American nurses in Belgium
Creator(s)
- Bertha (Bessie) B. Wachtel (Subject)
- Jack Stein
Biographical History
Beatrice Wachter (1906-1979) from Philadelphia, PA married Harry Wachter, a circulation agent with the Philadelphia Daily News, in 1931. She enlisted with the Army Nurse Corps at the age of 37 on June 7, 1943 and arrived in Europe on March 11, 1944. She served with the 51st Field Hospital in the campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe, and returned home on November 29, 1945. She received a Certificate of Merit: "With unselfish disregard for her own comfort and safety, Lt. Wachter contributed immeasurably to the care and well being of the many seriously wounded patients of the 51st Field Hospital in France, Belgium and Germany."
Scope and Content
Complex of brick buildings with the 51st Field Hospital, probably shot in December 1944 or January 1945 (perhaps in Huy, Belgium or Lierneaux, Belgium). 01:18:44 Beatrice poses with her camera by a guard station decorated with the Belgian flag motif. Medical trucks are parked outside and covered with snow. Men carry the sick and wounded on stretchers. 01:19:09 Beatrice poses with a friend. The men and women of the 51st Field Hospital play in the snow and walk around camp. 01:20:19 Beatrice and another nurse make a snowman and have a snowball fight.
Note(s)
Detailed film condition and transfer report from Brodsky and Treadway in departmental files.
Subjects
- WOMEN
- NURSES
- WINTER
- SOLDIERS/MILITARY (AMERICAN)
- AMBULANCES
- MEDICAL PERSONNEL
- HOSPITALS
- BELGIUM
- WOUNDED
- RED CROSS
- SNOW
Places
- , Belgium
Genre
- Film
- Amateur.