MARIAN SIEVERT MOSHER Women's Overseas Service League Orange County, California Unit Transcript of an Oral History Interview All rights, title, and interest in the material recorded are assigned and conveyed to the Women's Overseas Service League for the purpose of publication, use in teaching, or other such uses that may further the aims and objectives of the League, such use and participation to be acknowledged in appropriate fashion and with due credit to: Marian S. Mosher Laguna Hills, California PREFACE This transcript is the product of an interview conducted July 7, 1989, for the Women's Overseas Service League, by Mrs. Vivian Peterson. Signed, dated agreements of release and biographical information accompany the original cassette. Transcribed by Patricia Siggers Lansing, Michigan January 15, 1990 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 WOMEN'S OVERSEAS SERVICE LEAGUE Oral History Project MARIAN SIEVERT MOSHER Orange County, California Unit NOTE: July 7, 1989. This is Vivian Peterson. I am recording Marian Mosher's oral history for Women's Overseas Service League, Oral History Project. MM: 1 am Marian Mosher, and I was in the Army Nurse Corps from January 2, 1943, till January 3, 1946. I was inducted through Camp Haan in January, and in April we were transferred to San Francisco Port Embarkation for the Hawaiian Islands. We joined the staff of the 165th Station Hospital on May 5, 1943. This was on the island of Kauai. We were there until the following year, but did have periods of temporary duty on Hawaii and Oahu. We arrived in the Philippine Islands in May, 1945, and we were there until the third of October, 1945, when we went on terminal leave. Now one of the questions is what influenced me to become volunteer. I had just received my bachelor 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 WOMEN'S OVERSEAS SERVICE LEAGUE MARIAN S. MOSHER, Orange County, California Unit science with a major in public health nursing. The government was in need of nurses in the military and also in public health. I did not like public health nursing, so I volunteered for the Army. Prior to my enlistment, I had graduated from nursing in 1940, so I had done general duty nursing one year and then part—time general duty for the two years while I worked for my degree at UCLA. While I was in service, I did general duty nursing, primarily in the operating room and in the shock ward. One of the questions relates to career preparation and my expectations. I already had my career planned, so I had no further expectations at the time being. After being in the military for one year, my basic pay was $150.00 per month. Since most of my service was overseas, I had an extra ten percent ($15.00 extra) added and a subsistence allowance of $21.70; making a total of $186.70. Of this, I had $100.00 deducted as a Class E Allotment and $6.90 as a National Service Life Insurance; so my monthly check was $79.80. As for equal opportunities for service and education: I was not aware of unequal opportunities for either service or for education. The place I probably felt unequal opportunities were movement 56 58 60 62 64 66 68 70 72 74 76 78 WOMEN'S OVERSEAS SERVICE LEAGUE MARIAN S. MOSHER, Orange County, California Unit from one place to another, and of course, in the Philippines a lack of freedom 'h) move around; for safety and our own protection. As far as our assignments were concerned, we were there as nurses and were assigned according to our education and our background of Iexperience. Before the fellows were sent over to the Philippines, 1 did have the opportunity of teaching the corpsmen nursing procedures, first aid measures, and how to administer medications intravenously so that they could carry on the procedures in the combat areas. As for housing in the United States and Hawaii, we lived in wood barracks, two nurses to a room. The barracks had a kitchen, living room, and bathroom facilities. They were not luxurious, but they were comfortable except for there was no heat in the cold weather. In the Philippines, we lived in tents and floors built off the ground, burlap around the lower half of the tent and screen around the upper portion. Again, there was no plumbing for showers or bathing. These were in another tent that was enclosed up to about five or six feet. The toilet facilities were in another tent, which happened to be about an eight or ten holer. I don't remember exactly. WOMEN'S OVERSEAS SERVICE LEAGUE MARIAN S. MOSHER, Orange County, California Unit 80 Medical care was adequate. I had little need for other than the usual immunizations. When nurses 82 in our unit required help, it was made available either by the unit doctors or consultation at a 84 nearby general hospital. As far as uniforms we wore: In the Hawaiian 86 Islands it was OD for the cold weather or light beige for summer. Suits and dresses; either one were 88 acceptable. For duty we wore beige and light striped seersucker wraparounds. We were also issued a khaki 90 slack and blouse outfit which we wore that was a little cooler. In the Philippines we wore khaki or 92 the seersucker pants and tops at all times. Of course, we had to be protective of mosquitoes there. 