Ann Agnes Bernatitus (21 January 1912 – 3 March 2003) was a United States Navynurse who served during World War II. She was the first American recipient of the Legion of Merit.
Ann A. Bernatitus
Ann A. Bernatitus First American recipient of the Legion of Merit
Ann Bernatitus was appointed as Ensign in the Navy Nurse Corps in 1936, after graduating from the Wyoming Valley Homeopathic Hospital Training School in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in 1934, and the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate Hospital post-graduate program in operating room nursing in 1935. Bernatitus's first assignments with the Navy were as a staff nurse at the Naval Hospitals in Chelsea, Massachusetts and Annapolis, Maryland.[1]
In 1940, she was assigned duty on board the USS Chaumont(AP-5) before assignment to the US Naval Hospital at Canacao, Philippines Islands in July 1940. After the attack on Pearl Harbor and start of the Japanese war in the Pacific, Canacoa Hospital staff and patients were evacuated to Manila and Bataan under US Army supervision. As the lone Navy nurse on her team, Bernatitus treated American, Filipino, and Japanese wounded from the Japanese siege between December and April.[1]
In October 1942, she became the first American recipient of the Legion of Merit[2] for her heroism during the siege of Bataan and Corregidor from December 1941 through April 1942.
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" to
Lieutenant, Junior Grade Ann A. Bernatitus (NSN: 64916W)
United States Navy
For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as a member of Surgical Unit No. 5 during the Japanese attack on the Philippines, December 1941 through April 1942. Nurse Bernatitus maintained her position in the front lines of the Manila-Bataan area rendering efficient and devoted service during the prolonged siege. Miss Bernatitus was regularly attached to the Naval Hospital, Canacao, Philippine Islands having reported for duty there on 20 July 1941. Shortly after hostilities commenced in December 1941 the Naval Hospital Staff and patients were moved to a new establishment in Manila. On 24 December 1941, when Manila was being evacuated Miss Bernatitus accompanied by two Navy Medical Officers proceeded to the Army Hospital at Limay, Bataan. The remainder of the hospital staff stayed in Manila and were taken prisoners. On 25 January 1942, Miss Bernatitus was transferred to Army Field Hospital No. 1 at Little Baguio, Bataan and remained there on active duty until that hospital was destroyed by enemy bombing on 7 April. When Bataan fell Miss Bernatitus was transferred to Corregidor. During her stay in Bataan she worked directly under Lieutenant Commander C. M. Smith (MC), USN, who is now a prisoner of war. The conditions under which the nurses lived and worked lacked everything in the way of comfort. They were constantly exposed to enemy bombing attacks and experienced several as well as the endemic jungle diseases of that area. Miss Bernatitus suffered from both dysentery and beriberi during her tour of duty in Bataan. In spite of all difficulties Miss Bernatitus performed her duty in an exemplary manner with courage and good spirit. She was officially transferred from Corregidor three days before the surrender of that fortress. (Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Bernatitus is authorized to wear the Combat "V".) [7]
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January 06, 2023
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Ann Agnes Bernatitus 21 January 1912 3 March 2003 was a United States Navy nurse who served during World War II She was the first American recipient of the Legion of Merit Ann A BernatitusAnn A BernatitusFirst American recipient of the Legion of MeritBorn 1912 01 21 January 21 1912Exeter PennsylvaniaDiedMarch 3 2003 2003 03 03 aged 91 Wilkes Barre PennsylvaniaPlace of burialSt Casimir s Cemetery Pittston Luzerne County PennsylvaniaAllegianceUnited States of AmericaService wbr branchUnited States Navy Nurse CorpsYears of service1936 1959RankCaptainBattles warsBattle of BataanBattle of CorregidorBattle of OkinawaWorld War IIAwardsLegion of Merit w Combat VPresidential Unit Citation United States American Defense Service Medal with star Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal Contents 1 Career 2 Legacy 3 Awards 3 1 Legion of Merit Citation 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksCareer EditAnn Bernatitus was appointed as Ensign in the Navy Nurse Corps in 1936 after graduating from the Wyoming Valley Homeopathic Hospital Training School in Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania in 1934 and the University of Pennsylvania s Graduate Hospital post graduate program in operating room nursing in 1935 Bernatitus s first assignments with the Navy were as a staff nurse at the Naval Hospitals in Chelsea Massachusetts and Annapolis Maryland 1 In 1940 she was assigned duty on board the USS Chaumont AP 5 before assignment to the US Naval Hospital at Canacao Philippines Islands in July 1940 After the attack on Pearl Harbor and start of the Japanese