World War II Honoree

Elizabeth Mary 'Betsy' Simpson Bird

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Taft, California

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

GRADUATED FROM SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE OF NURSING IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA AND IMMEDIATELY ENTERED THE NAVY NURSE CORPS IN 1944 AS A REGISTERED NURSE. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER, INITIALLY STATIONED AT THE NAVY BASE AT KODIAK, ALASKA FOR SOME 2 YEARS; AND LATER AS A FLIGHT NURSE ABOARD THE NAVY'S LARGEST SEAPLANE, THE MARTIN JRM MARS FLYING BOAT, WHICH SHE CONSIDERED HER MOST EXCITING ASSIGNMENT. THE MARS AIRCRAFT WAS ONE OF ONLY 5 PRODUCTION MODELS TO ENTER SERVICE AND WERE USED TO TRANSPORT CARGO AND PASSENGERS TO HAWAII AND THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. DURING HER SERVICE, SHE TRAVELLED TO OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, INCLUDING PARIS, FRANCE, FRENCH MOROCCO, AND PANAMA. HER MOST REWARDING ASSIGNMENT WAS TO THE OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA NAVAL HOSPITAL WHERE SHE TENDED TO WAR VETERANS IN THE AMPUTEE WARD. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. CONTINUED IN U.S. NAVY SERVICE AFTER THE WAR AND SERVED A TOTAL OF 8 YEARS UNTIL HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT. ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.