Interview of Helene Gram Forster on her overseas hospital service with the American Red Cross during WWII
Helene Gram Forster talks about her hospital service with the American Red Cross between June 1943 and December 1945. Forster explains why she volunteered and describes her duties as a hospital recreation worker charged with providing activities and entertainment for patients at bases in North Africa, Italy and France. Forster says that the convoy which brought her to Africa was attacked near Oran, Algeria, and describes crossing the Mediterranean to Naples and being based in a convent hospital in Caserta, Italy, living conditions in camps in Algeria and Italy, caring for allied troops from several countries, and setting up a hospital in a French cavalry school. She says she sailed on a hospital ship back to the States for her leave and then returned to unit in France aboard a mail plane which also carried one of General Eisenhower's aides with a top secret set of battle plans. Forster says that her service during the war was a special time in her life. Forster is interviewed by Edna Fonn.
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- In Collections
-
Women's Overseas Service League Oral History Project
- Copyright Status
- In Copyright
- Date Published
-
1983-05-10
- Interviewees
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Forster, Helene Gram, 1913-
- Interviewers
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Fonn, Edna
- Subjects
-
Forster, Helene Gram, 1913-
American National Red Cross
World War (1939-1945)
Hospitals
Hospitals--Employees
Military participation--Female
North Africa
France
Italy
- Material Type
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Sound recordings
Interviews
- Language
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English
- Extent
- 00:54:57
- Holding Institution
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Vincent Voice Library
- Call Number
- Voice 32705
- Catalog Record
- http://catalog.lib.msu.edu/record=b11747901
- Permalink
- https://n2t.net/ark:/85335/m56972w01