U.S. Nurse Cadet Corps
UU.S. Cadet Nurse Corps History
The United States Cadet Nurse Corps was a program established by the Federal government in 1943. Its primary purpose was to ensure that the United States had enough nurses to care for the needs of its citizens on both the home and war fronts. The results of the Cadet Nurse Corps included a dramatic rise in the number of nursing students, a greater public recognition of nurses, and changes in the manner in which nurses were educated and trained.
When the United States entered World War II and defense production had begun, it became clear that there was a dramatic shortage of nurses in the country. Nursing registries were established and an inventory was conducted in 1941. While there were double the nurses available than at the time of World War I, the impending war and defense industry buildup raised many questions regarding the effect of the war effort on both the military and civilian communities. These questions became more pressing as more and more doctors and nurses joined the war effort.
A bill was introduced by Congresswoman Frances P. Bolton (R-Ohio) on March 29, 1943, calling for the establishment of a government program to provide grants to schools of nursing to facilitate the training of nurses to serve in the armed forces, government and civilian hospitals, health agencies, and in war related industries. The Bolton Act was passed unanimously by both houses of Congress and became law on July 1, 1943.
The Division of Nurse Education was established in the United States Public Health Service to supervise the Cadet Nurse Corps and was answerable to US Surgeon General Thomas Parran. Surgeon General Parran appointed Lucille Petry, RN as the head of the Corps.
Nursing schools throughout the United States were sent telegrams announcing the formation of the Corps and were invited to join. Of the sixteen New York State schools of nursing participated in the program, six of them (The Genesee Hospital School of Nursing, Highland Hospital School of Nursing, Rochester General Hospital School of Nursing, Rochester State Hospital, St. Mary's School of Nursing, and the University of Rochester School of Nursing) in Rochester.
Cadet Nurse Pledge
At this moment of my induction into the United States Cadet Nurse Corps of the United States Public Health Service, I am solemnly aware of the obligations I assume toward my country and toward my chosen profession; I will follow faithfully the teachings of my instructors and the guidance of the physicians with whom I work; I will hold in trust the finest traditions of nursing and the spirit of the Corps; I will keep my body strong, my mind alert, and my heart steadfast; I will be kind, tolerant, and understanding; Above all, I will dedicate myself now and forever to the triumph of life over death; As a Cadet nurse, I pledge to my county my service in essential nursing for the duration of the war.
This history was reproduced with the permission of the author: Thelma M. Robinson.
Class of 1943
Arlene Altemose (Cox)
Elinore Mary Barnico (Watson)
Jean Marie Beneski (Goldman)
Lucille Beverly Blackman (Pepper)
Sarah Catherine Bullock (Major)
Violet Evelyn Dean (Forhan)
Ida Finelli
Ruth Forsythe (Red Cross)
Elizabeth R. Greup (Morrow) Elizabeth J. Harrison (Hoye) Margaret Esther Haas (Bratlee)
Shirley Louise Hager (Philpott)
Marie Concetta Ingraffia (Corrao)
Marguerita Ingraffia (Corrao)
Doris Rose Kemery (Barren) US Navy/Pa/ NC
Helen Elizabeth Kiefer (Acton)(served unknown)
Ruth Lindemann (Haskey)
Marguerite Molly Menear (Snyder)
Mary Arlene Meyers (Long)
Lorraine Musselman (Barthold)
Elsie Owens (Karbel)
Mary Frances Peechatka (Palozzolo)
Kathryn M. Perruso (Sabatino)
Ida S. Rabenold (Snyder)
Betty M. Riley
Dolores Serfass (Barthold)
Beverly Wilcox
Class of 1945
Margaret Blauch (Klabunde)
Betty Arlene Brunell (Coneys)
Rachel K. Cericola (Kennedy)
Minnie A. Christman (Frinzi )
Mary Matilda Fitzer (Fischer)
Marie Mildred Hopwood (Erwin)
