Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Software, E-Resource Audio Recording Kathryn M. Taylor Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Air Force Nurse Corps
- Location of Service: Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois; Korea; Mitchell Air Force Base, New York; England; Castle Air Force Base, California
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/23641
Leaving a lucrative job in New York, Kathryn Miller enlisted in the Air Force in 1952 to join the war effort in Korea as a nurse. She arrived at her duty station in Kunsan in the midst of an air raid, which hardly deterred her. In charge of the medical ward of a hospital, she saw a bit of everything, from wounded pilots to an outbreak of the mumps. Her lobbying for indoor plumbing for the hospital led to a dubious honor after she returned to the States. She regretted having to leave the military when she decided to get married; those rules were relaxed two years later.
Kathryn M. Taylor Collection
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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PlayVolunteering for duty in Korea; landing in the middle of an air raid. 00:01:33.7 - 00:03:09.4
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PlayIn charge of the medical ward at a hospital in Korea; treating everything from snakebites to wounded fliers who could either be patched up and sent back to fly or shipped on to Tokyo for more treatment; massive turnout to donate blood to an injured sailor; small epidemic of mumps. 00:03:18.4 - 00:06:11.4
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PlayHer excitement at being in the midst of the action; as a youth, following around a World War II nurse veteran and being inspired by her; almost rejected for service due to a history of tuberculosis in her family; pushing the Air Force to take her; morale of her patients was high. 00:08:20.0 - 00:10:57.0
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PlayOn her arrival, there were no indoor toilets at the hospital, making it difficult for some patients; she complained about it, but indoor plumbing was installed only after she left, and the latrine was named after her. 00:13:08.6 - 00:14:18.2
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PlayGetting a ride in the glass nose of a B-26 on a mission chasing a train. 00:15:44.9 - 00:16:06.6
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PlayCommunicating with the locals; going into town one day with an African American woman, attracting a crowd for her skin color and for Miller's red hair. 00:17:11.1 - 00:17:46.2
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PlayWanting to leave the service when she returned home, but changing her mind; an assignment in England in charge of an orthopedic ward; many injuries were motorcycle accidents; leaving the Air Force because she got engaged and married nurses weren't allowed in the Air Force; working in VA hospitals back in the States. 00:19:58.8 - 00:23:34.8
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PlayStaying on active reserve; about two years after she left active duty, rules were changed because the service was losing so many nurses; service accommodating other aspects of military life for women. 00:27:11.3 - 00:29:16.2
About this Item
Title
- Kathryn M. Taylor Collection
Names
- U.S. House of Representatives/Cliff Stearns
- Smith, Lauren
- Stearns, Cliff
- Taylor, Kathryn M.
Home State
- Florida
Headings
- - Taylor, Kathryn M.
- - Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Air Force Nurse Corps.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Female
Status
- veteran
Service History
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Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Air Force Nurse Corps
- Location of Service: Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois; Korea; Mitchell Air Force Base, New York; England; Castle Air Force Base, California
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Dates of Service: 1952-1958
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Electronic file of manuscript (collected 2004-05-31; 2009-05-22)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of audio recording (collected 2009-05-20)
- Audio: Microcassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2004-05-31)
- Audio: CD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2007-11-07; 2007-11-07)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/23641
Cite as
- Kathryn M. Taylor Collection (AFC/2001/001/23641), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- online text
Additional Metadata Formats
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Castle Air Force Base, California
- Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois
- England
- Korea
- Mitchell Air Force Base, New York