committees, have consistently provided our members with enriching educational and cultural experiences, as well as fostering strong social bonds.