World War II Honoree

Mina A. Aasen

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Minot, North Dakota

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

ARMY NURSE ASSIGNED TO VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN AND AROUND MANILA, LUZON, THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS WHEN THE JAPANESE ATTACKED DECEMBER 8, 1941. JANUARY 1942 SHE WAS TRANSFERRED TO BATAAN AND IN APRIL 1942 TRANSFERRED TO THE ISLAND OF CORREGIDOR. DURING THESE TIMES AND UNDER DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS SHE TREATED HER PATIENTS WHILE UNDER CONSTANT ATTACK BY THE JAPANESE. SHE WAS CAPTURED ON CORREGIDOR JUNE 25, 1942 AND TRANSFERRED TO SANTO TOMAS INTERNMENT CAMP IN MANILA AUGUST 25, 1942. WHILE HELD AS A PRISONER OF WAR IN SANTO TOMAS INTERNMENT CAMP SHE ADMINISTERED TO THE SICK AND WOUNDED UNDER BARBARIC CONDITIONS INCLUDING LONG HOURS OF WORK AND BARELY ENOUGH FOOD TO SUSTAIN LIFE, WHICH RESULTED IN EXTREME LOSS OF WEIGHT, VARIOUS ILLNESS AND DISEASES. FEBRUARY 3, 1945 SHE WAS LIBERATED FROM SANTO TOMAS INTERNMENT CAMP, PROMOTED ONE GRADE IN RANK, AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER MEDAL WITH TWO BATTLE STARS, A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH TWO OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, THE AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL WITH ONE BATTLE STAR, THE PHILIPPINE DEFENSE RIBBON WITH ONE BATTLE STAR, THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON WITH ONE BATTLE STAR AND SIX HASH MARKS FOR YEARS OF OVERSEAS MILITARY SERVICE. SHE RETIRED WITH THE RANK OF CAPTAIN.