Audrey Mae Jones (Mullen)
Isabel Louise Kaplan (Schiff)
Marjorie Joan Kaplan (Cohen)
Nancy Louise Lipari (Werner)
Doris Mae Lee (Teada)
Lois Lesoine (Ehrgood)
Mary Jane Luckenbach (Davis)
Thecla Rae Lunger (Davis)
Laura Roverson O'Connoll (Redington)
Barbara Alan Rapp (Martino) (Army Veterans
Administration at Martinsburg, WV)
Adelaide G. Singer (Murray)
Grace Sophie Slutter (Jones)
Thelma Valestin (Nuels)
Sarah Karolyn Walters (Duckworth) (Army
Veterans Administration at Martinsburg, WV)
Class of 1947
Elaine Georgia Bowers (Bell)
Vivian Ehly (Tompkinson)
Gloria Dearden Exiey (Matich)
Jacqueline Vivienne Feauve (Weaver)
Eva Virginia Haring (Brauning)
Katherine Marie Horn (Davis) (pink lady @
Medical Center in Columbia Ga)
Dorothy Ann Howell (Parker)
Dorothy Marie Jones (Detweller)
Lois Irene Kirkpatrick (Werner)
Ludmillo Josephine Karlik (Shannon)
Nancy Ann Loiacono (D-09)
Claire Louise Merrick (Stahley)( provided pictures below
Rose Lucille Pellegrino (Green )
Shirley Mae Platt (Bowers)
Doris Mercy Riley (Wanamaker)
Rachel Ruth Schaffner
Ruth Gladys Siegfried (Gafford)
Frances Jean Snover (Sandt)
Ruth Millicent Snyder
Joanne Bernice Sudnick (Blazejewski)
Evona Ann Wieder (Vliet)
The Easton Hospital School of Nursing U.S. Nurse Cadet Corps:
if it was mentioned in the obituary where the alum served, it will be marked in white following her name
Class of 1944
Jacqueline Allabach (Imbody)
Elaine Thelma Blake (Throckmorton)
Lorraine Ethylee Castner
Dorothy R. Geiger (Heil)
Anna Hawk (Schremel) Irene Ellen Heimer (McWIlllams) Anna Lerch (Ruth)(Busser)
Millicent Charlotte Metz (Diener) Eleanor Marie MoDavis (James) Irene Lois Person (Ritter) Lucille Brown Powell (Connor)US Army: USS Francis Y. Slanger Hospital Ship)
Elsie Elaine Rush (Koppe) Anna Steinmetz Kathleen Stump (Barnum)
Olga Mary Sverkedis Elsie Inez Wells (Tiffany)
Shirley Williamson (Shively) (Roecker) Josephine Mae Wixon (Hoffman)
Marie Anna Zilker (Lucas)
Class of 1946
Viola Elizabeth Adams (Kardos)
Catherine Estella Bickel (Fluck)
Mamie Boscia (Buschi)
Teresa Rita Boscia (Ingersol)
Jane Frances Brody (Black)
Kathryn B. Burns (Hogan)
Olice Cross (Rader)
Nina Grace Chaiversoli (Chierchiaro)
Mary Louise Gunning (Young)
Dorothy J. Klabunde (Rasener) (Gardner)
Jane Louise Kirkpatlrck (Doyle)
Mace Ludwig (Baldwin)
Alice Lutz (Parks) (D-87)
Betty Jane Miller (Miller)
Irene Scarpino (Polivka)
Virginia Schenk (D-51)
Doris Alma Scholl (DiGuiseppi)
Victoria Marie Scrima (
Carole Shaver
Lorraine Dorothy Taylor (Sholley)
Helen Lorraine White (Reiff)
Class of 1948
Doris Mae Anthony (Brandt)
Martha Jane Bartel (Gebhard)
Mary Eda Boccadoro
Pauline Burd (Search)
Irma Joyce Carpenter (Malasnik)
Grace Louise Cavazel (Campbell)
Lucy Mary Ceraul (Lugg)
Wanda Yvonne Dimmick (Phillips)
Nancy Rose DeBerardinis (Bevilaqua)
Verne Margaret Euart (Simons)
Betty Jane Hogan (Boekhout)
Barbara Deshler Houston (Panzini)(served unknown)
Martha Ann Jamieson (Jurgaitis)
Julia Jean Kospiah (Kochan)
Ethel Mae Lauer (Thrift)
Marie Rose Orlando (Porrello)(Mullen)
Nancy Jean Riley (Nadeau)
Barbara Ann Schurz (Volkert)
Barbara Ann Wilson (Cook)
History of the Class of 1946
It was on a Wednesday, August 25, 1943, that we entered the threshold of the Nurses' Home and were greeted by Mrs. Booth and the older students.
There were twenty-seven of us, all new recruits for the United States Cadet Corps. We were taken to our rooms, by the older students, and when we saw them we never thought we would get accustomed to living in such small rooms,but --! In the afternoon, tea was served to our parents in the Nurses' Home.
When classes started the next week, there were only twenty-five of us left. We were told that we would start classes at seven a. m. on Saturdays only. So the first Saturday most of us got up at five-thirty a. m. and started over to breakfast at six a. m. only to find that breakfast was served at six-thirty a. m. One of the girls was heard to comment -that it was just like living on a farm.
