World War II Honoree

Delores Imogene Dowling

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Huntington, West Virginia

Honored By

Paula Delosh

ENTERED THE ARMY ON JULY 1,1942, ARMY NURSE CORPS. MEMBER OF UNIT 3 OF THE 11TH FIELD HOSPITAL, THE ARMY'S FIRST MOBIL SURGICAL HOSPITAL AT GELA. ON JULY 10, 1943, WAS AMONG THE FIRST SIX COMBAT SURGICAL NURSES TO LAND IN SICILY ON D-DAY PLUS TWO. WENT IN AFTER THE INFANTRY AND BEFORE THE ARTILLERY. SHE WAS INJURED IN A BLOODY BATTLE AT THE RAPIDO RIVER AND RETURNED TO THE STATES AFTER 16 MONTHS OVERSEAS. IN 1945 STATIONED AT THE NURSES' PROCUREMENT OFFICE, NEW YORK. SHE BECAME A RECRUITING OFFICER AND AWARDED FOUR BATTLE STARS, THE BRONZE ASSAULT ARROWHEAD FOR THE BEACHHEAD LANDING, MERITORIOUS SERVICE AND TWO PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATIONS. SHE LEFT THE SERVICE AS A FIRST LIEUTENANT IN 1946.