94 We were also issued a field outfit, but never wore it except when we were enroute from the Hawaiian Islands 96 to the Philippine Islands; and again when we were out for gun practice in the field. 98 Now for memorable experiences: In the Hawaiian Islands, one of the colonels on the island decided 100 that his administrative staff was spending too much time behind desks. He wanted them to get some 102 exercise so be arranged for hikes on Sundays; all day hikes Working in the op, and they invited all the 104 nurses that were available to go with them if they WOMEN'S OVERSEAS SERVICE LEAGUE MARIAN S. MOSHER, Orange County, California Unit wanted to. Those of us in the operating room had to 106 take turns so that we were staffed for emergencies, but these were very nice hikes. We went into areas 108 which were very remote, places which tourists today still do not get to see. It was educational as well 110 as enjoyable for its exercise and for its social event. 112 In the Philippines, the night we arrived on Leyte and enroute to the receiving area we saw the 114 most beautiful sunset, which I shall never forget. When we arrived at the receiving area, we shared our 116 tents with the prisoners of war who were just on their way back to the United States. The next 118 morning as we came to breakfast, they came with their tin cups in hand and plates for their breakfast. We 120 saw these green scrambled eggs and were turning up our nose; yet they took time to give thanks for them. 122 Then during our breakfast period, the loudspeaker of the camp announced the death of President Roosevelt. 124 When these people were made prisoners of war, children up ha a certain age were sent with their 126 mothers; were imprisoned with their mothers. The boys had now become in their teens. We shared toilet 128 facilities and shower facilities with them. This was a little bit difficult for some people to accept, but WOMEN'S OVERSEAS SERVICE LEAGUE MARIAN S. MOSHER, Orange County, California Unit 130 to them it didn't make any difference at all. Also, it was interesting to us how little we knew. When 132 they announced President Roosevelt's death, the former prisoners that were in the tent I was in were 134 asking us who the vice-president was and what was he like. Most of us didn't even remember his name, much 136 less know anything else about him. We really learned a lot in those few days we were in Leyte, living with 138 these former prisoners of war. Now one of the sections is comparing my 140 experiences with the present: I don't feel qualified to make comparisons. I do get (because I also later 142 on in Vietnam was working under the State Department), I get a lot of questionnaires about 144 various things. In those forms I receive to fill out for somebody's study (because many people seem to be 146 studying the result of this), I sense a lot of self— pity. All I can think of is that, probably, they 148 were either not chosen; at least they did not know what to expect either socially or jobwise, when they 150 were accepted or applied for that program. I sense so much self—pity; and we really enjoyed our -— 152 I was with the United States Agency for International Development, so I was not there as a 154 military person. I was there hi a nurse advisory WOMEN'S OVERSEAS SERVICE LEAGUE MARIAN S. MOSHER, Orange County, California Unit position. We worked in visiting hospitals: We 156 worked with the Vietnamese military, but we lived and had our services from the American military (like PX 158 services). We enjoyed our service there in Vietnam with the Agency for International Development, but we 160 did not have contact with the injured, which makes a difference. However, we did have contact with some 162 of the fellows as we would see them around. Now my next topic is: Conflict between feminine 164 and military profession. I was not aware of any. We realized that those who were in military service as a 166 career that they would be assuming more responsibility. They were under a completely 168 different jurisdiction than those of us who were there just for three years, so we expected them to 170 carry a higher rank and a greater responsibility. It did not bother us one bit. 172 Another question about the GI Bill: Yes, I was very grateful for the GI Bill, because it allowed me 174 to get my masters degree at minimum cost; and later on, for a home loan. 176 About the adjustments we had to make: As a nurse, I was accustomed to dormitory