World War II

The following excerpts came from the Tar Heel Nurse, the official newsletter of the North Carolina Nurses Association, between 1939 and 1945.  Excerpts include news articles and quotes  from association presidents through the years. 

September, 1939

As a result of the serious situation in England caused by the war, the office of the International Council of Nurses has opened temporary headquarters in New Haven, CT. 

Notice:  Applicants for the First Reserve must be in good health, between the ages of 21 and 40 and be able to present a professional background that is acceptable to the Red Cross Nursing Service.  They are the reserve nurses for the Army and Navy.

September, 1940

The North Carolina State Nurses Association sent $500 to the American Red Cross Relief Fund.

"National defense and preparedness are powerful words.  They touch the core of every profession.  Nursing is no exception.  To nurses, these words point out the vital important of keeping up-to-date on all current events for each one must decide what her own contribution shall be when the call comes."

January, 1941

"At the beginning of this New Year, there are many things in the world situation that we sincerely wish were different.  Your executive secretary, Miss Edna Heinzerling, has been made a special agent of the US Public Health Service and will conduct a survey so that the American Nurses Association will have a record of each nurse's qualifications in case of an emergency.  This survey will ascertain the number of registered nurses available for military and civilian services." 

Announcement: "Red Cross Nursing Service needs 10,000 new members by June 30, 1941."  The  First Reserve has 18,000 members.  Between 3,000 to 4,000 of these are expected to be called for duty by June 30.  "Uncle Sam Needs Nurses!  For our Nation, bombing planes and battleships can have only one purpose - to defend our shores outwardly, so that inwardly the American social order may continue to progress.  The time for discussion and hesitancy is past.  Our decision as to where we will help must be made soon."   The Red Cross points out that no nurse may enroll in the First Reserve unless she agrees to serve with the Army or Navy in time of national emergency.

Red Cross Army Nurse Corps
22 - 30 years of age
Single
High School Graduate and accredited School of Nursing
Member, Red Cross Reserves and American Nurses Association
Salary: For first three years, $70 per month plus maintenance

May, 1941

The chairman of the Health and Medical Committee of the Council of National Defense urges all employers of nurses to cooperate by encouraging their nurses to offer their services to the country and by arranging to hold their positions until these nurses return to civilian life. 

September, 1941

Congress has appropriated $1.2 million for the preparation of professional nurses.  The fund will be used to increase the number of students enrolled for the basic course in nursing schools, to refresh inactive graduate nurses and to provide postgraduate instruction in special fields of study.  It is hoped 50,000 well-qualified young women will enter accredited schools of nursing to avert serious damage to the nation's health during the present emergency.  (Fifty years later, the North Carolina General Assembly set up a Nursing Scholars Program along these same guidelines with a biennial budget of $6.8 million.)

February, 1942

"Today the eyes of the nation are focused on the nursing professional.  On the air, in the newspapers and by word of mouth, the call comes that Uncle Sam needs 50,000 more nurses.  That each of us is willing to work is a foregone conclusion, but knowing what to do and being prepared to do it are the big jobs of the moment.  It may mean serving in military posts, at air raid filter stations or emergency disaster hospitals.  We know our goals and are not afraid."

Victory for America
The Five W's

What?      
Defend America with adequate military and civilian nursing.

Who?
All graduate registered nurses - everyone!

Why?
American looks to technically trained nurses for the health and welfare of armed forces and men, women and children on the home front.

When?            
Now - today and every day!

Where?
From Iceland to Manila - at home - everywhere

Remember Pearl Harbor!
Join the American Red Cross!
Buy Defense Bonds and Stamps!

The lag in enrollment of the First Reserve of the Red Cross Nursing Service is over.  Since American men, women and children have been killed by the enemy; the number of nurses enrolling has increased greatly. 

Get instruction from the County Defense Council about air raid signals and blackout regulations for your community.  In case of air raids, remain indoors.  Keep bathtubs and buckets full of water.  Have sand on hand for incendiary bombs.  Lie down on the floor under a heavy piece of furniture - a table is good.  Inform yourself of the duties of the air raid wardens, medical corps, rescue squads, nurses' aides corps and the insignia worn by each. 

May, 1942

The 38th Evacuation Hospital of Charlotte, NC was called April 15 and is now serving "somewhere in England."

The 65th General Hospital (Duke Unit) has recently been called and is now stationed at Fort Bragg awaiting foreign duty.  Katherine Rehder, President, North Carolina Nurses Association, has answered the call to the colors.  Her decision to serve her country might well be an example to every North Carolina nurse who is eligible for military duty. 

Early in the summer North Carolina had 614 Red Cross First Reserve nurses.  They were given a quota to enroll another 569 nurses by October 1.

October, 1942

Norman H. Davis Chairman of the American Red Cross expressed very forcefully the role the nurse may play.  "Nurses are one group of American women who can go up to the battle lines and face the fire of the enemy side by side with the men.  It is they who must represent at the front all womankind in the war."  At the same meeting, Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt appealed to those nurses who had not yet volunteered.  "I ask for my boys what every mother has the right to ask - that they be given full and adequate nursing care should the time come when they need it."       

An intensive campaign to enroll 60,000 nurses in the Red Cross First Reserve was started on August 5.  "Uncle Sam Needs Nurses" is the official campaign slogan.  Each month, he is calling for 2,500 for the Army and 500 for the Navy.  Surgeon General, US Army, Major General James C. Magee says that "Efficient nurses are necessary.  Unless the Army is able to meet nursing needs without delay, there will be useless suffering and avoidable loss of manpower." 

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