[Appointment
to Captain],
June 29, 1948.
Manuscript.
Virginia F. Higgins Collection,
Veterans History Project (75)
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VIRGINIA F. HIGGINS:
TRAVELING NURSE
Captain Virginia F. Higgins led a fascinating life during
World War II as shown in her albums displayed in this
exhibit. Higgins was already a registered nurse before
World War II broke out and decided to apply her nursing
skills in the war effort. She traveled to Italy, Germany,
Africa, and many other locales. On June 29, 1948, the
Army honored her with the title of captain for her indispensable
services. Claribel Regimbal, the niece of Virginia F.
Higgins, received all of her aunt's photographs and albums
after her aunt's death. She decided to donate her collection
to the Veterans History Project.
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PLAN OF THE DAY
This "plan of the day" memorandum details the general
schedule for the aircraft carrier the USS Langley,
flights on and off the carrier, and other aspects of
life aboard ship. The USS Langley's function
was to "soften up" the battle site for ground assault
troops. Reuben Brinton, Signalman 2nd Class, saw action
with the USS Langley in the battles for the
Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa under the command
of Admiral William "Bull" Halsey. Reuben Brinton
was interviewed and videotaped at the Nashville Public
Library, and he donated his collection to the Veterans
History Project.
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"USS
Langley: Plan
of the Day for
Friday, February 16, 1945."
Military papers.
Reuben Brinton Collection,
Veterans History Project (73)
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"Victory
Air Flight,"
May 1, 1945.
Manuscript.
Horace Stafford Collection,
Veterans History Project (74)
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HORACE STAFFORD: VICTORY AIR FLIGHT
Staff Sergeant Horace Stafford, who served in the Army
Air Force Medical Department during World War II, was
stationed at the Eighth Air Force Headquarters in Pinetree,
England. The Victory Air Flight manuscript shown here
highlights places that Allies bombed during World War
II. Stafford followed this manuscript as he flew over
several bombed European cities on May 1, 1945. Horace
Stafford donated the collection.
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PRICE OF ADMISSION
Corporal James Price served in the 3rd Marine Amphibious
Force during the Vietnam War and participated in numerous
operations against the Viet Cong. While in Vietnam, Price
carried a military ration card provided by the U.S. Military
Assistance Command. One side of the card displayed his
company's insignia while the other side, shown here,
informed him where he could receive rationed items such
as tobacco, alcohol, cameras, radios, and projectors.
Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana donated this collection
along with more than 1600 other veterans' stories.
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"Ration
Card," ca. 1969. Page 2
James Price Collection,
Veterans History Project (77)
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WILLIAM FREDERICK NICE: NICE TO BOTH FRENCH AND AMERICANS
Second Lieutenant William Frederick Nice was a marine gunner
and platoon leader during World War I. Nice received illustrated
certificates for his military service from the French and American
governments, including the Croix de Guerre, the War Service Certificate
of the United States Marine Corps, and the Citation a L'Ordre
de L'Armee. He also received a dramatic poster depicting Columbia
as a woman, symbolizing freedom, knighting a soldier. This poster
recognized his service as well as the injuries he suffered. Nice's
chart, Chemical Warfare Agents, for detecting and treating exposure
to harmful gas is also displayed. When a close friend of William
F. Nice died, his house was cleared out and someone gave Rosemarie
DeNicola the Nice collection found there. She thought of the
Veterans History Project and knew this was "the right place
to send it."
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