Our Impressions
From Auxiliary to Army - the Women's Army Corps 1942-1945
by Heidi BreedenOn 14 May 1942, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps was welcomed into the Army's ranks, after Congress approved Massachusetts Congresswoman, Edith Nourse Rogers' bill to create a women's army. With the Army Nurse Corps, the WAAC constituted the second organization of women authorized to serve with the Army. The purpose of the Corps was to make available to the war effort the knowledge, skills, and special training of the American woman. The strength of the Corps was fixed from time to time by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, but in no event exceeded one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) during the course of the war.
Read more about the WAC on Heidi's website at this link (opens in new window).
The US Army Nurse in World War II
by Lucy RobinsonMy primary focus for living history / re-enacting with USMWHI is that of the Army nurse in the ETO (European theater of operations) or MTO (Mediterranean theater of operations), 1942 through 1945. Depending on the setting of our encampment, I might have a field desk, a chair or two, and/or a cot, mayo stand, dressing change tray / supply display. My uniform will vary as it would have with the site and the times of the war. My presentation will be historic interpretation with hand-outs and explanation of the static display.
The factual basis for my impression comes primarily from the documented histories of the women who lived the time and place. I have been fortunate enough, too, to have made the acquaintance of several nurses and have learned first-hand of their times under canvas. There are some official references - the "how it will be" as planned by government departments as well.
While there are those who think of nurses in the 40s as all white, starched uniforms and shiny hospital hallways, I will try to stretch their knowledge to include the women who went ashore with the first wave of troops into North Africa; who took bombing of their hospital ship and stood helpless as their sisters burned; who waded in foot-deep mud at Anzio and who overcame their shock and revulsion to care for the liberated captives of concentration camps.
The gifts of touch, talent, tears and tenacity by some 60,000 women world-wide brought home to us, literally and figuratively, the very ease of our lives today. Such generosity demands a bit of remembrance.
Information on the Navy Nurse Corps
The following information on the Navy Nurse Corps is an example of the information we share among ourselves and use as the building-blocks for our impressions.
The US Navy Nurse Corps began in May of 1908 after US Congress authorized the establishment of a female nurse corps within the US Navy. By the end of WWI, over 1,550 Navy nurses had served in Naval hospitals at home and abroad. In peacetime their numbers dwindled to less than 500 on active duty serving aboard Navy ships. At the beginning of WWII, Navy nurses were generally treated as officers, and wore uniform stripes similar to commissioned male officers, but it was not until 1942 that they achieved formal officer status. In 1939, Captain Sue Dauser became the official superintendent of the NNC, and she served until November, 1945.
During WWII, Navy nurses served at sea aboard 12 hospital ships, in air evacuation, in Naval stations, hospitals and clinics in Alaska, Australia, the islands of the Pacific, Africa, England, Italy and other locations. They also served alongside Army nurses in field hospitals of the pacific, and near the battle-lines in Normandy, France. Navy nurses were on hand to help with the casualties of Pearl Harbor, and two days later, 5 Navy nurses in Guam were taken prisoner by the Japanese. In the Philippines, 11 Navy nurses were Japanese POW's for more than 3 years. Navy nurses served along
Capt. Ann Bernititus, a Surgical Nurse assigned to assist Naval Surgeon Dr. Carey Smith,and who was awarded the Legion of Merit medal, for her heroism. Cpt. Bernititus was the first person, male or female to receive the reward. By the end of WWII, there were 11,000 Navy nurses on active duty- one of the smallest groups of women in the military, but certainly of equal importance as to the courageous and self-less contributions of military women in WWII.
Why I Re-enact
by Chris Morgan"For as long as I can remember, I have loved reading about history, especially our military conflicts. The only persons I ever knew in the military were my cousins, three strapping Irish lads sent off to Southeast Asia as mean fighting Marines. I watched as members of my generation who fought in a "conflict" were not treated as returning heroes to the land they loved and sacrificed so much for. Why is that?
I always felt our veterans of all wars should be honored for giving myself, my family & and my friends our very freedoms. In March 2003 a very good friend gave me an opportunity to actively honor our veterans by getting into a new hobby, military re-enacting. I have been given the chance to dress in military uniform portraying a nurse in a field hospital for WWII, Korea and VietNam. The conversations, the thank you's, and the handshakes I have received from these veterans have been exceptional. I have learned so much from talking to all of these veterans. I have thanked each and every one I have talked to. I owe them so much.
I have especially enjoyed talking to the veteran nurses. So much of what they endured in battle has advanced the medical field over the years. I am a nurse in the real world. So many of the spectators ask, "are you really a nurse?" Yes I really am! " Why do you do this?" " So I can say thank you to those nurses who paved the way for me to do my job every day with the same kind of honor and dignity that these professional women soldiers have done over the years." I love my country and this is the only way I can pay homage to all our veterans, women and men. They deserve so much more".
More information will be added in the future.