living (because 178 student nurses in those days always lived in dormitories) and the camaraderie that goes with it. WOMEN'S OVERSEAS SERVICE LEAGUE MARIAN S. MOSHER, Orange County, California Unit 180 We were expected to wear uniforms and abide by all the regulations that go with group living and uniform 182 codes. These things did not upset us one bit. There was a lack of freedom, which was for our own safety 184 in most instances. I would have liked to have gone shopping in Honolulu more often, but we were on the 186 outer islands, and transportation was not always available. But then that applies when you are living 188 in your own city. You can't always go to town when you want to, because somebody else is using the car 190 or whatever. That was no problem, other than that we didn't always get our wants like we wanted them. 192 Terminology was not upsetting, because every occupation and profession has its own terminology, 194 and we knew that we had our terminology as nurses. So the military had its terminology too. 196 Something about unpopular requirements: Some of the things that irked us was the thought that 198 "command performances" were usually a bore. I don't remember any particular regulations that really gave 200 us a big deal of bother, other than that we did resent saluting sometimes: But that was a pain to 202 everyone, I think. I enjoyed my military experiences and the people and the work. In civilian life we may 204 not salute, but we have other ways of acknowledging 206 208 210 212 214 216 218 220 222 224 226 228 WOMEN'S OVERSEAS SERVICE LEAGUE MARIAN S. MOSHER, Orange County, California Unit VP: MM: peers —— both uppers and lowers. One of the things, probably, that did bother us was not being allowed to fraternize with the enlisted men. These were the people with whom we worked; we liked them; we had probably more respect for them than we did for some of the officers around. I remember one night in the Philippine Islands the Red Cross arranged a dance in the boys' mess hall, and they got special permission that the nurses could come. It was one of the nicest social events we had out of our whole military service with the 165th Station Hospital. After service, I went (Hi and got an! master's degree and taught nursing and later did some teaching with the nursing education advisory work in Vietnam and in Cairo, Egypt. I think that‘s about it. Tell me about this duty in Cairo? Cairo was my post—retirement. I retired in 1975, at the age of sixty so that I could still do another overseas assignment because I had enjoyed them. When I retired, I took a job with Project HOPE, and I spent two years as nurse education advisor at the High Institute of Nursing at the University of Cairo (It's a big title). I was there for two years and it was very interesting. WOMEN'S OVERSEAS SERVICE LEAGUE MARIAN S. MOSHER, Orange County, California Unit 230 We were one of the first land based -- We were there at the beginning of the time in Cairo. Project 232 HOPE, I think, is still there in Cairo. I was assigned to someone who had a doctorate degree, and I 234 had a master's, and I think this made a difference as far as my effectiveness goes. I was supposed to 236 teach in the baccalaureate level and do an evaluation of the master's in medical-surgical nursing. When I 238 got there, I discovered that the students in the baccalaureate level were just learning English so 240 they could not understand me. Besides that, the lecture room was right on a busy, busy, busy street 242 with horns blowing; and my voice would not drown out all that noise. 244 The master's program as it had been set up was a farce. A bunch of stuff had been put into it without 246 any reason why it was there, or who was going to do it, or how much of it should be done or not so there 248 was a change of staff there. Instead, I ended up being in more—or—less an advisory capacity and helped 250 with the faculty of the baccalaureate students and setting up the medical-surgical part of the master's 252 program. The first year was a flop of all the flops I've ever had, but the second year made up for it in 254 that it was one of the most dynamic groups of 256 258 260 262 264 266 268 270 272 274 276 278 WOMEN'S OVERSEAS SERVICE LEAGUE MARIAN S. MOSHER, Orange County, California Unit VP: MM: students I have ever had. It changed my whole view of nursing; in Egypt. When you came back from the Philippines, what did you do then? When I came back from the Philippines, I started looking for a public health job. I wasn't satisfied with anything, but the school at Huntington Memorial Hospital, Pasadena City College, needed an instructor. I started teaching at Pasadena City College in their nursing program the fall of '46, but I did not have my teaching credentials so I was teaching under emergency teaching credentials. That