IRENE CULLY

Denver,	Colorado 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: Irene Cully







PREFACE


This transcript is the product of a tape-recorded interview conducted on 4 March,	1906,	for the Women ’s Overseas Service League.
Signed,	dated agreements of release  and biographica information accompany the original  cassette.






















Transcribed by Patricia  Siggers
Lansing,	Michigan






E

IRENE CULLY

Denver Unit


MB:

What is your name,	please?

4

IC:

Irene Cully.


MB:

When did you join the Denver Unit of   WOSL?

6

IC:

In 1870.


MB:

What branch of the service did you   serve?

8

IC:

Army Nurse Corps.


MB:

When did you go into the Army Nurse   Corps?

10

IC:

August,	1338.


MB:

What influenced you to go into the   service?

12

IC:

Probably the benefits	I would receive.



14

MB:

Before you went into the Army   Nurse Corps,	what did you do?



16

IC:

I was working in Omaha at the Lutheran Hospital in the operating room.


MB:

What did you do in the Army Nurse   Corps?

IB

IC:

I was a nurse anesthetist.

IRENE


MB:
CULLY, Denver Unit	E


How long were you in the  Army?

SO

IC:

Twenty-two years.


MB:

Where did your travels take  you?

EE

IC:

Germany,	Okinawa,	were my overseas assignments.	Nadigan:


I was at Nadigan For  Five years.	I was on the east  coast
E4

at Fort Devins;	Fort Sill,	OK;	Fort Riley,	K S .	I guess


that ’s it.

EB

MB:

When you were in the Army - tell    me about your housing?


EB

IC:
I lived in nurses’ quarters,	and at that time  it was adequate,	I guess.

MB:	Tell me about the medical care that    you were able to get.

30	IC:	Uery good.


MB:	Can you describe some oF the uniForms that you   wore?


3E	IC:	The taupe uniForm during the  war— no,	we wore the pinks and greens,	which is the best looking uniForm the   Army
34	has ever had.	Then into the taupes;	and then the blues.




36
MB:
Do you have any special experiences that you ’d like to relate?



38

IC:
Well,	about being scared right aFter  D day.	We went to France on D - 7 .	We were set up  in tents.	They were

IRENE CULLY, Denver Unit	3
strafing the area,	and  I was giving an anesthetic in  a
40	tent.	The strafing seemed to get closer  and closer,	and I kept leaning nearer and nearer a  tent pole,	which was
42	probably about 4 inches  in diameter.	I have no idea what protection	I thought that would give  me.

















50	Bulge,	we were at Metz in  a building.	However,	most of
IRENE CULLY, Denver Unit	4


5B	IC:	I d o n ’t Feel that I had much of an adjustment to make. It uias community	living;	I had been used to that.	I
60	hadn ’t been out of training long.	I had lived with
another girl	in an apartment,	and I enjoyed it.

62	MB :	When you went into  the Army,	did you plan to  make the Army your career?

64	IC:	I d o n ’t suppose so,	but	I ’m glad I did.

MB:	When did you decide to stay in the   service?


66
IC:
After the war was over.	By that time,	I had enough

service which was counting  toward retirement,	and I
68

couldn ’t afford to give it up.


MB:

After you left the Army— after  you retired,	what did you
70

do?


IC:

I ’ve been doing volunteer work,	and I did work For  a
72

little while part-time in a nursing  home.


MB:

What has being a member of WOSL meant to   you?

74

IC:

Good friendship.


MB:

O.K.	Thank you very  much.
76


Transcribed by Patricia Siggers

Lansing,	Michigan