World War II Honoree

Irene Hansen

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Honored By

Family

ASSISTED IN SETTING UP THE CADET PROGRAM IN THE ARMED SERVICES FOR STUDENT NURSES IN 1942. JOINED THE ARMY NURSE CORPS IN 1943. BOARDED THE SHIP SANTA PAULA DECEMBER 2, 1944 IN BOSTON AND ARRIVED IN WALES, ENGLAND ON DECEMBER 13, 1944. THEY WERE A PART OF A COMPANY OF 40 SHIPS. THEY CONTINUED TO LEHAVRE, FRANCE AND ON TO BELGIUM. ASSIGNED TO THE 9TH ARMY IN THE SURGICAL AND STERILIZING UNIT. THEY LIVED IN TENTS AND MOVED EVERY 24-48 HOURS. IN MAY 1945 WHEN THE WAR ENDED SHE WAS IN MAGDEBURG, GERMANY ABOUT 40 MILES FROM BERLIN. IN THE FINAL HOURS OF THE WAR THEY STOOD ON A BRIDGE OF THE ELBE RIVER AND WATCHED THE FINAL HAND TO HAND BATTLE. THEY LATER CARED FOR THE MEN RETURNING FROM PRISON CAMPS. RETURNED TO THE U.S. ON NEW YEAR'S DAY 1946. IN FEBRUARY 1946 SHE JOINED THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION AND WAS ASSIGNED THE ASSISTANT CHIEF OF NURSING EDUCATION.