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At 100, World War II nurses have friendship of a lifetime
NEW YORK (AP) -- They were young Army nurses in World War II, sharing a room and experiences that forged an extraordinary bond.
A monsoon destroyed part of their hospital on a South Pacific island. They were swamped with the sick and wounded near the front lines. A disease outbreak killed colleagues. Yet Amelia "Mimi" Greeley and Ruth "Brownie" Girk survived, and so did a friendship that still spurs near nightly phone calls as both turn 100.
"We've always appreciated our friendship, but as it gets later and later, we appreciate it more," says Girk, who turns 100 in June. Greeley celebrated her birthday this week.
"We're sort of like sisters - that get along," says Greeley.
Then Amelia Devivo and Ruth Brown, the two women met after volunteering to serve in a war hospital being organized by what is now NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where both worked. They thought the same way about medicine and shared a readiness to laugh and enjoy life, traits they'd need after getting to Goodenough Island in early 1944.
NEW YORK (AP) -- They were young Army nurses in World War II, sharing a room and experiences that forged an extraordinary bond.
A monsoon destroyed part of their hospital on a South Pacific island. They were swamped with the sick and wounded near the front lines. A disease outbreak killed colleagues. Yet Amelia "Mimi" Greeley and Ruth "Brownie" Girk survived, and so did a friendship that still spurs near nightly phone calls as both turn 100.
"We've always appreciated our friendship, but as it gets later and later, we appreciate it more," says Girk, who turns 100 in June. Greeley celebrated her birthday this week.
"We're sort of like sisters - that get along," says Greeley.
Then Amelia Devivo and Ruth Brown, the two women met after volunteering to serve in a war hospital being organized by what is now NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where both worked. They thought the same way about medicine and shared a readiness to laugh and enjoy life, traits they'd need after getting to Goodenough Island in early 1944.
News from The Associated Press
Posted from customwire.ap.org
WWII World War Two
Medicine
Military History
People
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 3
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God bless these women.
I knew several young women during Vietnam whose husbands and brothers were in country & they watched the news every night and saw the heavy duty combat. It took a tremendous toll on them. Then if and when their husbands came home these guys were really changed & some had serious issues. Again the women had this now for them to adjust to. Plus a lot of these ladies were against the war in Vietnam. So I just walked on eggs very carefully and said very little which was NOT easy..
I knew several young women during Vietnam whose husbands and brothers were in country & they watched the news every night and saw the heavy duty combat. It took a tremendous toll on them. Then if and when their husbands came home these guys were really changed & some had serious issues. Again the women had this now for them to adjust to. Plus a lot of these ladies were against the war in Vietnam. So I just walked on eggs very carefully and said very little which was NOT easy..
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Thanks for sharing this news from AP COL Ted Mc. It is great to knw that Amelia Devivo and Ruth Brown shared a friendship over a lifetime since they were nurses in WWII.
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