World War II Honoree

Carol Heinbackel Quillen

Hometown

Brooklyn, New York

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

AS A YOUNG GIRL, HER LIFE WAS PROFOUNDLY CHANGED ON DECEMBER 7, 1941 BY A RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE JAPANESE HAD ATTACKED PEARL HARBOR HAWAII. SHE ENDURED THE WAR RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON THE POPULATION IN HER BOROUGH: AIR RAID DRILLS IN HER SCHOOL; A REQUIREMENT TO WEAR AN IDENTIFICATION DISC AROUND HER NECK; THE NEED TO HAVE A SPECIAL PASS TO GAIN ACCESS TO PIERS AND HARBORS; BLACKOUT CURTAINS IN HER HOME TO PREVENT LIGHT FROM SHOWING OUTSIDE; AND AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHTS COVERED HALFWAY BY BLACK TAPE TO RESTRICT LIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE INTRODUCTION OF RATIONING ALSO MADE A DISTINCT IMPRESSION ON HER. RATIONING BECAME A WAY OF LIFE, AND SHE AND HER FAMILY LEARNED TO CUT BACK OR DO WITHOUT ITEMS, SUCH AS SUGAR AND MEAT, THAT WERE IN SHORT SUPPLY. AS A YOUNG WOMAN, IN AN EXPRESSION OF HER SENSE OF PATRIOTISM AND HER DESIRE TO MORE FULLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE WAR EFFORT, SHE APPLIED AND WAS ACCEPTED INTO THE UNITED STATES CADET NURSE CORPS PROGRAM AT WAGNER COLLEGE, ON STATEN ISLAND IN NEW YORK HARBOR. SHE SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE CADET NURSE CORPS DURING THE WAR. SHE RECEIVED A GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY FOR HER TUITION, BOOKS, AND UNIFORMS AS WELL AS A SMALL LIVING STIPEND. AS A PARTICIPANT IN THE CORPS, SHE PLEDGED TO ACTIVELY SERVE IN ESSENTIAL CIVILIAN, MILITARY OR OTHER FEDERAL AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES FOR THE DURATION OF THE WAR.