required that I get back to school, so that's why I went back and got my master's degree; master of science in education, so I could get my teaching credentials. That involved teaching once-in-a—while science classes on campus as well as teaching nursing subjects. In 1963, I knew I was due for a sabbatical leave, and I felt I needed some refreshing. I had been taking courses all along the way. The school year of 1963-64, I took a sabbatical leave and taught nursing at the Christian Medical College of Nursing at Vellore, South India. That was a real, cultural experience, but I always felt that I could (because WOMEN'S OVERSEAS SERVICE LEAGUE MARIAN S. MOSHER, Orange County, California Unit 280 of having gone through the hot weather in the Philippines), I could tolerate and adapt to the hot 282 weather in India and didn't get upset about these cultural and traumatic kinds of things. There I was 284 just as an ordinary teacher and met some of the most wonderful people I've ever known. 286 Then I went back to work at Pasadena City College again. After awhile, I got restless. There 288 were some things that weren't working out like I had hoped they would work, so I knew there was trouble 290 ahead. I wanted to get out of the trouble, so I took a leave of absence and joined the United States 292 Agency for International Development and went to Vietnam as a nurse education advisor for a year-and— 294 a-half contract. Then I stayed over. There, there was a language problem, and I had to work through an 296 interpreter. One of the most interesting things there is that 298 there was so much difficulty in communication, so much resistance because my counterpart with whom I 300 worked was an older woman; that is, older for their country. I think it was embarrassing for her among 302 her own peer group to be having to work with an outsider. WOMEN'S OVERSEAS SERVICE LEAGUE MARIAN S. MOSHER, Orange County, California Unit 304 I found out indirectly that she could understand more English than she could speak. She always 306 insisted that my interpreter and I work right at the desk with her (which was a big desk). You could do 308 this; so as we talked, I would make suggestions and try to get my interpreter to understand what I was 310 trying to do and why I was trying to do it. I soon found out that these things were being put into 312 action before I ever got around to start talking to my counterpart about it. Then I realized she was 314 understanding, and why she wanted us to sit at the table with her. That way it saved her face. She 316 didn't have to worry about the peer situation. From then on, things worked much more smoothly, and l 318 stayed a little longer than my contract. While I was there we built a new nursing school 320 building. That last month I was there, every morning when I would come to work, she would come in and want 322 to consult with me about how she should do this or how she should do that, which she had never done 324 before: So I'm glad I had stayed an extra little time, so that it wasn't as if I was finishing a 326 contract and running. I was staying a little bit longer. WOMEN'S OVERSEAS SERVICE LEAGUE MARIAN S. MOSHER, Orange County, California Unit 328 Then I Went back to Pasadena College and stayed until I was sixty. I retired at sixty so that I 330 could take on another overseas assignment because I had liked the overseas work. 332 I had been approved and all ready to go to join the International Volunteers in New Guinea, but that 334 fell through because they were having political problems. Then a friend of mine put me in contact 336 with Project HOPE, starting a program in Cairo. I went to Cairo for two years at the High Institute of 338 Nursing at the University of Cairo. I was supposed to be there as a teacher at the 340 baccalaureate level and evaluator of the master's in medical-surgical nursing. Because their bachelor 342 students were just beginning to study English, I couldn't teach; besides, the classroom was right next 344 to a very busy highway that I couldn't compete with (the noise). I ended up doing the master's in 346 medical—surgical nursing, setting it up. The first class was a real failure. The second class made up 348 for it, because it was a very dynamic group. After that, I thought I had retired, but I 350 . didn't have my social security because I had not worked enough ‘under social security. As a public 352 school teacher, we didn't get social security. WOMEN'S OVERSEAS SERVICE LEAGUE MARIAN S. MOSHER, Orange County, California Unit I helped with the census in the 1980's to get 354 more points in social security, and then Whittaker Corporation called me. Their personnel director had 356 called the college, wanting to know if they had anyone who would be willing to teach medical 358 vocabulary and simple nursing procedures to bilingual