war in the Pacific Canacoa Hospital staff and patients were evacuated to Manila and Bataan under US Army supervision As the lone Navy nurse on her team Bernatitus treated American Filipino and Japanese wounded from the Japanese siege between December and April 1 In October 1942 she became the first American recipient of the Legion of Merit 2 for her heroism during the siege of Bataan and Corregidor from December 1941 through April 1942 She was among the last group of the Angels of Bataan to be evacuated from the Philippines just prior to the fall of Corregidor aboard Spearfish and was the only Navy nurse stationed there to evade capture She served at Bethesda Naval Hospital New Orleans Naval Hospital Great Lakes and San Francisco then in 1945 as Chief of Nursing Service aboard the hospital ship Relief during the Okinawa campaign 1 She was promoted to the rank of Commander on 1 August 1950 and retired from the United States Navy Nurse Corps as a Captain in 1959 3 She died at Wilkes Barre General Hospital Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania on 3 March 2003 and was interred at St Casimir s Cemetery Pittston Luzerne County Pennsylvania 4 Legacy EditCaptain Bernatitus donated her Legion of Merit medal to the Smithsonian Institution in 1976 5 A monument in her honor was dedicated 23 June 2007 at the Exeter Borough Building in her home town 6 Awards EditLegion of Merit with V device American Defense Service Medal with BASE clasp American Campaign Medal Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with one battle star World War II Victory Medal National Defense Service MedalLegion of Merit Citation Edit The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat V to Lieutenant Junior Grade Ann A Bernatitus NSN 64916W United States Navy For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as a member of Surgical Unit No 5 during the Japanese attack on the Philippines December 1941 through April 1942 Nurse Bernatitus maintained her position in the front lines of the Manila Bataan area rendering efficient and devoted service during the prolonged siege Miss Bernatitus was regularly attached to the Naval Hospital Canacao Philippine Islands having reported for duty there on 20 July 1941 Shortly after hostilities commenced in December 1941 the Naval Hospital Staff and patients were moved to a new establishment in Manila On 24 December 1941 when Manila was being evacuated Miss Bernatitus accompanied by two Navy Medical Officers proceeded to the Army Hospital at Limay Bataan The remainder of the hospital staff stayed in Manila and were taken prisoners On 25 January 1942 Miss Bernatitus was transferred to Army Field Hospital No 1 at Little Baguio Bataan and remained there on active duty until that hospital was destroyed by enemy bombing on 7 April When Bataan fell Miss Bernatitus was transferred to Corregidor During her stay in Bataan she worked directly under Lieutenant Commander C M Smith MC USN who is now a prisoner of war The conditions under which the nurses lived and worked lacked everything in the way of comfort They were constantly exposed to enemy bombing attacks and experienced several as well as the endemic jungle diseases of that area Miss Bernatitus suffered from both dysentery and beriberi during her tour of duty in Bataan In spite of all difficulties Miss Bernatitus performed her duty in an exemplary manner with courage and good spirit She was officially transferred from Corregidor three days before the surrender of that fortress Lieutenant Junior Grade Bernatitus is authorized to wear the Combat V 7 References Edit a b c NHHC 2016 Valor awards for Ann A Bernatitus valor militarytimes com Retrieved 2017 02 11 Navy Medicine In Memoriam Ann A Bernatitus Jan Kenneth Herman May June 2003 p 32 32 Times Leader Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania Ann Bernatitus obituary March 4 2003 Page 7A Times Leader Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania A heroic salute Monument to honor World War II nurse Genelle Hoban January 7 2007 Page 4A The Citizens Voice Monument will honor Ann Bernatitus Archived September 30 2007 at the Wayback Machine Robert Kalinowski December 27 2006 Times Leader Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania In brief Legion Post in Exeter to honor the late Capt Ann Bernatitus Archived September 30 2007 at the Wayback Machine June 23 2007 Ann Bernatitus Recipient Military Times Hall of Valor Bibliography Edit Anne Agnes Bernatitus 21 January 1912 3 March 2003 Naval History and Heritage Command 18 March 2016 Retrieved 19 April 2017 External links Edit Biography portal Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ann A Bernatitus Wikisource has original works by or about Ann A Bernatitus Oral Histories United States Navy Nurse in the Pacific Theater during World War II Recollections of CAPT Ann Bernatitus NC USN Ret Home of the Heroes Lieutenant j g Ann A Bernatitus Angel of Mercy Navy Art Collection Women in Uniform Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ann A Bernatitus amp oldid 1120965151, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
