About this Unit
The Army Nurse Corps (ANC) was established as a permanent corps of the U.S. Army on February 2, 1901, in response to the need for organized nursing care during times of war and peace. Army nurses played a crucial role in every major conflict since their inception, including World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and more recent operations. Over the years, the ANC has evolved from a small group of women volunteers to a highly trained, diverse, and professional corps of both men and women. Their dedication and service have been vital to the care and recovery of wounded soldiers, earning them a respected place in military history.
Historical Facts
• Founded in 1901: The Army Nurse Corps (ANC) was officially established as a permanent corps of the U.S. Army by Congress on February 2, 1901, making it one of the oldest branches of military nursing in the world.
• Spanish-American War Roots: Before its official founding, over 1,500 civilian contract nurses served during the Spanish-American War (1898), highlighting the need for a permanent nursing corps.
• All-Female Corps for Decades: Until 1955, the Army Nurse Corps was made up exclusively of women, making it one of the largest all-female organizations in U.S. military history.
• World War I Service: Over 22,000 Army nurses served during World War I, both in the United States and overseas, often close to the front lines and under fire.
• World War II Expansion: The Corps expanded dramatically during WWII, with more than 59,000 nurses serving worldwide, including in combat zones such as Normandy and the Pacific.
• Prisoners of War: In World War II, 77 Army nurses were captured and held as prisoners of war by the Japanese in the Philippines for nearly three years, continuing to care for patients in captivity.
• Breaking Color Barriers: The first African American nurses were admitted to the Army Nurse Corps in 1941, overcoming previous segregation and paving the way for greater diversity in military medicine.
• Male Nurses Join: The first men were commissioned into the Army Nurse Corps in 1955, following the passage of the Army-Navy Nurse Act of 1947 and subsequent policy changes.
• First Chief Nurse: Dita H. Kinney was appointed as the first Superintendent (later called Chief) of the Army Nurse Corps in 1901, setting early standards for military nursing professionalism.
• Modern Deployments: Army nurses continue to serve in every major conflict, including recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, providing frontline trauma care, humanitarian aid, and leadership in military medicine.
