World War II Honoree

Maeceille B. Beem

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cambridge, Alabama

Honored By

Marilyn J. Carney

Relationship

Niece

COLONEL (RETIRED) U.S. ARMY NURSE CORPS. JOINED ARMY NURSE CORPS IN 1942, AFTER COMPLETING TRAINING AS A REGISTERED NURSE AT VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE. ASSIGNED TO THE 20TH FIELD HOSPITAL IN 1944 AND SAILED TO ENGLAND. THE UNIT WAS ASSIGNED TO SUPPORT COMBAT FORCES OF THE U.S. 9TH ARMY IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. IN FRANCE THEY BOARDED THE '40 AND 8' BOXCARS (SO CALLED BECAUSE THEY COULD CARRY 40 SOLDIERS OR 8 HORSES) FOR A WEEK, TO REACH BELGIUM IN OCTOBER. AFTER THE ARDENNES BREAKTHROUGH, THE 20TH DIVISION FOLLOWED INFANTRY UNITS INTO HOLLAND AND GERMANY, PARTICIPATING IN THE BATTLE OF THE RHINE CROSSING AND THE BATTLE OF INTERIOR GERMANY. IN APRIL, THE UNIT ARRIVED AT A KASSERNE IN HOLBERSTADT TO SET UP A HOSPITAL AND TO CARE FOR GERMAN POLITICAL PRISONERS WHO HAD BEEN LIBERATED AT NEARBY ZWEIBERG LAGER CONCENTRATION CAMP. THESE MEN CAME FROM MANY COUNTRIES. THERE WERE NO WOMEN OR CHILDREN AMONG THEM. AFTER V-E DAY, SHE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE 240TH GENERAL HOSPITAL IN PARIS. LATER ON SHE TRANSFERRED TO THE 98TH GENERAL HOSPITAL IN MUNICH TO SERVE IN THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION. LATER ASSIGNMENTS INCLUDE LETTERMAN ARMY HOSPITAL IN THE PRESIDIO OF SAN FRANCISCO, WALTER REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, TRIPLER ARMY HOSPITAL IN HONOLULU AND FORT MCCLELLAN ARMY HOSPITAL. WHILE AT THAT FACILITY SHE WAS ASSIGNED TO RUN THE CLINIC AT THE WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS HEADQUARTERS. AFTER HER MARRIAGE IN 1955 SHE RESIGNED HER COMMISSION IN THE REGULAR ARMY AND JOINED THE ARMY RESERVES. AFTER 37 YEARS OF FAITHFUL AND OFTEN DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS SERVICE, SHE RETIRED AT THE RANK OF COLONEL.