Oral history interview with Alice Boehret, 2000

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Oral history interview with Alice Boehret, 2000

Boehret, Alice Crowther

5/15/2000

Documents Alice C. Boehret's nursing education and career, including her service in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps during World War II and at the Woman's College of the University of North Carolina.Boehret discusses not wanting to be a nurse initially; the cost of nursing school; and details of her work and classes as a nursing student at Jefferson Medical School. She also describes enlisting for the U.S. Army Nurse Corps immediately after learning of the attack on Pearl Harbor." Topics related to Boehret's military service include her mother's reaction when she joined the army; failing the army physical and being put on limited service; living conditions and work schedule at Fort Story in Virginia 1942 and 1943; making eggnog for tuberculosis and fractured jaw patients; and working on the dirty surgery ward at Fort Story. She also describes her overseas experiences, including living and working in Quonset huts in England; billeting with a family in Hoylake; attending the Liverpool Symphony; different kinds of wards; mixing penicillin; knitting socks for orthopedic patients; threat of air raids and buzz bombs; resentment from some British people; social life overseas, including movies, the officers' club, and biking; contracting atypical pneumonia; living in a German castle; visiting the French Riviera; bathing out of helmets; and memorable songs of the era. " Topics related to Boehret's post-service activities include her decision to attend Woman's College (WC); memorable WC professors and students; the differences between traditional WC students and veterans; starting the nursing program at the Woman's College; some opinions on nursing education; her decision to pursue a doctorate; starting the nursing program at Rutgers; and the difficulty of finding faculty for it." Boehret also discusses the advantages of her military service, including new perspectives and discipline; her opinion of women in combat positions; civilian nursing as it compares to military nursing; her dislike of the army; and her admiration of President Harry Truman.

Oral History Interview; Army Nurse Corps 1942-1946 Memoir, n.d.; Queen Mary Cabin Assignment Card, March 1, 1944; Military Papers; Photograph Album; Dissertation, Analysis of Four Concepts of Nursing Care, 1972; Newspaper Clipping; 3rd Service Command Patch; Work Uniform, HBT; Wool Liners for Jackets and Pants; Scarf/Bandana; Boots

2000-2009

World War, 1939-1945

United States. Army--Women

World War II era (1940-1946)

Army--Army Nurse Corps

North Carolina Digital Heritage Center

English

text

http://libcdm1.uncg.edu/cdm/ref/collection/WVHP/id/4418