PRINTER'S NO. 718
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
107
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY J. WARD, MARTIN, BARTOLOTTA, FARNESE, FONTANA,
BREWSTER, GORDNER, STREET, PHILLIPS-HILL, BLAKE, DINNIMAN,
TARTAGLIONE, SANTARSIERO, K. WARD, FOLMER, REGAN, VOGEL,
BROWNE, SCHWANK, KILLION, YUDICHAK, BAKER, MENSCH, AUMENT,
MUTH AND COSTA, MAY 6, 2019
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, MAY 6, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing all Pennsylvania nurses who served with honor and
distinction during World War II, especially those who served
in Bataan and Corregidor.
WHEREAS, The week of May 6 through 12 is set aside each year
as a time to celebrate and recognize the nursing profession; and
WHEREAS, While the event formally honors all nurses across
this Commonwealth, Pennsylvania nurses who served during World
War II as members of the United States Army and Navy Nurse Corps
deserve special recognition; and
WHEREAS, World War II saw the service of 59,000 or more
American nurses; and
WHEREAS, On December 8, 1941, the story of these nurses
started while stationed in Army and Navy hospitals across the
Philippine islands; and
WHEREAS, The nurses provided continuous care for the wounded
during an attack, with little sleep and food and while enduring
bombing by Japanese Zeros; and
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WHEREAS, In late December, the nurses were transferred to
Bataan due to the Japanese invasion of Manila; and
WHEREAS, In Bataan, the Army nurses established two
hospitals, the first of which performed 187 major surgeries in a
24-hour period during a fierce battle and was bombed twice,
resulting in numerous casualties; and
WHEREAS, The nurses in the second hospital, the first open-
air ward since the Civil War, endured contaminated water,
dwindling supply of food, disease and minimal medical supplies
while providing care; and
WHEREAS, Each hospital was built to accommodate 1,000
patients, but by the end of March 1942, treated over 5,000
patients with minimal staffing; and
WHEREAS, In the spring of 1942, the nurses were ordered to
the Island of Corregidor for the safety of the Malinta Tunnels,
built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers; and
WHEREAS, The tunnels served as an air raid shelter, a
warehouse for food and ammunition and housed a hospital set up
by the nurses; and
WHEREAS, It is noteworthy that in spite of being ordered to
Corregidor, many nurses refused to leave their patients, despite
knowledge of personal risk that may have occurred; and
WHEREAS, The nurses reluctantly left their patients only
under the condition of a direct order to evacuate; and
WHEREAS, On May 6, 1942, United States Lieutenant General
Jonathan Wainwright IV, surrendered to the Japanese and the
nurses became prisoners of war; and
WHEREAS, A total of 77 Army and Navy nurses were captured and
transported to the Santo Tomas Internment Camp in Manila; and
WHEREAS, The nurses created a hospital to care for their
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incarcerated community and themselves; and
WHEREAS, The "Angels of Bataan" as they were referred to by
the men, or the "Battling Belles of Bataan," survived in
captivity for nearly three years without losing a single nurse
and were liberated by American forces on February 3, 1945; and
WHEREAS, Several Pennsylvania nurses: Major Adele F. Foremen
of Masten, Captain Clara L. Mueller of Philadelphia, First
Lieutenant Anna E. Williams of Harrisburg, Commander (honorary)
Margaret A. Nash of Wilkes-Barre and Captain Ann A. Bernatitus
of Exeter, along with their fellow nurse comrades, are deserving
of praise and honor; and
WHEREAS, The standards the nurses maintained form the
foundation of the proud and distinguished profession of nursing;
and
WHEREAS, The nurses exceeded what was expected of an officer
of the United States Army and Navy, served our country bravely
and deserve our utmost thanks and respect; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize all Pennsylvania nurses
who served with honor and distinction during World War II,
especially those who served in Bataan and Corregidor.
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