The U.S. Army Nurse Corps (ANC) was established in 1901 as a permanent corps within the U.S. Army Medical Department. Although, prior to the formal recognition of nurses, women had been providing care to sick and wounded soldiers as early as the American Revolution. Clara Barton is likely the most famous nurse in American history. She risked her life to bring supplies and support to soldiers in the field during the American Civil War. Consequently, she founded the American Red Cross in 1881, at age 59, and led it for over 20 years. But, it wasn’t until World War II that nursing would be forever changed. Certainly, the nurses of the 44th General Hospital contributed to this lasting legacy. Later in this blog post, their service will be remembered.

Women Volunteer for World War II Service

Army Nurse Corps recruiting poster.

A vast recruiting campaign started after Pearl Harbor to swell the insufficient ranks of American military nurses. Recruiting was managed by the American Red Cross Nursing Service and the National Nursing Council for War Service. Propaganda campaigns aimed at stirring the patriotic inclinations of young nurses swept the nation. Posters and pamphlets urged young women to “Become a nurse: Your country needs you”

– American Military Nurses in World War II

Facts About Army Nurses in World War II

Did you know the following about the service of nurses in World War II?

  • In World War II over 57,000 nurses would serve across both European and Pacific theatres.
  • The U.S. government covered all educational expenses for student nurses between 1943 and 1948.
  • Nurses received 1,619 medals, citations, and commendations during the war, reflecting their great courage and dedication.
  • 67 World War II nurses served time as prisoners of war.
  • Overall, 201 nurses died while serving in the U.S. Army during the War.
  • 16 nurses were killed during World War II as a result of enemy action. These included 6 nurses who died at Anzio, 6 who died when the Hospital Ship Comfort was attacked by a Japanese suicide plane, and 4 flight nurses who were shot down. Thirteen other flight nurses died in weather-related crashes while on duty.

The Role of Nurses in World War II

Nurses played a key role across both European and Pacific theatres in World War II. Although the European theatre had its own unique challenges, nothing would test the courage and dedication of the Army Nurse Corps (ANC) like the Pacific. The unique challenges included tropical diseases, heat and humidity, monsoon rains, vast distances to travel, and a very brutal enemy. Through all this they were dedicated to treating the sick, the wounded, and the dying. In particular, they witnessed a great deal of suffering by both our troops and civilians in the areas they served in.

Army Nurses in the Pacific

At the beginning of the Pacific conflict, Army nurses were kept far from the front lines due to the unique risks. But, that changed with the Philippines campaign. With the invasion of Leyte, Army nurses found themselves very close to the action. Although the nurses were typically not sent to an area until it was under control, they faced significant challenges and risk. Without question, the nurses met these challenges with great courage.

The invasion of the Philippines was the first opportunity for Army nurses in the Pacific theater to care for battle casualties in the field rather than patients evacuated from the front lines. With this change of policy, morale among the nurses improved substantially, and many nurses refused offers of rotation back to the United States.

– The Army Nurse Corps – A Commemoration of World War II Service

The Nurses of the 44th General Hospital

The 44th General Hospital had a total of 98 nurses. Many were from Wisconsin General Hospital in Madison, WI. All had volunteered for duty and were commissioned as officers. Through the War, they traveled thousands of miles across the Pacific. They would serve in Australia, New Guinea, and the Philippines. As described below, t was in the Philippines that they would face their greatest challenges.

Fortunately, some of the 44th’s nurses told the story of their War experience. They include Captain Eda Teague, Colonel Ida Bechtold, and Captain E.F. “Emily” La Duke Hastings. In the sections that follow, I’ll highlight the stories of these dedicated women. Also, I’ve provided links to their amazing memoirs.

Captain Eda C. Stalson Teague

1st Lt. Eda Teague, 44th General Hospital nurse

“In the fall of 1942 an Army nurse recruiter came to our hospital asking for volunteers to join the 44th General Hospital for duty overseas. Five nurses from our graduating class, including myself, immediately volunteered. It was a spontaneous decision, and I am sure we all felt it was our patriotic duty to join. I never had any fear or apprehensions about enlisting”

– Captain Eda Teague’s memoir in “Answering Their Country’s Call: Marylanders in World War II“.

Colonel Ida Bechtold

Colonel Ida Bechtold, in charge of 44th General Hospital Army nurses

Colonel Ida Bechtold, Army Nurse Corps. Ida, from Wisconsin General Hospital. Ida was the Head Nurse and the senior officer of 44th General Hospital nursing staff. Her scrapbook with memories from the War are archived at the Wisconsin Veteran’s Museum in Madison, WI.

