World War II Honoree

Mildred Greenlee Durham

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Ventnor, New Jersey

Honored By

Michael Kaas

Relationship

Family Friend

SHE SERVED IN THE ARMY NURSING CORPS INCLUDING THREE YEARS IN EGYPT AS PART OF JEFFERSON BASE HOSPITAL NO. 38 AT CAMP HUCKSTEP IN THE DESERT OUTSIDE CAIRO. THE 38TH WAS STAFFED BY DOCTORS AND NURSES FROM JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AND ITS SCHOOL OF NURSING IN PHILADELPHIA OF WHICH SHE WAS A GRADUATE. THE UNIT DEPLOYED ON 21 SEPTEMBER 1942 ABOARD THE BRITISH SHIP AQUITANIA. THE 16,700 MILE VOYAGE WAS COMPLETED WITHOUT THE PROTECTION OF A CONVOY. IT CROSSED THE ATLANTIC, ROUNDED CAPETOWN, TRAVELED THROUGH THE INDIAN OCEAN AND SUEZ CANAL, AND ARRIVED AT TEUFIK, THE PORT AT SUEZ, ON 24 OCTOBER 1942. THE HOSPITAL BEGAN OPERATION IN NOVEMBER 1942. AT THE END OF THE WAR, THE 38TH RECEIVED THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE PLAQUE, THE HIGHEST AWARD FOR A NON-COMBAT UNIT.