MARJORIE UARNER Denver, Colorado Unit Transcript of an Oral History Reminiscence 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: Marjorie Uarner PREFACE This transcript is the product of a tape-recorded reminiscence conducted on 17 June, 1983, for the Women’s Overseas Service League. Signed, dated agreements of release and biographical information accompany the original cassette. Transcribed by Patricia Siggers Lansing, Michigan 1987 E MARJORIE UARNER Denver Unit 4 MU: This is Tape No. E From the Denver Unit. My name is Marjorie Uarner, and I joined the Denver Unit of WOSL in 1971. I was president From 1974 until 1976, and I ’ve B been president since 198E. I was a member oF the Army Nurse Corps. I Joined in 1949, and retired in 1971. B During my nurse’s training, I was a member oF the Cadet Nurse Corps, and decided when I graduated that I would 10 pay back the Army For the money they gave me For my nurse’s training; and oF course, I joined also For the 1E adventure oF it. Prior to enlistment, I went to Junior college one year, 14 and worked at various Jobs such as grocery store, drug store— that type oF thing. 16 During the service, I did general duty and then the Army sent me to Finish my bachelor’s degree and I went into 18 teaching; and did mostly surgical-type nursing in my general duty. I was supervisor at a couple oF hospitals, SO and then went back into teaching; and then I was Director oF the Critical Nurse Corps, which is equivalent to the EE Civilian Practical Nurse Corps. My last duty assignment prior to retirement— I was Assistant ChieF Nurse at S4 Fitzsimmons when Rita Geis, who did Tape No. 1, was ChieF Nurse. MARJORIE UARNER, Denver Unit 2 26 During my twenty-two years in the Nurse Corps, I had many, varied assignments; although stateside I was only 28 stationed at Brook General Hospital, and later, Brook Army Medical Center and Fitzsimmons in Colorado. Then 30 the Army sent me to complete my bachelor’s degree; and then sent me For my master’s degree in nursing. 32 My overseas assignments were Germany, Puerto Rico For two years Cl enjoyed that— great climate), and during war 34 time: Well, I guess I shouldn’t say war time, either. During the ’conFlicts,” I was stationed in Korea and in 36 Uietnam. During my length oF service, I lived in various types oF 38 housing; nurses’ quarters, quonset huts, and also oF course, lived oFF post. Our uniForm dress varied From 40 pinks and greens, Fatigues, and probably the poorest— in which most people looked not very well— was the uniForm 42 designed by Hattie Carnegie. During my Army Nurse Corps career, CoF course many, many 44 memorable experiences), I think probably one I remember most, Cvividly, anyway, and not a particularly memorable 46 except that— well, it was memorable, too) was that during our intake oF casualties, I was going to take a young 48 man’s blood pressure and reached under the covers For one arm, and the young man had no arm. So I reached For the 50 other arm, under the covers, and the young man had no extremity on that side. I think that probably was a very MARJORIE UARNER, Denver Unit 3 5B shacking experience to me, and I still remember it. During Uietnam, uie tack the M.U.S.C. Hospital Cthe 54 Medical Unit, Self—Contained) down to the Delta, and of course, that was an interesting experience. 55 Comparing service careers then with the present: That’s kind of difficult to do because I’ve been away from it 58 for so long now that I ’m really not that knowledgeable on the service; except that back then I think there was a 50 little more togetherness. But I think some of this could be attributed to the fact that back then, most of us 62 lived on post, and now personnel can live off post. Probably more men now than we had serving. 64 As far as adjustment is concerned, I don’t think I really had any adjustment. Nurses training was a rather 66 disciplined area, and we lived with different peoples, regulations; so I don’t think we had any kind of 68 adjustment, particularly. As I stated, I retired in 1871, and shortly after that I 70 took a real estate course and found out that really wasn’t my thing. I did some volunteer work, golfing, 72 that type of thing. I have enjoyed being a member D f UIDSL, I think basically because of the association with 74 friends and acquaintances. I’ve met many new people, not only in our own unit, but at our conventions, so it has 76 been very worth while for me. MARJORIE UARNER, Denver Unit 4 This concludes Tape No. From the Denver Unit. 78 Transcribed by Patricia Siggers 80 Lansing, Michigan