– Colonel Ida Bechtold archive at Wisconsin Veteran’s Museum.

Captain E.F. “Emily” La Duke Hastings

Captain E.F. Emily La Duke Hastings.

Captain E.F. “Emily” La Duke Hastings wrote about her experiences serving as a nurse in the 44th General Hospital. Before the War, she was a nurse at Luther Hospital in Eau Claire, WI. Evidently, she originally wanted to enter the Navy, but was rejected for being underweight and wearing glasses. Emily stated, “Next thing I knew, I was in the ANC.” Photo, Emily in the middle, with Ida Teague on the far left of the photo (Odrowski Collection).

– Memoir entitled, “The 44th General Hospital, WWII, The Army Nurse Corps“.

A Pictorial History of the 44th General Hospital Nurses

After serving at various Army hospitals in the States, the 44th’s nurses were sent to Fort Sill, OK for basic training. My Dad, an officer in the 44th, was in charge of training the nurses in Army field operations.

Basic Training – Ft. Sill, OK

44th General Hospital nurses at Ft. Sill, OK. My Dad, 1st Lt. Edward A. Odrowski, standing behind, in charge of training the nurses to be soldiers.

The Army nurse’s basic training included calisthenics, long marches in the hot Oklahoma sun, and overnight bivouacs. They endured gas mask drills (with live tear gas) and an infiltration course, complete with mud, barbed wire, and live machine gun fire over their heads. The photo to the left is of the 44th’s nurses at Ft. Sill. My Dad, Capt. Edward Odrowski stands behind them (Teague Archive Collection).

First Stop Overseas – Australia

Nurses on train in Australia

The nurses of the 44th traveled thousands of miles by sea to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. From Sydney, they traveled two thousand more miles by slow train to Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Here are some of them enjoying a smoke break at a stopover (Teague Archive Collection).

Traveling Across the Pacific

  • 44th GH nurses unload at Leyte
  • 44th GH nurses en route to New Guinea
  • 44th GH nurses on deck of troop ship
  • 44th GH nurses sleeping on train in Australia
  • 44th GH nurses on Leyte, heading for Burauen
  • Capt. Eda Teague crossing Leyte river on Carabao
The many modes of travel taken by the Army nurses of the 44th General Hospital, including ship, train, truck, and even water buffalo (Teague Archive Collection).

Always on the March

  • 44th GH nurses marching on Australia
  • 44th GH nurses demonstrate their marching skills
  • Surgeon General review of 44th GH nurses on Australia
The nurses of the 44th display the marching skills learned at Ft. Sill in basic training. In the far right photo, note that the officer reviewing on the far left is the Surgeon General of the Army, Gen. Norman T. Kirk (Teague Archive Collection).

Rare Moments of Rest & Relaxation

Captain Hastings on Magnetic Island, Australia

In between their hospital duty time, the 44th’s nurses enjoyed some R&R while on Australia. Favorite activities included horseback riding, sunning on the beaches of the Gold Coast, and attending dances at the officer’s clubs. The photo on the left shows Captain Hastings on a trip to Magnetic Island, approximately 10 miles offshore from the 44th’s hospital at Black River, Townsville, Queensland, Australia (Teague Archive Collection).

Serving in the Jungles of New Guinea

44th General Hospital nurses on New Guinea

The realities of the Pacific Theatre would be evident in New Guinea. The challenges included primitive facilities, heat and humidity, jungle rats, snakes, huge spiders, and bats. Not to mention the presence of Japanese soldiers, still holding out in the jungles.

Additionally, their patient count was growing due to intense fighting and an increase in a variety of tropical diseases. The 44th’s nurses would serve on New Guinea through 1944, until they joined the rest of the 44th following the invasion of the Philippines.

  • 44th GH nurses compound on New Guinea
  • 44th GH nurses mess hall on New Guinea
  • Daily life of an Army Nurse
The 44th’s nurse’s compound on New Guinea was under 24×7 guard. Tropical rain, mud, and annoying insects added to the challenges of treating their patients (Teague Archive Collection).

Serving in the Liberation of the Philippines

Col. Ida Bechtold at Burauen

The nurses of the 44th arrived on Leyte, Philippine Islands, in January of 1945. Subsequently, they would face their greatest challenges. In particular, they worked 24×7 in 12-hour shifts to handle the large patient count, sometimes reaching well over 1,500 men. These included those who succumbed to tropical disease, battle fatigue, and the wounded from the fierce fighting on Leyte and Luzon. To add to the stress, Japanese planes strafed and bombed the hospital area and snipers shot at hospital personnel.

