Women’s Army Corps WWII Hero Series
Mabel Jaques – WAC Nurse
Mabel’s Memoirs, part 2
MY LIFE in the SERVICE:
By Karen A. Smith
Since the war was continuing on for a long time, I decided to sign up as a Navy nurse. I passed all of my physicals except the eye exam. Since I wore glasses, I was not accepted. I was told to return in a month for a re-examination. In the meantime, I was to practice eye exercises, plus drink a lot of carrot juice. I drank so much carrot juice—I felt it was coming out of my ears. I returned for a repeat eye exam, but failed again.
Determined I was to get into the service, I applied to be an Army nurse. I passed all my tests and within a month I was on my way to Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. My family and I had some tears in our eyes when I left home. I was starting something new and was a little apprehensive about what was ahead of me.
After basic training, I was sent to Fort Custer in Battle Creek, Michigan. All Army nurses were commissioned 2nd Lt. upon entrance into the service. During the holidays, dinner dances were given. All officers and nurses came in their dress uniforms. The nurses could also come, but in olive drab skirts and suit jackets. We envied the officers’ wives; they came in long formal beautiful gowns.
After a year at Fort Custer, I was promoted to 1st Lt. and received orders as Chief Nurse of 55 Hospital Train which was being equipped to take soldiers from Evacuation and Field Hospitals back to the General Army Hospital. I was to be in charge of 7 nurses and 45 enlisted men who were medics. I was very excited for my new assignment. We arrived at Camp Ellis on May 9, 1944. Camp Ellis was the staging area for other hospital train units. All of the Chief nurses were assigned separate quarters. During our stay we ordered medical, surgical and personal supplies that we would need overseas.
June 6, 1944, Invasion Day in France. There was a lot of excitement all over camp. Orders came for our baggage to be picked up. We all knew we would be on the move soon. At this time we didn’t know where we were going. It ended up being Camp Mel Standish. That is where we boarded our boat, the Aqua Tania in Boston’s harbor. It was a thrill walking up on the gang plank, but my heart was in my mouth not knowing what the future held. I will never forget the sight of Army men and women marching onto this huge boat.
The Aqua Tania was a very huge boat built by the British. It had four huge smoke stacks, and we were to travel alone without an escort. We left the United States on June 22—destination unknown, but we were going to somewhere in Europe. There were 2,000 men on board and 50 nurses. We passed the time by sitting on the deck reading, singing, or playing cards. Male officers could come up on the outer deck. We met many nice and polite officers. At times the boat rocked, and we were not allowed to go out on the deck. MP’s were stationed at all doors leading to the nurses’ quarters. During one bad time, an MP opened the outside doors to let us see how high the waves were. They were amazing and as high as the boat. One could have easily been washed overboard. It was a wonder that we could go anywhere with those huge waves. There were so many beautiful days and moonlit nights during our trip. The war seemed so far away.
End of Part 2
