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World War II Honoree

World War II Veteran

Rundy Hamblen

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Ashland, Wisconsin

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

Branch Seal
Activity During WWII

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN 1943. AS AN ARMY NURSE, SHE AND HER FELLOW NURSES TOOK A RE-OUTFITTED QUEEN MARY TO ENGLAND AND LANDED AT OMAHA BEACH, FOUR MONTHS AFTER D-DAY. THE MILITARY WAS STILL RELYING ON ITS MEDICS. THE NURSES LIVED OUT OF TENTS, WITH WHATEVER CLOTHES AND SUPPLIES THEY COULD PACK INTO DUFFEL BAGS. IT TOOK A WHILE BEFORE SHE GOT ASSIGNED TO A MASH UNIT IN NORMANDY AND THEN IN GERMANY. ALTHOUGH SHE DIDN'T TEND TO THE WOUNDED AT THE FRONT, SHE SAW MANY SEVERELY INJURED PATIENTS, INCLUDING GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON. THE COMMANDER OF THE THIRD ARMY WAS CRITICALLY INJURED DECEMBER 9, 1945 WHEN THE CADILLAC IN WHICH HE WAS RIDING CRASHED INTO A TRUCK. SHE WAS ONE OF TWO NURSES WHO CARED FOR THE GENERAL UNTIL HIS DEATH AT A HOSPITAL IN HEIDELBERG 12 DAYS LATER. SHE RECEIVED HER DISCHARGE IN 1947.