Distinguished Women

[Biscuit]

I found this while researching a question in another forum and thought it belonged here.

Full Text Citations For Award of The Medal of Honor, DSC and Navy Cross
To Women Heroes

9 Total Awards




The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to

WALKER, DR. MARY E.

Rank and organization: Contract Acting Assistant Surgeon (civilian), U. S. Army. Places and dates: Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861; Patent Office Hospital, Washington, D.C., October 1861; Chattanooga, Tenn., following Battle of Chickamauga, September 1863; Prisoner of War, April 10, 1864-August 12, 1864, Richmond, Va.; Battle of Atlanta, September 1864. Entered service at: Louisville, Ky. Born: 26 November 1832, Oswego County, N.Y.

Citation:
Whereas it appears from official reports that Dr. Mary E. Walker, a graduate of medicine, "has rendered valuable service to the Government, and her efforts have been earnest and untiring in a variety of ways," and that she was assigned to duty and served as an assistant surgeon in charge of female prisoners at Louisville, Ky., upon the recommendation of Major-Generals Sherman and Thomas, and faithfully served as contract surgeon in the service of the United States, and has devoted herself with much patriotic zeal to the sick and wounded soldiers, both in the field and hospitals, to the detriment of her own health, and has also endured hardships as a prisoner of war four months in a Southern prison while acting as contract surgeon; and Whereas by reason of her not being a commissioned officer in the military service, a brevet or honorary rank cannot, under existing laws, be conferred upon her; and
Whereas in the opinion of the President an honorable recognition of her services and sufferings should be made:
It is ordered, That a testimonial thereof shall be hereby made and given to the said Dr. Mary E. Walker, and that the usual medal of honor for meritorious services be given her.

Given under my hand in the city of Washington, D.C., this 11th day of November, A.D. 1865.

Andrew Johnson,
President

Birth: November 26, 1832 at Oswego, NY
Home Town: Louisville, KY





The President of the United States
takes pleasure in presenting the
Distinguished Service Cross
to

Jeffery, Miss Jane
American Red Cross Nurse
World War I
Date of Action: July 15, 1918

Citation:
For extraordinary heroism in action at Jouy-sur-Morin (Seine-et-Marne), France, July 15, 1918. While she was on duty at American Red Cross Hospital No. 107, Miss Jeffery was severely wounded by an exploding bomb during an air raid. She showed utter disregard for her own safety by refusing to leave her post, though suffering great pain from her wounds. Her courageous attitude and devotion to the task of helping others was inspiring to all of her associates.
Home Town: Dorchester, MA



MacDonald, Beatrice
World War I
Reserve Nurse, Army Nurse Corps
Date of Action: August 17, 1917

Citation:
For extraordinary heroism while on duty with the surgical team at the British Casualty Clearing Station No. 61, British Area. During a German night air raid she continued at her post of duty, caring for the sick and wounded until seriously wounded by a German bomb, thereby losing one eye.
Birth: Canada
Home Town: New York, NY


McClelland, Helen Grace
Reserve Nurse, Army Nurse Corps
World War I
Date of Action: August 17, 1917

Citation:
For extraordinary heroism while on duty with the surgical team at British Casualty Clearing Station No. 61, British area, France, August 17, 1917. Nurse McClelland occupied the same tent with Miss Beatrice MacDonald, another reserve nurse, cared for her when wounded, stopped the hemorrhage from her wounds under fire caused by bombs from German aeroplanes.
Birth: Austinburg, OH
Home Town: Frederickstown, OH

Stambaugh, Isabelle
Reserve Nurse, Army Nurse Corps
World War I
Date of Action: March 21, 1918

Citation:
For extraordinary heroism while with a surgical team at a British Casualty Clearing Station during the big German drive of March 21, 1918, in front of Amiens, France, Nurse Stambaugh was seriously wounded by shell fire from German airplanes.
Birth: Mifflintown, PA
Home Town: Philadelphia, PA



The President of the United States
takes pleasure in presenting the
Distinguished Service Cross
to


