NAVY
NURSE CORPS
this year, the navy nurse corps celebrates its 62nd
anniversary, but the men and women who belong
to the Corps can be forgiven for keeping the festivities
at a minimum. They are busy.
Although the corps was officially established during the 20th century, Navy nurses were recommended
by the first Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and
Surgery in 1811 and Sisters of the Order of the Holy
Cross served in the Navy's Red Rover as volunteers
in 1862. They were the first female nurses to serve
aboard the first U. S. Navy hospital ship.
On 13 May 1908, Congress authorized the U. S.
Navy Nurse Corps with one superintendent and other
nurses as necessary to accomplish the needs of the
Navy's health team.
The first superintendent was appointed by October
1908; the first nurses (called the Sacred Twenty) reported to Washington, D. C, for orientation and duty.
A year later, these nurses were assigned in the
United States. By 1910, nurses had expanded their
activities to include the far east, Hawaii and the
Caribbean.
kjAVY nursing received its first really 1
^ in 1917 with the advent of World '
j challenge
i the advent of World War I, when
women were assigned to hospitals in England, Ireland,
Scotland and France. Some served with field units in
France.
y.s
■Nurses from USS Sonctu
(LPH 10)" off Vietnam.
iry "(AH 17)" visit bridge " of USS Tripoli
jtflr»
r. ST*
,-noi*
v
***£
sts1
jet**.
■&xt.
138 oi
530
NAVY
NURSE CORPS
this year, the navy nurse corps celebrates its 62nd
anniversary, but the men and women who belong
to the Corps can be forgiven for keeping the festivities
at a minimum. They are busy.
Although the corps was officially established during the 20th century, Navy nurses were recommended
by the first Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and
Surgery in 1811 and Sisters of the Order of the Holy
Cross served in the Navy's Red Rover as volunteers
in 1862. They were the first female nurses to serve
aboard the first U. S. Navy hospital ship.
On 13 May 1908, Congress authorized the U. S.
Navy Nurse Corps with one superintendent and other
nurses as necessary to accomplish the needs of the
Navy's health team.
The first superintendent was appointed by October
1908; the first nurses (called the Sacred Twenty) reported to Washington, D. C, for orientation and duty.
A year later, these nurses were assigned in the
United States. By 1910, nurses had expanded their
activities to include the far east, Hawaii and the
Caribbean.
kjAVY nursing received its first really 1
^ in 1917 with the advent of World '
j challenge
i the advent of World War I, when
women were assigned to hospitals in England, Ireland,
Scotland and France. Some served with field units in
France.
y.s
■Nurses from USS Sonctu
(LPH 10)" off Vietnam.
iry "(AH 17)" visit bridge " of USS Tripoli
jtflr»
r. ST*
,-noi*
v
***£
sts1
jet**.
■&xt.
138 oi
530
