World War II Honoree

Esther S. Anderson Kinnaman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Xenia, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

AFTER GRADUATING FROM WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NURSING IN 1940, ACCEPTED A RESERVE COMMISSION IN THE NURSE CORPS. SWORN IN AT JEFFERSON BARRACKS, MISSOURI ON JANUARY 31, 1942 AND ASSIGNED AS A CHARTER MEMBER OF 21ST GENERAL HOSPITAL AFFILIATED WITH WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY AND BARNES HOSPITAL, SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI. TRAINED AT FORT BENNING, GEORGIA AND FORT MCCLELLAN, ALABAMA. DEPARTED THE U.S. WITH HER UNIT ON OCTOBER 20, 1942 BOUND FOR NORTH AFRICA VIA BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND WHERE SHE SERVED AS AN HONOR GUARD FOR ELEANOR ROOSEVELT REVIEWING THE TROOPS FOR PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT. ARRIVED ORAN, ALGERIA NOVEMBER 11, 1942 IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION TORCH D-DAY PLUS 3. THE 21ST GENERAL HOSPITAL STAGED THERE AT LA SENIA AIRFIELD FOR 6 WEEKS, THEN SET UP EXTENDED OPERATIONS 60 MILES SOUTH AT BOU HANIFIA , ALGERIA. AT ITS LARGEST WHILE IN ALGERIA, THE 21ST GENERAL HOSPITAL HAD OVER 4,000 BEDS. WHEN THE 21ST GENERAL HOSPITAL RE DEPLOYED TO NAPLES, ITALY SHE RETURNED TO THE U.S., ARRIVING ON JANUARY 5, 1944. EARNED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY SEPARATED FROM ACTIVE DUTY AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT ON MARCH 9, 1944 AT STARK GENERAL HOSPITAL, CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.