Important Notice: Our web hosting provider recently started charging us for additional visits, which was unexpected. In response, we're seeking donations. Depending on the situation, we may explore different monetization options for our Community and Expert Contributors. It's crucial to provide more returns for their expertise and offer more Expert Validated Answers or AI Validated Answers. Learn more about our hosting issue here.

Who helped open the Percy Jones Army Hospital and nursed thousands of injured GIs during World War II?

0
Posted

Who helped open the Percy Jones Army Hospital and nursed thousands of injured GIs during World War II?

0

Mary Louise Dowdle. Mary Louise (Smith) Dowdle grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, completed her registered nurse degree in Cleveland and two years of graduate courses at Cornell University. It was 1940 and America was not yet at war with Germany, “but we all seemed to know it was coming,” she said. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in late 1941, she enlisted as an officer and nurse in the U.S. Army. She eventually was assigned to Fort Custer in Battle Creek, and transferred to the new Percy Jones Army Hospital, responsible for setting up the hospital’s ward that would treat chest wounds. “We had one day off each month, but usually didn’t get it. On Fridays, staff was allowed to have one guest for dinner at the hospital’s dining hall.” On one rare day off, she joined other nurses at Battle Creek’s famous dinner and dance Sky Club, at Capital and Michigan avenues. “I was asked to dance by a young man named John Dowdle. We danced all evening,” she said. The Dowdles married in 1943. John served

Related Questions

Thanksgiving questions

*Sadly, we had to bring back ads too. Hopefully more targeted.