The Navy Nurse Corps
in World War II

The story of U.S. Navy Nurse Corps and the brave and remarkable women who gallantly served within its ranks throughout the Second World War is told in this brief article. It documents the selfless service of Navy Nurses who stayed behind in the Philippines to face Japanese captivity rather than desert their patients.

“That was typical of the steadfast manner in which Navy Nurses adhered to duty throughout the war, forsaking personal comfort and safety to bring the benefits of their skills to the sick and wounded”.

By the war’s end there were 11,021 women who served in that august body, and many were the women who were cited for their devotion to duty and were decorated with thirteen Bronze Stars, one legion of Merit, two Army Commendation Ribbons, twelve Distinguished Unit Badges, and forty-two Navy Unit Commendations.