  • 44th GH nurse on Leyte
  • Col. Ida Bechtold’s Christmas tree
  • Ida relaxing with the 13th Air Force on Leyte
  • Cpt. Hastings (center) and Col. Bechtold (far right)
  • Easter service on Leyte, 1945, Cpt. Eda Teague and others in the choir
In spite of the hardships they faced, the nurses of the 44th could still smile. In reflective moments, they celebrated Christmas and Easter, many performing in the church choirs. Above all, they enjoyed camaraderie with those they served with (Teague Archive Collection).

A Commemoration to the Army Nurse in the Pacific

The Army nurse in the Pacific theater performed her tasks efficiently, compassionately, and courageously whether she was caring for casualties in the field or patients evacuated from the front lines. These nurses prevailed over dangers and difficulties not experienced by nurses in other theaters. They became ill with malaria and dengue fever; experienced the rigors of a tropical climate; tolerated water shortages; risked kamikaze attacks; adapted to curfews, fenced compounds, and armed escorts; and dealt with medical corpsmen’s hostility. Nurses in the Pacific demonstrated their ability to overcome adversity, serving at the front lines of a uniquely dangerous theater before the end of the war.

– The Army Nurse Corps – A Commemoration of World War II Service

The Lasting Legacy of these Unsung Heroes

Accordingly, I have great admiration for the dedication and sacrifice made by the Army nurses. They faced the hardships of the War and eased the suffering of many. In particular, they were often the first face that a wounded soldier saw when they came to. Or sadly, the last face that a young man saw before departing this world. Like a mother, they fed, bathed, and cared for the young men in their care. They encouraged proud young men to walk again, or to face life without limbs or eyesight. And like a mother, they gave hope to those they nurtured. The nurses reminded their patients that they really mattered to those back home. And that, with work, they could overcome any hardship.

A Soldier’s Tribute to the Army Nurses

You never see her on parade
Like WACS and WAVES and such, 
She's much too busy working hard
To keep away death's touch.
I won't forget her tender skill
From Private Joe to Captain Bill.
My thanks to you! I wish folks knew
The hell you've seen and waded through;
I'd like to tell the universe,
God bless you, keep you,
Army Nurse.
- Sgt. Frank Day, U.S. Army

Leaving Their Story for Future Generations

Cpt. Eda Teague speaks of her service as an Army nurse in World War II on C-SPAN

After the War, Captain Eda Teague returned to nursing, working at the Walter Reed Army Hospital and Brooke Grove Nursing Home. After her retirement she shared her experiences as an Army Nurse in World War II on C-SPAN and The Library of Congress Veteran’s History Project. Additionally, Eda spoke to students at multiple schools, along with her husband Lt. Colonel Walter Teague, who also served in the 44th General Hospital. The couple also traveled back to the places they served at during the War. An Australian news agency wrote of their unique story in an article titled “Crazy Pilots and Pretty Nurses“.

To Learn More

Surprisingly, there is no single comprehensive history of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps (ANC). Also, there isn’t a volume in the official United States Army in World War II series that specifically covers the ANC. Consequently, the best approach to learning more about Army nurses during World War II is to read the individual memoirs which some had published after the War. The following are available on Amazon and other online book sites:

  • Archard, Theresa. GI Nightingale: The Story of an American Army Nurse. W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1945.
  • Aynes, Edith A. From Nightingale to Eagle: An Army Nurses History. Prentice-Hall, 1973.
  • MacDougall, Walter. Angel of Bataan: The Life of a World War II Army Nurse in the War Zone and at Home. Down East Books, 2015.
  • Monahan, Evelyn. And If I Perish: Frontline U.S. Army Nurses in World War II. Anchor, 2004.
  • Pullman, Sally Hitchcock. Letters Home: Memoirs of One Army Nurse in the Southwest Pacific in World War II. Author House, 2004. An interesting note: Sally served a brief time with the 44th General Hospital in the Philippines before shipping back home.
  • Condon-Rall, Mary Ellen and Albert E. Cowdrey. The Medical Department: Medical Service in the War Against Japan. Washington, DC: U.S. Center of Military History, 1997.
  • Tomblin, Barbara Brooks. G.I. Nightingales: The Army Nurse Corps in World War II. University Press of Kentucky, 2003.