Gazette
Cedar Rapids, Io»a
MA/}
Iowa Women Heed Purple Heart Call
DES MOINES (AP) — Iowa women have joined the WAC in such numbers iinde^- a technician recruiting "Purple' Heart" program that in one month hall the quota for the three-month campaign joined, Capt. Marie Eichel-berger, commanding officer of the Iowa WAC recruiting district, said Saturday.
One of the four platoons sought left last Wednesday night for Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., and enough women have been recruited for another platoon. The second group will go to camp in about two weeks, as soon as the women get their personal affairs completed and transportation is arranged.
Train in Georgia.
The campaign started Feb. 1 and is to last three months. After about three months training at Fort Oglethorpe the women will serve at Schick General hospital at Clinton as medical, surgical and administrative assistants.
Capt. Eichelberger explained that the program got its "Purple Heart" name from the fact that the women will assist in the treatment of wounded war veterans— those who have been awarded the Purple Heart for wounds suffered in action.
"Wounded Iowa veterans will go to Schick hospital, and although we hope not, some of those wounded may be brothers, sons, fathers or sweethearts of the ! women who have joined the Pur- ¦ pie Heart platoons," Capt. Eichelberger said.
"A large majority of those who haveenlisted have had nurse aide training. Lots of them were housewives, some were teachers, and many professions were represented. They came from all over the state and ranged in age from 20 to 49. Some were grandmothers.
Fine Response.
''The response from Iowa women has been marvelous. It goes to show that Iowa women are doing their part. Many of rthen had different reasons for enlisting, but they all recognized that this is definitely a woman's job and a woman is the only one who can do it," Capt. Eichelberger said.
The army will give the women basic training, and follow it with technical training. No previous training as a medical assistant is necessary.' However, some of the women in the first platoon had had enough nurse aide training to make them eligible for direct assignment to Schick hospital. But all of them chose to take the further training offered, in addition to ttw-uaslf LUllllUg. -^, |
