Skip Navigation and Jump to Page Content    The Library of Congress >> American Folklife Center  
Veterans History Project (Library of Congress) ABOUT  
SEARCH/BROWSE  
HELP  
COPYRIGHT  
Home » Kathryn M. Taylor
 

"But they named it after me and somebody sent pictures of it: the Kathryn Miller Memorial Latrine." (Audio interview, 14:10)
   Kathryn M. Taylor
Placeholder Image
War: Korean War, 1950-1953
Branch: Air Force Nurse Corps
Service Location: Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois; Korea; Mitchell Air Force Base, New York; England; Castle Air Force Base, California
Rank: Captain
View Full Description

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.
Interview (Audio)
»Interview Highlights  (8 clips)
»Complete Interview 
»Transcript
More like this
»Women of Four Wars
Audio (Interview Excerpts) (8 items)
Volunteering for duty in Korea; landing in the middle of an air raid. (01:36) In 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. (02:53) Her 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. (02:37)
On 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. (01:10) Getting a ride in the glass nose of a B-26 on a mission chasing a train. (00:22) Communicating 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. (00:35)
Wanting 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. (03:36) Staying 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. (02:05) 
  
 

Home » Kathryn M. Taylor
  The Library of Congress  >> American Folklife Center
  October 26, 2011		   Legal | External Link Disclaimer Need Help?   
Contact Us