Healing the Enemy
Dublin Core
Title
Healing the Enemy
Subject
African American nurses relegated to treating enemy POWs
Description
After working so hard to find a place in the US Army Corps, African American nurses were either confined to serving in segregated hospitals, or were forced to provide treatment at home and overseas to German prisoners of war.
This photo is of Lt. Florie E. Gant, treating a German soldier in England on October 7, 1944. Obviously, many of these women would not have seen this as an ideal situation. This is just one example of the racism pervading American society, even at a time when the nation was supposed to band together. However, it is also representative of the courage and resilience of African American nurses, who chose to serve in whatever way they could, healing others, even if that meant treating enemy soldiers who may have harmed those they loved.
This photo is of Lt. Florie E. Gant, treating a German soldier in England on October 7, 1944. Obviously, many of these women would not have seen this as an ideal situation. This is just one example of the racism pervading American society, even at a time when the nation was supposed to band together. However, it is also representative of the courage and resilience of African American nurses, who chose to serve in whatever way they could, healing others, even if that meant treating enemy soldiers who may have harmed those they loved.
Creator
War Department, Office of the Surgeon General 1818/18/1947
Source
United States National Archives Catalog, Records of the Office of the Surgeon General (Army), 1775-1994: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/531495
Publisher
United States National Archive
Series: Medical Department Activities in the European Theatre Operations, 1943-1946
Series: Medical Department Activities in the European Theatre Operations, 1943-1946
Date
Accessed 3/16/2020
Rights
Public Domain
Relation
"African American Nurses in World War II," by Liz Eberlein, National Women's History Museum article, July 8, 2019: https://www.womenshistory.org/articles/african-american-nurses-world-war-ii
Format
Online archived photograph, saved as a png file
Language
English
Type
Photograph
Identifier
US nurses in World War II
Coverage
US nurses in World War II, African American nurses in World War II, American women's history, American medical history, Prisoners of war
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Black and White Photograph: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/531495
Collection
Citation
War Department, Office of the Surgeon General 1818/18/1947, “Healing the Enemy,” US Nurses in World War II, accessed April 19, 2024, https://usnursesww2.omeka.net/items/show/4.