About this Unit
The US Army Nurse Corps was established in 1901 as a permanent corps within the United States Army Medical Department. Throughout its history, the Corps has played a vital role in every major conflict, providing crucial medical care to wounded soldiers from World War I to the present day. During World War II, the number of Army nurses grew dramatically, with over 59,000 nurses serving worldwide. The Corps has been instrumental in advancing battlefield medicine and nursing practices, and its members continue to serve with distinction in combat zones, humanitarian missions, and military hospitals around the globe.
Historical Facts
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Founded in 1901: The US Army Nurse Corps (ANC) was officially established as a permanent corps of the Medical Department under the Army Reorganization Act, making it over 120 years old.
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World War I Expansion: At the start of World War I, there were only 403 nurses in the ANC. By Armistice in 1918, that number had grown to over 21,000 nurses serving in the US and abroad.
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Pioneering Women: The ANC was one of the first groups in the US military to allow women to serve as officers, though they did not receive full military rank until 1947.
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Distinguished Service: Army nurses have earned numerous medals for bravery, including the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, and the Purple Heart—some even while serving on the front lines under fire.
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Desegregation: African American nurses were first admitted to the ANC during World War I, but served in segregated units until after World War II when the Army Nurse Corps was desegregated in 1947.
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Flight Nursing: During World War II, Army nurses became the world’s first trained flight nurses, caring for wounded soldiers during aeromedical evacuation missions.
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Prisoners of War: During World War II, 77 Army nurses were taken prisoner by the Japanese in the Philippines and spent nearly three years in captivity. They became known as the “Angels of Bataan and Corregidor.”
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Vietnam War Service: More than 5,000 Army nurses served in Vietnam, often in mobile army surgical hospital (MASH) units, providing critical care close to combat zones.
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Male Nurses Join: Men were not allowed to serve as nurses in the ANC until 1955, after which they became an essential part of the Corps.
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Modern Deployments: Today, Army nurses serve around the world, supporting humanitarian missions, disaster relief, and combat operations in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