students to act as interpreters in their hospitals in 360 Saudi Arabia. Of course, the college immediately said, "Well, if anyone would, Marian might be 362 available;" so Marian was available. Of course, the fact that I had already spent two years in Egypt was 364 to my advantage. So I went back to Cairo, and I taught what was 366 supposed to be a forty hour course; but with all the holidays (between their holidays and the American 368 holidays), this course stretched out into five and six weeks. I taught two groups then of medical 370 vocabulary and simple nursing procedures. The following year (fall of 1981), I did the 372 same thing hi Amman, Jordan. Those students were going to be going to North Yemen to act as 374 interpreters. The interesting thing about that assignment was, 376 if you know the Arabic culture and the relationship of male-female kind of thing, I had a class of all 378 380 382 384 386 388 390 392 394 396 398 400 402 WOMEN'S OVERSEAS SERVICE LEAGUE MARIAN S. MOSHER, Orange County, California Unit VP: MM: boys (or young men). The course which Whittaker Corporation had decided these students had to be taught included the anatomy and physiology of the male and the female reproductive system. Put yourself in that spot! < Laughter > They were embarrassed, but I just plowed through as non— committal as I could. One of the men (one of the older fellows; I imagine he was in his thirties) was a school teacher, and when the boys would ask a question, he would answer it in their language because he knew what we were talking about. When I came back from that, I decided it was time to retire. By that time, I was sixty six years old. I'd like to hear more about your Service in the Philippines, Marian. Would you tell me more about it? We went to the Philippines as soon as MacArthur allowed women to go in. Our boys had gone in ahead, our corpsmen and doctors; but the nurses weren't allowed in because MacArthur really didn't like women in his unit. By the time we got there the boys had become so skillful that we wondered why they even needed us, because of their experiences. While we were there, we had a lot of interesting experiences. One night, one of the girls got hold of WOMEN'S OVERSEAS SERVICE LEAGUE MARIAN S. MOSHER, Orange County, California Unit some steaks. We rigged up several flatirons and our 404 mess kits, and we prepared them using our flatirons as our heating. That was a real treat to us. 406 Also, if you listen to "Radar" on the TV show and his bargaining for things: One time (our fellows 408 bargaining) we ended up with a supply of pork beyond which our refrigeration could contain, so to meet 410 that situation we were eating pork three times a day for about a month. 412 Among our casualties that we had over there, we had quite a few plane crashes for awhile. They were 414 always in the early morning when the planes were beginning to take off. It was considered that these 416 were due to sabotage, and these were usually burn patients. They were bad burns. 418 One morning while feeding a patient who wasn't doing too well (really wasn't recovering at all), he 420 had an emesis of an ascaris, which is a long intestinal worm. That made all of us wonder what 422 else we might be carrying around inside our bodies, but the man improved immediately after he had gotten 424 rid of that worm. There were many flies in the area, and most of 426 you might know burn patients' dressings begin to smell once in a while —— and ooze. The flies harbor WOMEN'S OVERSEAS SERVICE LEAGUE MARIAN S. MOSHER, Orange County, California Unit 428 and lay eggs on these dressings. I had heard of using maggots for orthopedic infections when I was in 430 training, but I had never seen them. Because of the flies laying eggs on the dressings, these patients 432 would become infected with maggots. Now maggots are not what you would call an 434 aesthetic form of treatment, but it is very effective. Those patients' wounds were very clean, 436 and they healed quite readily. We also had a lot of patients who had hepatitis. 438 One time the government provided a trip for us to the city on the island, Calpan. We flew over a 440 lot of green land which I imagine was jungle, because there wasn't too much else on the island. We had a 442 good time, but when we got home all of us had intestinal upsets for several days. 444 One time the Red Cross planned a dance for us in a community. We were picked up by jeep, and we were 446 riding through some of the trails, which were rutted. As we went over the tree roots, you wondered why the 448 jeep didn't turn over, so I know jeeps are very good on rough terrain. One place we stopped to ask 450 directions, and we were invited into their bamboo house. It was night, and most of them had been in 452 bed. WOMEN'S OVERSEAS SERVICE LEAGUE MARIAN S. MOSHER, Orange County, California Unit < Side 2 > 454 One time, someone from the Philippine -— whether government or Army —- I wouldn't know, arranged for 456 us to have a trip to Calpan, which is the big city (about the only city, I think, on the island). It 458 was a very interesting trip. We had a nice time. We met a nurse who had graduated from Philadelphia 460 General, and she stayed with us the entire time. She seemed so glad to have contact with American people. 