Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 461

Army Nursing in World War II - Requirements

Since my new World War II book, With Every Letter (Wings of the Nightingale book 1), features nurses, I'm starting a blog series on Army Nursing during the war. Today we’ll look at requirements to serve in the Army Nurse Corps. Next week, I’ll discuss the training the nurses underwent and rank in the Army Nurse Corps. And the following week, I’ll provide some details on uniforms and general nursing practices.

During World War II, 57,000 women served in the US Army Nurse Corps (ANC), 11,000 in the Navy Nurse Corps (NNC), and 6500 in the Army Air Forces. More than two hundred nurses died serving their country.

Requirements

To serve in the Army Nurse Corps, women had to be 21-40 years old (raised to 45 later in the war), unmarried (married nurses were accepted starting in October 1942), a high school graduate, a graduate of a 3-year nursing training program, licensed in at least one state, a US citizen or a citizen of an Allied country, 5’0”-6’0,” have a physician’s certificate of health and a letter testifying to moral and professional excellence.

Discharge  
Pregnancy was the main cause of discharge from the Army Nurse Corps, or as the women called it, PWOP (Pregnant WithOut Permission). To discourage pregnancy, the Army had a cumbersome process to gain approval for marriage. Other methods to prevent pregnancy included careful placement of nurses’ quarters, discouraging drinking, and encouraging the women to socialize in groups. The second main reason for discharge was “neuropsychiatric,” also called combat fatigue.

Discrimination

Discrimination based on gender and race was still rampant in the 1940s. Male nurses were not allowed in the ANC during World War II. In October 1940, a small quota of African-American nurses were admitted to the ANC. Despite a large number of black registered nurses in the United States, fewer than five hundred were allowed to serve, and then only to care for black patients or for prisoners of war.

Sources:

http://history.amedd.army.mil/ANCWebsite/anchome.html(The official website for Army Nurse Corps history.)
Sarnecky, Mary T. A History of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1999. (A comprehensive history with a thick section on WWII).Tomblin, Barbara Brooks. G.I. Nightingales: the Army Nurse Corps in World War II. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1996. (A wonderful history, including all theaters, full of personal stories).

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Sept. 17, 1942: German Admiral Dönitz issues Laconia Order, forbidding rescue operations by U-boats after U-boat lost rescuing survivors of Sept. 12 sinking of the Laconia.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Sept. 16, 1942: Japanese drive on Port Moresby, New Guinea halts at Ioribaiwa Ridge. Germans enter NW suburbs of Stalingrad.

Today in World War II History

USS Wasp70 Years Ago—Sept. 15, 1942: Carrier USS Waspdamaged by Japanese sub off Solomons, sunk by US ships. US forms Women’s Flying Training Detachment under Miss Jacqueline Cochran to train pilots.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Sept. 14, 1942: In New Guinea, Australians fall back for the last time to Imita Ridge, only 32 miles from Port Moresby. Japanese retreat in the Battle of the Ridge on Guadalcanal.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Sept. 13, 1942: On Guadalcanal, Japanese try to seize Henderson Field, but fail.

Today in World War II History

US 5th Air Force "parafrag" bombs falling onto Japanese airfield70 Years Ago—Sept. 12, 1942: Battle of the Ridge begins: Marines fight off attacks on Guadalcanal. US 5th Air Force light bombers first use parachute fragmentation bombs (“parafrags”)—in Buna, New Guinea.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Sept. 11, 1942: Australians fall back to Ioribaiwa Ridge on retreat toward Port Moresby, New Guinea. US opens airfield on Adak Island in Aleutians.

E-Reader Giveaway and Facebook Party!

To celebrate the release of With Every Letter , the first book in the Wings of the Nightingale series, I've teamed up with Litfuse Publicity for a giveaway of a Nook Color or a Kindle Fire (winner's choice). Plus, we're hosting a Facebook chat party and a blog tour!

The giveaway starts now and runs through September 26, 2012 at 11:59 PDT, and is open to residents of the US, Canada, and Australia who are over 18 years of age. More details and the official contest rules can be found on the With Every Letter Giveaway page.


In the With Every Letter Giveaway, one grand prize winner will receive:

*A Kindle Fire or Nook Color (winner’s choice)
* Handmade With Every Letter First Aid Kit
* With Every Letter by Sarah Sundin  Mellie's First Aid KitAlso join me on September 27th at 5 pm PDT at my Author Chat Party for an evening of chat, trivia and a sneak peek of my next book! I’ll announce the winner of the eReader and give away other great prizes ("Mellie's First Aid Kits," gift certificates, books, more)! RSVP today and save the date!  To enter the giveaway, please go to the With Every Letter Giveaway page or click the icons below to enter via Twitter, Facebook, or email. Also, please visit the With Every Letter Litfuse page to follow the blog tour and see what the reviewers are saying!     [image error]

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Sept. 10, 1942: US forms WAFS (Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron) under Mrs. Nancy Love for licensed pilots.