Our uniforms arrived about the third week and we all lost our religion when we came to putting them together, especially the cuffs and studs. Our necks were sore from the stiff collars for a week.
Miss Morgan and Miss Neigh were our instructors. We no sooner got adjusted when Miss Morgan left us to go back to Virginia, and Miss Caffrey took her place. We were sorry to see Miss Morgan go, but Miss Caffrey is filling her place quite well and ,is well-liked byall the students.
In about two months our first Cadet Corps' checks arrived. Almost all of us rushed down to the Tee-Kay Shop to cash them.
Miss Vesley left us before three months had passed. Miss Konya was then made Acting Directress.
This takes us up -to the present time and we 'are now working on the wards.
The past is in the writing but the future is in the waiting. About the future we can only predict and prediction is far beyond the power of a poor Probie's mind.
History of the Class of 1945
September 13, 1942, twenty-seven of us entered the living room of the Nurses' Home, loaded down with suitcases. We were greeted by Miss Baldwin. She, in turn, introduced us to our classmates, (it was a week before we knew all of the names correctly), to our instructors, and to Mrs. Booth.
None of us will forget that day. We sat there drinking tea and talking to our parents, but all the while we were longing for the time when we could be excused to explore our new home.
After our parents had gone we gathered around the piano to sing with the upper classmen. This is one pleasure which we have often repeated.
Finally the time came and we were allowed to go to our rooms. As soon as we walked inside and saw the spacious closet and drawer space we began to plan which 'of our possessions were the barest necessities. We didn't even have room enough for these. Some of us were lucky enough to have two windows in our rooms!
Then began weeks of study: anatomy, chemistry, microbiology, nursing arts and psychology. How could we ever learn it all? Study hall three times a week from eight to nine P. M.; lights out at ten-thirty : and up at seven A.M. to go to class at eight. Thus began our routine which was not broken for many months. There are very few of us who will ever forget those cats upon which we practiced our first (and only) surgery.
At last came the day we were all secretly dreading-our first day on the wards. How we ever got through that day is still a mystery to all. It wasn't enough that we felt as timid and stupid as rabbits, but we were further embarrassed by being made to wear gowns, not one under size forty-six, in the place of our long over-due uniforms. Oh, the humility of it all! We survived the first six months; 'at last we were capped. It was a wonderful feeling to know that small bit of white was on our heads. Somehow it made us belong here.
At this time Miss Greenwood, our science instructor left to join the WAVES. She was not only your instructor but a grand friend as well. We will never forget her.
Finally our class became organized. Miss Konya was chosen as our advisor. This was one of the best moves our class <has made so far. Her calm, unprejudiced decisions have been our guide, and will continue Ito be in years to come.
Gradually our hours of classes became less, and the hours on the wards longer. We really began to feel like part of the nursing force now.
One of the greatest events of our life. as a class, was our enrollment in the Cadet Corps. We are proud to play even so small a part in the present struggle.
We have now reached the half way mark in our training. Shelly once said, "If winter comes, can spring be far behind?" We're still wearing red flannels!
History of the Class of 1944
DEAR DIARY:
September 7, 1941- Yes, today was the big day-I entered training as a "Probie" in the Easton Hospital School of Nursing. Dumb ?-I never thought that I could be that stupid! Scared ?-Everyone thought that chains were rattling-they weren't.-my knees were shaking!! A reception was held for us. (P. S. Our parents were invited, too.) Jane-she's a junior-asked me to be her "little sister." 'Tonight, just before time to go to sleep, she and three other juniors gave us the "lowdown" on this nursing profession. About 11 :00 o'clock, Mrs. Booth, the housemother, told us lights must absolutely be out at 10:30-this plus the other rules and regulations! G'nighr: my first day here certainly y was a full one!!
September 14, 1941- Well, I've been here almost a week. Yes, I can find my room now! Classes started-they're mistaken-no human could possibly remember all they're trying to teach us. Bones-how could one body hold so many?-unless Itlhat skeleton in the classroom was thought up just to make life miserable for student nurses. And when I think how I used to fix my bed at home in two seconds-If mother could see my feeble attempts in Nursing Arts!
September 21, 1941-1' m learning all the "tricks of the trade"-in our rooms at 10:00 (Gee, diary, that's early, isn't it r ) and lights out at 10:30. And from bitter experiences, I've learned it doesn't pay to turn lights out at 10:45!!!
October 19, 1941-Today was my first day on duty. I gave a bed-bath to a woman on Women's Surgical-she should be clean, considering how long it took me. When I saw Miss Lambie's feet under the curtains, I saw about twenty-five things wrong. She agreed!! Off the record, I noticed into how many different mixtures my black tie was dipped!! I'm getting tired of washing it every night!
