World War II Honoree

Mescal 'Mickie' Bigham Nelson

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE CADET NURSE CORPS DURING THE WAR. THE UNITED STATES CADET NURSE CORPS WAS A PROGRAM ESTABLISHED IN 1943 UNDER THE UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE (USPHS) TO TRAIN NURSES TO SERVE IN THE ARMED FORCES, GOVERNMENT AND CIVILIAN HOSPITALS, HEALTH AGENCIES, AND IN WAR-RELATED INDUSTRIES. A STUDENT NURSE WHO JOINED THE CADET NURSE CORPS RECEIVED A GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY FOR HER TUITION, BOOKS, AND UNIFORMS AS WELL AS A SMALL LIVING STIPEND. PARTICIPANTS IN THE CORPS PLEDGED TO ACTIVELY SERVE IN ESSENTIAL CIVILIAN, MILITARY OR OTHER FEDERAL AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES FOR THE DURATION OF THE WAR. SHE GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA SCHOOL OF NURSING IN 1947, AFTER THE END OF THE WAR.