World War II Honoree

Joan Matilda Harazda Pike

Hometown

Deep River, Connecticut

Honored By

Spouse

STUDENT NURSE AT MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING, MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, 1942-1945. ENROLLED IN STUDENT NURSE CORPS OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. PAID $30.00 MONTHLY STIPEND FOR THIS DUTY. UNIFORMS WERE ISSUED. REQUIRED TO HELP RECRUIT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS TO ENTER NURSES TRAINING SCHOOLS BECAUSE THE SHORTAGE OF REGISTERED NURSES WAS CRITICAL. SPOKE TO ASSEMBLED STUDENTS AT HIGH SCHOOLS TO FULFILL THIS REQUIREMENT. LACK OF NURSES WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT SO MANY REGISTERED NURSES ENLISTED IN THE MILITARY SERVICES. STUDENT NURSES WERE FORCED TO TAKE ON CIVILIAN DUTIES FORMERLY FULFILLED BY REGISTERED NURSES AS WELL AS ATTEND CLASSES AND RETAIN REQUIRED GRADES AND NURSING SKILLS. SERVED COUNTRY WELL BY HELPING TO SAVE MANY CIVILIAN LIVES ON THE HOME FRONT.