February 1, 1942-Thirteen new students came in today. I asked one of them to be my "little sister." It's a wonderful feeling to have someone here who knows less about the routine than you do. We'll soon get our caps-I won't feel sure until I feel the hatpins sticking my "gray matter."
March 12, 1942- At last! I did get my cap ! Miss Baldwin pinned it fast after Miss Schroeder placed it on my head. Starting today we wear white shoes and stockings. (Gee, there's no difference between me and the seniors now except years of experience) .
July 31, 1942-1 just came back from a three-week vacation. It was nice getting away from all this, but, curiously enough, nice to get back. The February students received their caps tonight. Miss Schroeder is leaving and Miss Baldwin will be acting Directress of Nurses.
September 29, 1942-At our class meeting tonight, the February group joined us. Now we are one happy family! The new class of "Probies" are gradually getting accustomed to their new surroundings.
November 26, 1942-0ur class gave a sport dance tonight. I was on the decorating committee. It was a nice affair. We had pennants from all different schools and colleges on the walls. We welcomed Miss Vesley as Directress.
December 25, 1942-1 had to work today, but I do get New Year's off. I've started my special training by working on Maternity. I assisted with my first delivery yesterday it was a boy!
March 3, 1943-1 started in the O. R. last week. I might be a Junior now but, up there I feel like a "Probie'"! I scrubbed for my first major today! The way my hands shook with that needle-holder, the doctor must have thought it was a fan! By the time I feel at home there, my O. R. training will be over! Diet Kitchen, Receiving Ward, Pediatrics, Isolation, here I come!!
June to September-Vacations and relieving while others take theirs.
September 29, 1943- Another class meeting! Plans are being made for a year-book. Sounds all right-it will be something to show my grandchildren years from now! I signed up for the United States Nurse Cadet Corps. A majority of the rest did too!
October 6, 1943- Year-book staff elected. Jo is Editor and our class is thinking up scheme after scheme for making money. "Hot Dogs-Get them while they're hot"! "Want to order your Xmas cards now"? Then Miss Vesley resigned leaving Miss Konya in charge.
November-December-- Work l Work! Work! Being a senior carries its responsibilities! I’ve completed all my special train mg except receiving ward. The yearbook is progressing! Work! Work! Work! Deadlines to meet! Yes I'm a senior. I've spent t almost three years here. They've held their sad and their happy moments, their accomplishments and their failures, but I'll never forget the kindness and sympathy I received from everyone. I'll never forget the jaunts for a "coke," the doggie roasts, or even the friendly arguments at class meeting. These plus many others have contributed to my life as a student nurse. I pray that someday I will be able to help others as those here have helped me.
The following histories were reproduced from the 1944 Ligature
Class of 1947 at graduation and at their 50th anniversary photos courtesy of Claire Merrick Stahley
Claire Merrick in the Summer (on left) and Winter (on right) cadet uniforms.
The following items will be presented to the Sigal's Museum. They belonged to Doris Scholl DiGuiseppi. October 4, 2014.
Mercedes J. "Mickey" Seiple, 95, of Palmer Township, formerly of Phillipsburg, passed away Monday, January 16, 2017 in Manorcare - Easton. Born October 11, 1921, in Phillipsburg, NJ, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Jacqueline (Albanese) Bulgheroni. Her first husband, Alfred J. Hughes, died in 1961 and her second husband, Orville Seiple, died in 2000. Mickey worked as a registered nurse, retiring from Warren Hospital. She graduated from Phillipsburg High School in 1939 and Easton Hospital School of Nursing in 1942. Mickey was the first nurse from the Red Cross student reserve group at Easton Hospital to receive full membership as a Red Cross nurse and the first to enter government service. She served in the United States Navy Nurse Corps during World War II. Surviving are two daughters, Freda Kephart and her husband Jerry of Winnsboro, SC and Jackie Seiple of Palmer Township; a sister, Adele Felver of Phillipsburg; a granddaughter Michelle Webb and her husband Bill of Palmer Township and two great-grandchildren, Corey and Katrina Webb. In addition to her first and second husband, Alfred and Orville, she was predeceased by a grandson, Jeff Kephart, who died in 2014. Services will be held at 11am Thursday in the Strunk Funeral Home, Inc., 2101 Northampton Street, Wilson Borough. Call Thursday 10-11am in the funeral home. Burial will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine. Offer online condolences at www.strunkfh.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, 3900 Freemansburg Ave., Easton PA, 18045 or Heartland Hospice Services, 881 Marcon Blvd., Ste 3700, Allentown, PA 18109. -
