The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-23

Interest in Army nurse recruiting m Waterbury and vicinity has been definitely improved within the past few days, thanks to the appearance and address here of Lieutenant Marie P. Daury, attached to the nursing staff at U. s. Army Air Corps at Bradley Field. She is a former Waterbury resident
 During the course of her week. end visit home Lieutenant Daury made an interesting address, review Ing the time-honored history of wo- men nurses in military, procedure of enlistment and the possibilities of advancement with adequate com pensation. Citing her own expert- ence, Lieutenant Daury paid a great tribute to Army nursing profession and declared that she has enjoyed every moment of her service.
 The gist of Lieutenant Daury's remarks may be found in the follow ing outline of her interesting address here:
 Women nurses have been part of military history as far back as 1776 but the A. N. o. was organized and authorized by Congress in Feb- ruary 1901.
 Before that time nurses were hired by the Surgeon General for employment in base and camp hos pitals at $50 month with rations At the time of Americas entry into World War I there were 403 nurses in the A. N. C.. Within IS months the Corps had increased to 2l,480. These nurses-all graduates-were assigned to cantonment, general and special military hospitals in all parts of the U. S. Some went over- seas to serve in England, France, Italy, Belgium and Siberia. Many were cited for meritorious service in the U. s. and some were men, tioned in British Army dispatches.
 Tn the present war the Corps has grown from approximately TOO in 1897 to over 35,000 members sta- tioned in over 35 bases outside the continental U. s. and at 537 Army posts at home. Army nurses are serving wherever there are Amer ican Troops fighting-Pearl Har- Dor, Bataan, Corregidor, Australia, England, India and Africa. Some are assigned to evacuation places and trains, to transports and other Army ships carrying wounded. They care for wounded overseas, in sur- gical field units, in evacuation hos- pitals, station and general hospitals and nurse sick or wounded soldiers in all Army hospitals at home.
 Rank for members of the A. N. O.. was provided by Congress in June 1920 and the position of the Army nurce was improved by giving for- nal recognition to the place of the Corps in the military establishment.
 To be eligible for appointment as officers in the A. N. c. for the du- ration and months applicants must be citizens of the U. s. or a cobelligerent or friendly country, either married or single, under 45, of good moral character and in gooG health. She must be graduate of an accredited high school, a gradu- ate of school of nursing of ap- proved standards and @ R. N.
 The physical fitness of an appli- cant is determined by board of medical officers at any Army Post. Nurses are appointed inth e rank of 2nd It. Promotion to the higher ranks are determined by the amount of executive ability, judg- ment and tactexhibited. The re- responsibilities that can be carried on by the individual.
 Nursing in the Army includes the care of officers and enlisted men and their families and other pa tients entitled to admission to Army hospitals.