I can relate to some instances. I too have lousy eyesight. Mine is due to combat conditions in Vietnam. Oh, let me say this. I applaud your mom and her attempts to get into the American military. The reason Jews were not sent to the European theater during WWII was because of what would happen to them if they were captured by the Germans. Instead they were sent to fight the Japanese in the Pacific theater. Incidentally, this is why the American Japanese were sent to fight in the European theater. Like your mom, I also had the highest IQ they had seen at Ft. Lewis when they did all the testing, 147 General IQ, 153 Math IQ and 154 Electronics IQ.
My father was in the Navy, South Pacific during the war. He also was part of the occupation of Japan. My wife's father was Army, also fighting on numerous South Pacific Islands.