462 Red Cross planned this. We went by jeep; we went on very rugged roads. They were at an angle so 464 that as we drove over tree roots, I wondered why we didn't turn over so I know the jeeps are good. Of 466 course, we didn't really know where we were going, and it was dark at night. We stopped at one of the 468 houses It was a bamboo house built up on sticks (stilts); and asked directions, and of course, we 470 were invited into the house. Pretty soon the children started appearing from 472 their sleeping mats. We were the center of a lot of attention. We were served chicken which had a few 474 little ends of feathers on them, but of course, we ate them. The bones were thrown out the door to the 476 pigs who were underneath the house, so you can see WOMEN'S OVERSEAS SERVICE LEAGUE MARIAN S. MOSHER, Orange County, California Unit what some of the families were living in and why some 478 people got sick when they were over there. When we finally found the place, we had to park 480 on a road. Then we had to walk what seemed like an awfully long distance in the dark over one of these 482 little paths that goes between the rice paddies. Eventually we got to this place where there was a 484 little light; I think it was a lantern. There was a camouflaged parachute hanging over a spot of dirt 486 (earth); I think it was growing, and there were Filipinos there who were dancing in their bare feet. 488 We didn't dance, but some of the fellows did. It was an interesting trip out to see another section of the 490 country and how they lived. Roads don't go all over, so I was very grateful for that. 492 As far as nursing was concerned: One of the things that I often look back, since I did go into 494 nursing education —- and how fussy we were about our students' technique. This was the day when 496 penicillin was still new, and you gave a lot of it, and it had to be given intramuscularly. There was a 498 shortage of syringes so we had to fill a 10 or 20 cc syringe with penicillin and then change needles 500 between patients, which meant you never aspirated to check if you were in a blood vessel or not. I hope 502 504 506 508 510 512 514 516 518 520 522 524 526 WOMEN'S OVERSEAS SERVICE LEAGUE MARIAN S. MOSHER, Orange County, California Unit VP: MM: no one ever got sick because of it. When I think of how strict I was with teaching students, and here we had been in a position of doing that kind of nursing out of necessity. The prisoners of war that were on Leyte when we came in (and of course, all I know is what we talked to the people who were in the same tent that we were and seeing the others around the camp): These were people who were employed by the U.S. Government, working in the Philippines, and got caught there and had been imprisoned at San Tomas. They weren't Filipinos, then? No. They were Americans, and they were on their way back to the States. The two people in the tent where I lived were younger people. It was a woman whose husband had been employed by the government, and her sister, who had been visiting her. They were younger, and they didn't look too bad for the wear and tear of a prison. Some of the others that we saw, the older ones, they looked so fragile and almost as if they were still in sort of a daze from the experience. These were people who were Americans, who had been working there; that is, the ones I talked to and saw. But they were all Americans: They were not Filipinos. WOMEN'S OVERSEAS SERVICE LEAGUE MARIAN S. MOSHER, Orange County, California Unit I went into Service as a second lieutenant. I 528 was given a first lieutenancy after I got to the Philippines, but I think it was just a routine 530 promotion that you get if you stay in long enough; you get raised to first lieutenant. I was given a 532 "combat" because this was considered a combat area. I was given a combat star, but to my knowledge, I 534 never saw an enemy. 536 < End of Interview > 538 540 Transcribed by Patricia Siggers 542 Lansing, Michigan INDEX - MOSHER Fraternization, 9 GI Bill, 7 Housing, 3 Locations: Calpan, 18 Egypt. 9 Hawaiian Islands, 1, 4 Jordan, 15 Leyte, 5 Philippine Islands, 1, 9, 16 Saudi Arabia, 15 South India, 11 Vietnam, 6, 7, 9, 12 MacArthur, 16 Maggots, 18 Medical care, 4 Pay, 2 Penicillin, 20 Prisoners of war, 5 Project HOPE, 9, 10, 14 Red Cross, 9, 18 Service: Army Nurse Corps, 1 Uniforms, 4 Whittaker Corporation, 15