World War II Honoree

Cecelia Jane Connelly Baum, RN

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Dansville, New York

Honored By

George Weck

AFTER ENLISTING IN 1943, SHE WAS COMMISSIONED AN ENSIGN AND SERVED AT SAN DIEGO NAVAL HOSPITAL BUT BECAME ONE OF THE EARLY MEMBERS OF THE NAVY EVACUATION SQUADRON OUT OF ALAMEDA NAVAL AIR BASE. SHE FLEW NUMEROUS TRIPS INTO IWO JIMA AND OKINAWA DURING BATTLE CONDITIONS TO EVACUATE THE WOUNDED TO GUAM AND HAWAII. DURING HER FOUR YEARS AS A NAVY FLIGHT NURSE, SHE SERVED VAST AREAS OF THE PACIFIC FROM ALASKA TO THE MARIANA ISLANDS.