Hall, Virginia
Civilian, Office of Strategic Services
World War II

Synopsis:
For extraordinary heroism in action as a civilian intelligence officer with the Office of Strategic Services. With utter disregard for her safety and continually at the risk of capture, torture, and death, she directed the Resistance Forces with extraordinary success in acts of sabotage and guerrilla warfare against enemy troops, installations and communications. Miss Hall displayed rare courage, perseverance and ingenuity; her efforts contributed materially to the successful operations of the Resistance Forces in support of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in the liberation of France.
Home Town: Baltimore, MD







The President of the United States
takes pleasure in presenting the
Distinguished Service Cross
to


Higbee, Lenah Sutcliff
Superintendent, Nurse Corps, US Navy
World War I
Date of Action: 1918

Citation:
The Navy Cross is awarded to Lenah Sutcliff Higbee, Superintendent, Navy Nurse Corps, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of her profession and unusual and conspicuous devotion to duty as superintendent of the Navy Nurse Corps.




The President of the United States
takes pride in presenting the
Distinguished Service Cross
to

*Place, Edna E.
Nurse, US Navy
Influenza Epidemic
Date of Action: 1918

Citation:
The Navy Cross is awarded to Nurse Edna E. Place, Navy Nurse Corps, United States Navy, for distinguished service and devotion to duty, while serving at the Naval Hospital, Philadelphia, a. During the epidemic of influenza (she) worked day and night among the patients until stricken with the disease, as a result of which she lost her life on September 25, 1918.



*Hidell, Marie Louise
Nurse, US Navy (Reserve)
Influenza Epidemic
Date of Action: 1918

Citation:
The Navy Cross is awarded to Nurse Marie Louise Hidell, Navy Nurse Corps, United States Navy (Reserve), for distinguished service and devotion to duty while serving at the Naval Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa. During the epidemic of influenza, (she) worked day and night among the patients until stricken with the disease, as a result of which she lost her life on September 28, 1918.



*Murphy, Lilian M.
Nurse, US Navy
Influenza Epidemic
Date of Action: 1918

Citation:
The Navy Cross is awarded to Nurse Lilian M. Murphy, Navy Nurse Corps, United States Navy, for distinguished service and devotion to duty while serving at the Naval Base Hospital, Hampton Roads, Va. During the epidemic of influenza, (she) worked day and night among the patients until stricken with the disease, as a result of which she lost her life.



* Denotes Posthumous Awards

Source: Women awarded the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross and Navy Cross

[Biscuit]

I was giving the list a second look and noticed that there are far more awards for WWI than WWII. Does anyone else find that surprising given that WWII was a much longer involvement with more women wearing uniform?

[Jim O]

That is odd as there were between three and four times as many Medals of Honor awarded during World War II as there were during World War I.

[Biscuit]

Maybe different people in charge with different mentalities, though one would hope we would progress as a society.

Thanks Jim, I was hoping someone else would feel the same way!

[Geek44]

Originally Posted by Biscuit

Maybe different people in charge with different mentalities, though one would hope we would progress as a society.

You'd think so wouldn't you?

[Whiterook]

Food for thought, isn't it?

[PatBC]

Were US nurse allowed close to the frontlines? That could make a difference. If most of the US nurses were only stationed in England for europe, it is unlikely they were exposed to German air raids by the time the US joined the war. Of course there was no epidemic like in 1918.

I do not think it would be a sexist change in the awards.

[Biscuit]

Women served everywhere there were medical units in WWII, I believe. There were female nurses on hospital ships and on islands in the theater. You would be surprised at the number of female POWs during WWII.

The policies of the US military post-WWII can already be clearly defined as sexist and racist by researching the benefits differential between white male troops and let's say 'others'. That being said, I don't hold any resentment or anger towards those making decisions and would be hesitant to label any one person as racist or sexist. A person's policy isn't necessarily a measure of that person.

[Whiterook]

It's odd...I focus mostly on the European Theater, yet on this subject, of what I've seen and read on women at the front medical areas, the pacific saw them very up close and personal.

[PatBC]

How close to the front were nurses stationed? I know there was nurse taken prisoner in the Philipines anywhere else? How many? Was there US women in a place where they had a chance to show heroism? At battalioon aid stations? Look as the women's who were honored on the list in WW1. The Hospital they were at was bombed. Did a similar event happen in WW2? I have not heard of many attacks by german aircraft on rear units in the later part of WW2 except on airfields. Were there women in the OSS like there was in the SOE?