Nurses
Welcome to the Military Nurses exhibit at the Museum of the American G.I.
Since the American Revolution, nurses have always played a significant role in all U.S. armed conflicts. However, it was not until 1901 that the first nurses and women were appointed to the army. The Army Nurse Corps was established to provide more effective care to wounded soldiers. Seven years later, in 1908, the Navy established a Nurse Corps. Initially small in number, by the end of WWI over 22,000 nurses had served both at home and overseas.
Almost 74,000 nurses served during WWII across all areas of military campaigns. Many nurses served in combat zones and 77 women of the Army Nurse and Navy Nurse Corps were held as POWs in the Pacific.
Nurses continued to play a pivotal role in the care of the wounded in the Korean and Vietnam War, all while important structural changes were made to the Nurse Corps.
The Museum of the American G.I. is proud to honor the service of the remarkable individuals who have served as nurses in the U.S. Military through an extensive display of uniforms. From WWII to Vietnam, military nurses’ uniforms tell a story of evolving styles and regulations. Complementing the display of uniforms are photographs and magazines capturing moments of courage and compassion as nurses tend to the wounded on the front lines and in military hospitals.