World War II Honoree

Louise M. Anschicks

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Mendota, Illinois

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 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. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO EVACUATE HER FROM CORREGIDOR APRIL 29, 1942 BY A PBY, BUT THE PBY WAS DAMAGED. SHE WAS CAPTURED MAY 10, 1942 ON MINDANAO AND TRANSFERRED TO SANTO TOMAS INTERNMENT CAMP IN MANILA ON SEPTEMBER 9, 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 AND VARIOUS ILLNESS AND DISEASE. 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.